Even the weekend started off cold, dreary, overcast and cool, it has still been a good weekend. This is week two of NASCAR and also week two of Danica Patrick's break into NASCAR via the Nationwide Series. I cannot wait to wade thru all the stories and add up the media hype that Ms. Patrick will generate after only her 2nd Nationwide start. And after last week's Daytona 500 and Saturday's race in Fontana, CA my attitude is still positive. Wow! Let me explain. For the past couple of years I have set my expectations on pre-season reports and general media interest in this Great American Race and Series. For the past couple of years it has been a desert, and now thanks to Ms. Patrick and all the media hype she has drawn to the Series it seems that NASCAR is back. Not that it really went away mind you but it has slipped in overall attendance and popularity the past couple of years. NASCAR officials were stumped, and even had gone so far as to lay the blame on its Broadcast Partners (Fox & ABC/ESPN) for being too critical and too nitpicky about everything from the cars & drivers to the tracks, owners and even NASCAR itself. An article this past week highlighted the fact that NASCAR higher ups held meetings with its Broadcasters and other Media/Journalists and had pushed them to be positive and more upbeat, and less critical. Wait a minute here isn't it a basic mandate of any good journalist/reporter to be unbiased and open whenever reporting a story? Does the France family and NASCAR (Bill France Sr. started NASCAR in 1948 built Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega AL) think that they can control the media like they do the drivers, team owners and track owners? Yes NASCAR has had a couple of hits/slights the past couple of years, what with a driver testing positive for drug use (Jeremy Mayfield tested positive for Methamphetamines this past year) and overall attendance and profits down from earlier years (seems that when the economy is down along with jobs and disposable income, people cut back on perks like tickets to races and memorabilia) NASCAR is scared that this could be a sign of things to come. Come guys the fans are still there it's just that with the economy and all, things are tough all over for everyone, we all are taking it on the chin so to speak. Kind of makes me think that NASCAR is a bit greedy and cares more for itself than the America it represents to the public.
This is also a good week for me in that I took my 3rd dose of Cimzia on 21 February 2010. This means I have completed 28 days of treatment with this medication. In all I feel a lot better than ever and am looking forward to being able to wean off of some other medications I am on! Mainly Prednisone. At present I am taking 60mg of Prednisone a day along with 9mg total of Entocort (a specialized type of corticosteroid). I have gained approximately 20 lbs of water weight and have a round/moon face going on. Prednisone also has some other side effects like moodiness, irritability, weird hair growth, bone lose/osteoporosis and numerous other side effects I will not repeat here. While it is true that a lot of medications have side-effects, sometimes it boils down to the lesser of two evils. I will take the side-effects of Cimzia over Prednisone any day. The only thing Prednisone has going for it is its price. Prednisone is relatively cheap especially when compared to the newer Biological Agents, and while most pharmacies do not stock Cimzia, you need to order it from either the Manufacturer or from a Specialty or Compounding Pharmacy. Luckily my insurance approved it, at a cost of $4995.50 for the first month. (Note: I have used Costco for the cost comparisons listed here. While it is true that Costco is for members only ANYONE can use their Pharmacy No Membership is required! The same holds true for Sam's Club.) Oh yes I almost forgot, even though #48 Jimmy Johnson did not win @ Daytona, that went to Jamie McMurray, Jimmy did win at Fontana! NASCAR is back for another season and so am I!
No comments:
Post a Comment