Thing2's ongoing progress

At her lowest, Thing2 weighed 98 pounds, plus or minus a few ounces. She is 5' 5" tall and a normal weight for her is 135. At 115 she is very skinny. At 98 pounds she has no fat. Her BMI is 13, and it's not because she has a lot of lean muscle, it's because she has no fat left. None. No butt, no nothing.
She is now about 101.5 pounds. On Monday we realized that we should research the proper protocol for someone who is this skinny beginning to eat normally.

I found that this process is called 'refeeding'. Unfortunately, there are some serious risks mentioned in the web articles, and now Thing2 is freaking-out about it.
I'm almost sorry I looked. But it was probably important to know that carbohydrates can cause blood chemistry imbalances, and that a high-fat diet is most helpful. So that's what we're doing.

I called her doctor today to ask if he would do a full blood panel to make sure that the refeeding process is going OK, and that her blood chemistry is in the normal range. Unfortunately, he never called back.

News Analysis that doesn't make me crazy

Over at Firedoglake Prof. James K. Galbraith's post What is to be Done? Next Steps for Economic Recovery is a good start.
His analysis of the stimulus package

We have a bill. In the most likely case, it will slow the collapse but not stop or reverse it. And it will come into effect alongside a bank rescue plan that stands very little chance of reviving the credit markets. So we have one part of a recovery plan that is helpful but probably insufficient, and another part that most likely will not work at all. The prospects for an early exit from the slump are therefore not encouraging, just yet.

His straight-to-the-heart-of-it comments on the moderate senator's actions are refreshing in their clarity and sensibility.

It is difficult to know what the so-called moderate Senators were thinking. Do they have special insight into this crisis? Do they have their own forecasters, with deep understanding and good track records in these matters? Do they have their own models? Do they have, in other words, any ground for believing that less than $800 billion, spread over two years, will be enough to bring the economy back? If so, they weren't saying so, so far as I could tell.

He has some cogent and simple recommendations for next steps which make a lot of sense.

News 'analysis' is making me crazy

It drove me crazy to listen to Cokey Roberts' uncritical validation of republican complaints about Obama's failure to deliver on his bipartisan promises on the stimulus package during her so-called analysis piece on NPR this morning.

Her entire analysis consisted of nothing more than tired old spin-rich in-side politics pablum.

I don't think it's overstating the situation to say that the world is on the brink of an economic precipice.

It's my fervent hope that in a year's time we'll look back, wipe our brow and say "Whew!, that was a close one.", and then blithely continue on in our lives sure in the knowledge that we have secured our long-term financial security, both personally and nationally.

It is my deepest fear that in a year's time we will look back on this time as a missed opportunity to avoid going over the economic cliff.

In this environment it is nothing less that imperative that the press use every reporting and analysis moment to educate and inform the public on the arguments and facts in support of all meaningful arguments put forward by credible sources on all sides of the political spectrum. When Cokie Roberts focused on and supported Lindsay Graham's and John McCain's claims of partisan-ship on the part of Obama, as she failed to cover more substantive aspects of our current crisis, she let all of us down.

More rain

You shouldn't be surprised the hear it rained all night.

The only good news in this picture is that there seems to be some clearing in the west.

I saved a frog tonight

It has been raining for 10-hours straight!

This is our current weather map. Our weather moves from west to east.
As you can see from the massive rain to the west, it looks like we are going to keep having rain.

When Thing2 and I took our walk (in the rain, of course) this evening, in the street light reflecting off the wet pavement I could see a frog hopping down the street. There was a car coming, so I picked it up and put it on the sidewalk near a lawn and some bushes. He happily hopped into the lawn. I'm sure he was looking for a nice stream to swim in. I have no idea where he came from, but I hope he finds a comfortable place to live.

Fantastic News on Thing2

Thing2's doctor recently had her stopped taking one of her medications, and suddenly her health has dramatically improved.

She is back to her old self. She is thinking clearly. She is eating normally!

We are thrilled!!!