Still sick

3 years ago today ... the snow storm

I am feeling better than yesterday. Prednisone always works quickly for me  ... first round is 60mg. Makes me sick with nausea, dizziness and fatigue but it stops the asthma attacks immediately. Problem is once I'm on it, I have to wean it off for a period of 15 days. Then the swollen feet and hands and face begin. For the moment I'm thankful the severe reaction has lessen considerably but not totally. I still have pain and pressure on my chest and walking or climbing stairs is still very tiring. There'll be time enough later to cry over the side-effects that I hate. I get nightmares just thinking about it. If doctors prescribe prednisone to you, make sure it's the last hope medication and you urgently need it to keep alive. Otherwise I'll say keep it as far away as possible.

It occurred to me while I was resting in bed this morning that today Feb. 20th exactly 3 years ago there was the great snow storm in the Holy Land. I remember going out at 5am to see Damascus Gate and the park when no one has yet trampled over the 1 foot-high snow. It was amazing ... like a fairyland ... all white and blue. I can never forget that experience ... alone in the very silent, cold park  with trees crystallised in ice ... it is utterly awesome.

Mottled sky this morning

Though I wish I could rest today, there is always that someone who is absolutely oblivious to the needs of others and demand immediate action. So I had to walk 1km up to the other library to get a job done ... but I had to stop several times on the way. And after 15 mins of work, I had to come home. Luckily someone was passing down Damascus Gate so I hitched a ride. I realise now how decrepit illness and age can reduce a person.

There was an interesting article about fasting that I read yesterday. It says that fasting can trigger stem cell regeneration and fights cancer. Not sure if it's all true but that's an incentive to fast during Lent.   http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/scientists-discover-fasting-triggers-stem-cell-regeneration-fights-cancer.html?utm_source=JERF&utm_content=9487-YEZ5

And another plus for Israel ... research here on the medical use of marijuana has shown it reduces pain which will be very helpful for the elderly and those suffering from arthritis and other illness. Medical marijuana is legal here in Israel and it has helped thousands of sufferers. This is a very enlightened approached to medical science.   http://www.janglo.net/index.php?option=com_adsmanager&page=display&catid=99&tid=438801&utm_content=buffer9c5f1&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Meantime the implosion of jewish society ... more exactly the ultra-orthodox against everyone else continues to escalate. A well-known and reputable Canadian rabbi of one of the largest jewish communities in the world was blacklisted by the Chief Rabbinate (100% ultra-orthodox) in Israel; meaning he cannot legally perform jewish rites, personally flew into Israel to find out why. He was not met by the Chief Rabbinate but only a commission looking into the decisions of the Chief Rabbinate. All he got was only an apology but no assurance that his name will be removed from the blacklist. This implosion will reaching worldwide jewry ... and the repercussions will be felt not just religiously but socially and politically. Red lines are being drawn and financial threats are becoming a reality.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-blacklisted-orthodox-rabbi-accuses-israel-s-rabbinate-of-blasphemy-1.5828591?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter   and   https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5122047,00.html