I had a deer tick bite a couple weeks ago and I was hoping that it wouldn’t develop into lyme disease. Alas, I’ve had no such luck. I’ve got all the symptoms now and will begin taking powerful antibiotics today. I’m achy, feverish, have a headache, a stomach ache, my shoulder is red, itchy, sore, inflamed, and burning. I can’t concentrate, and I just want to sleep.
That makes it difficult to read and write. However, I have managed to read the papers this morning. And, as I suspected, there appears to be a rift opening in U.S./Saudi relations. As far as I can tell there are two major problems. The first problem is that the Saudis object to any talk of us pulling out of Iraq because they fear the Shi’ite majority will commit genocide on the Sunni minority. The second problem is related. They object to many of the Iraq Study Group’s recommendations, including any plans to open diplomatic talks with Iran. In recent days, the Saudis have announced plans to develop nuclear weapons, have threatened to intervene on the Sunni’s side in Iraq, and their ambassador has quit.
This is a new element that we will have to take seriously as we try to muddle forward with a strategy. FUBAR seems to describe the situation.
I’m sorry that Lyme had to happen to you. Get some rest…keeping up the fight is sometimes like lying down.
May I also suggest talking about the situation in Afghanistan that the SCLM refuses to deal with, which is just as much FUBAR as Iraq?
Bad as it is, you’re much better off knowing that you had a suspect tick bite and are being treated. Get well soon!
Say, Susan UnPc put you on NO QUARTER this week. Way to go.
and wake up to a new America in January… 🙂
Seriously, take care of yourself — we’re seriously short of fighters in this country…
Ooh, yuck! Sounds like you caught it early and hopefully the drugs will work nicely. If not, just beat on the nearest pharmacist.
Hmmm. Are you actually advocating that?
BooMan take care – go get a prescription for proven immune system enhancements.
Be well.
Physical activity is always good for full recovery. Just don’t leave any marks.
Get well soon, Booman!
That really sucks! I hope it’s not too nasty- it’s never sounded fun, that’s for sure.
Be sure to rest. The body needs its resources.
As for Saudi Arabia, I thought the big indicator was when poppy Bush went over there recently and got tons of shit from his rulers-of-the-petro-world peers for not keeping his kid in line.
And going over to read the piece in today’s
Pravda OnlineNYTimes, it seems that what is playing out in SA is messy.I don’t generally trust the Times to provide anything but a very sanitized version of events important to US business interests, but we did know that there would be some friction when the old king died.
Honestly, I’ve been surprised that things have gone as smoothly as they have with the succession.
The other thing I noticed is that the persistent US failure to make anything remotely like progress with the Palestine situation is definately becoming a problem for SA. I figure this probably represents a consensus opinion Jordan and Egypt, too, with SA taking the forefront in trying to wake up the Bush administration.
It’s a mess, alright.
I found a useful backgrounder on Saudi-Iranian relations from Asia Times.
In two bits: Watch Lebanon. and: It’s complicated.
Sorry to hear this, BooMan. I hope that you are feeling better very soon.
Have they confirmed the diagnosis with the ELISA and Western Blot tests? I sure hope you don’t have Lyme, because it can be permanently disabling, even with prompt treatment. Hopefully it’s another kind of infection that will respond quickly to the antibiotics.
I was bit by a tick about five years ago and had most of the early Lyme symptoms, including the bull’s-eye rash (which is now seen as not characteristic of all Lyme infections; overall rash near the bite is more common). But the tests came back negative. For what it’s worth, I’ve had all kinds of mysterious symptoms over the last few years, and I wonder if the tests on me were wrong.
So sorry to hear about your illness Boo, I hope you will take good care and I, and I am sure most of us will be sending you positive thoughts of healing and wellbeing.
Saudia Arabia, yeah I was pretty suspicious about Cheney going there, getting off plane for 3 hours and then get right back on and flying all the way to US. Seemed like a summons to me. And now the ambassador. I am sure that I don’t know what the heck is going on but we shall see as things unfold.
Best wishes for a speeedy recovery, BooMan.
Sorry to hear about the illness, BooMan. Hope you feel better soon. paz
Fucking nature! Told ya…
Rest and get well, BooMan. You’re too valuable a voice for the Progressive side to be lost.
Glad you’re getting treated – Lyme disease can be really debilitating. Get plenty of rest too. I know – it’s awful not being able to focus or concentrate enough to read or write in depth. Get some good music out because TV sucks when you “have” to watch it. 😉
Take it easy Booman and follow Dr’s instructions. As you know, Lyme disease is nothing to mess with. Hope the antibiotics get you feeling better real soon. Keep us posted when you can. Take care.
why the Saudi’s were so okay with Bushco’s misadventure in Iraq? It doesn’t seem to have been in their best interest and judging by Bush holding the Saudi guy’s hand they had a great connection with Bush.
It appears we may be getting some rare glimpses of the “man/men behind the curtain” this week. Has anyone noticed if Cheney still has all his fingers intact?
Take good care, BooMan and get well quick.
I’m glad you didn’t ignore your symptoms and hope your early treatment will give you a good jump on this infection. Know that many are holding you in their thoughts and are rooting for your healing.