Daily Conversations

First phone call
My mom: "Mirela, there's been some sort of bacteria they found in Canada, in Toronto, I think, and some people have died because of it. It's found in meat, so pleeeeaaaase be careful not to eat too much meat and look at the package carefully."
Me: "Don't worry, mom, we don't east that much meat during the summer, and I always look at the expiration date when I buy it." (at that time, I had no idea there even existed such a warning, and it didn't impress me too much; I had bigger fish to fry and worry about. The only thing I knew I had to do was to assure my mom we'd be fine).

Second phone call:
Hypermarket (machine): "We'd like o inform you that there's been a warning issued regarding the product XXX that you bought from us. Although it is not on the list of potentially contaminated meats, we have been asked to withdraw it from circulation and to ask all customers to bring back the product so that they're reimbursed."
My husband: "Oooo Kkkk..."

- Ten days had passed since we had bought the product. It was for my husband's work, and, since it was very tasty and light, I had also eaten a considerable part of it. We had 3 slices left.-

First reading

Me: "It's not on the list, but it did come from that plant. I've just read some info and it says the number of the plant, which is identical with the one on the package. It says between three weeks and 70 days could pass before any signs appear, after which it is already too late . I'll go get my analisis done tomorrow, and depending on my result, you'll either take a day off now, or you'll have them done before I leave, during your vacation."
My husband: "Don't worry, I'm sure it's nothing serious. They're just being extra cautious. Go have your analysis done, so that you can leave with a light heart, but you'll see it's nothing. If you got listeriosis, it's from that mouthwash you use, Listerine. (trying to make a joke which didn't really work on me at that time)"

First visit to the clinic
Me: "I wouldn't want to seem crazy, I'm not a hypochondriac or paranoid, but I've just received this call and I would like to get some analysis done to make sure I don't have listeriosis."
Receptionist (smiling ironically and speaking loudly): "Miss, there's been no recorded cases in Quebec, so we don't have the required analysis. We wouldn't want to cause panic among people. If you want, you can call this number."

Second reading
Me: "It's on the new list! Obviously. At first there were 3, but now 15 people have died."

I have to say I'm somewhat scared. And the irony is that the way authorities and medical staff handles the issue is what made me so. I understant there's no analysis available yet here, but don't laugh in my face and tell me you don't want to panica people. I was the one who got the phone call, so I didn't just start inventing symptoms out of some sort of hypochondriac issue. There's been no recorded deaths in Quebec yet? OK, so we need a few casualties before we can start protecting and informing people. I try very hard not to exagerate, but it's kind of hard when you know you're leaving in two weeks to a country that most certainly does not have the means to detect or treat such a disease, while leaving your husband alone, who's known for not being the first to go see a doctor. Although you realize the odds are in your favour, knowing that there is a remote possibility to feel sick only after more than two months can cause you anxiety.
I just hope no one else gets sick and dies. Maybe it could be contained. You know it's unlikely to get sick, but it's a grim feeling, nevertheless.

Official Threat

I should be sleeping, but I can't, although my eyes are all blurry. I'm afraid that if I go to bed, I won't wake up on time tomorrow... again. I have a presentation tomorrow, and one on Thursday; meanwhile, maybe I should also read Melanie's essay.
I'll be cooking tomorrow night, unfortunately for Cristina, Alessia and Gianluca! They are just killing me about the Romanian food, which they pretty much hate. They don't even let me touch the utensils they use to cook! And they call themselves my "friends" :P! Gianluca and Alessia discovered a Romanian store today... I'd known about it for a long time; if they keep making jokes, maybe I'll have a surprise for them tomorrow :P.
I'm so tired... and I don't know what's wrong with me :(. Ah, it's ok, should be better tomorrow. It'll surely be better!
Good night, Mirela!

Printre butoaie

Acum doua zile le impartaseam colegilor nemarginita mea uimire ca, in ciuda faptului ca cei mai multi dintre ei sunt bolnavi, de mine inca nu s-a atins molima. Cauza acestui "virus" aparut subit ar fi schimbarile bruste de temperatura, si-anume dintre statul in baruri, dansatul in cluburi si haladuitul pe strazi in ploaie. Eh, m-am mirat cam degeaba; ieri m-am trezit cu o tuse majestuoasa, dar asta nu m-a impiedicat sa-mi petrec toata noaptea pe drumuri si sa ma maimutaresc timp de vreo 3 ore pe ritmuri latino si intr-un nor de fum. Acum sunt bolnavioara tare, si singurica, nu e nimeni sa-mi faca ceiut si sa aiba grija de mine :((. Ma alint si eu, nu piere iarba rea atat de repede. Mi-e doar ciuda ca nu prea pot vorbi si am o stare extrem de neplacuta. Iar cand ma simt rau din punct de vedere fizic, incepe si moralul sa atinga cote asemanatoare temperaturilor din Canada din timpul iernii. Astazi as vrea sa citesc notitele, si sper sa reusesc pana diseara. Iar trebuie sa dau o fuga pana in centru pe la 9 seara, sa-mi iau la revedere de la niste colege care se intorc acasa; speram sa petrec o seara linistita, dar e mai important sa fiu alaturi de ele; de boala ma pot bucura si maine.
Marti ma mut in apartament. N-am mai locuit pana acum cu cineva strain, sunt nerabdatoare sa incerc si experienta asta. Doua colege din Germania, una din Italia si... eu (de peste tot, dupa cum spun Erasmusii :P).Cu toate ca am plecat acum 7 ani de-acasa, este pentru prima oara cand ma aflu singura intr-un loc strain. Chiar si-aici l-am avut pe Luis, care mi-a purtat de grija de ma gandeam c-o sa ma adopte; m-a prezentat imediat prietenilor lui, m-a sunat de fiecare data cand ieseau (adica zilnic), facandu-mi astfel integrarea mult mai usoara. In ceea ce priveste noul val de studenti, am fost pe cont propriu, si pot spune ca m-am descurcat foarte bine. Sper sa apuc sa scriu zilele astea despre fiecare dintre colegii mei, mi-ar placea sa pastrez impresiile din primele zile pentru a le compara apoi cu cele de la plecare. Dar nu vreau acum sa ma gandesc la acel moment. As avea deja prea mult de gandit...

Valoarea unei vieti

Liliana Georgescu este o tanara de 30 de ani diagnosticata in zilele premergatoare Craciunului cu leucemie acuta limfoblastica. Site-ul meritaoviata.ro ofera toate informatiile necesare; sufletul si o particica din venitul nostru ii pot oferi salvarea.

As avea nevoie de un sfat

N-as fi crezut ca voi ajunge sa scriu despre asa ceva, dar sunt oarecum disperata. Ma doare o ureche atat de tare incat se pare ca voi mai adauga o noapte alba la lunga lista. Am luat o pastila care a mai atenuat durerea, dar dupa un timp aceasta a revenit si nu intentionez sa ma indop cu Motrin. Daca m-as duce la un farmacist, ori m-ar trimite la urgenta, ori direct in sala de operatie. Aici lumea intra in panica si daca se taie la deget. As suna-o pe mama, sigur ar avea o solutie, dar chiar nu am de gand sa-i dau motive de ingrijorare, si-asa se roaga de mine de 2 luni sa-mi fac vaccinul antigripal si se tot teme ca ma voi imbolnavi. Daca se intampla sa cunoasteti un leac babesc, nu stiu, orice idee, as aprecia foarte mult ajutorul, sa dorm si eu putin pana marti, cand voi ajunge la medic. Bine, acum sa nu-mi spuneti sa-mi dau foc sau sa-mi torn smoala in ureche, va avertizez ca ma voi prinde dupa cateva incercari :)).

Super Size Me
I'm Hatin' It (McDo)


A few days ago I finally managed to see "Super Size Me", a documentary that condemns the high percentage of fat and obese Americans and presents the ugly truth behind the McDonald's smile - a truth we all know, but most of us choose to ignore. Morgan Spurlock, a 30 something-year old man, decides to eat only McDonald's food for 30 days, three times a day, in order to observe how such a "diet" would affect someone. The movie doesn't point out any secrets that may shock us, it's all information we should be aware of by now. Spurlock's take on the matter is somewhat drastic, I admit, but at this point the American population needs such examples in order to realize what hamburgers and frech fries do to them.
I personally hate McDonald's more than any other fast food chains. I remember having a period of about two weeks when I'd eat a cheeseburger almost every other day just because I was too busy to think about eating and McDo was just around the corner... it's always just around the corner, and this is one of the reasons I dislike it so much. Even on the highway, there is a McDo at every exit.
After the movie came out, they introduced salads in their menu. These salads suck, the leaves are old, the dressing tastes like old vinagre and the tomatoes have no taste at all, since they use the cheapest kind. Wendy's, on the other hand, has one of the best salads I've ever eaten, and I have to admit I'm one of their best customers (but I don't use all the dressing they give me :P ); they should pay me for how many people I bring to try their BLT chicken salad :P (cherry tomatoes rule :D).
I also hate the McDonald's clown. I think he's grotesque, has a fake smile and doesn't look friendly at all. This is a positive aspect, if I think about it. Why? Because what bothers me most about McDo is their campaign to attract children and turn them into future walking hamburgers. They have playgrounds, the above mentioned scary clown, Happy Meals with dozens of useless toys, and are also one of the favourite spots of the parents who want to organize a party for their children. The youngsters couldn't be happier. What do they know? I also found out that there are some cartoons about McDonald's, where the clown does I don't know what. All toy stores sell miniature fast foods, drive-ins, hamburgers and ffs. McDonald's is fun! Oh, yes, I also detest their motto, written in as many languages as possible: "I'm Lovin' It". NOT!
I don't understand how parents can be against their children smoking, but give them money to go and have lunch every day at McDonald's. The comparison is not at all exagerated, considering that the number of people who die of obesity-related causes could soon surpass the number of deaths caused by cigarettes.
I used to enjoy having a hamburger once in a while, but after watching this movie I'm pretty sure I won't be getting near one any time soon. I feel sick only when thinking about it.

Durere...

Iata ca si premierul Calin Popescu Tariceanu s-a imbolnavit. Pardon, si-a intortocheat ligamentele pe la genunchi... se mai incurca itele si pe la case mai mari! Daca adaugam si operatia de menisc, rezulta vizita la Paris! Suferinta acestui domn imi ofera inspiratia pentru a crea versuri, imi atinge cea mai sensibila fibra, imi bulverseaza sentimentele, ma face sa rad si sa plang in acelasi timp... cer intermitenta de un minut, sa-mi sterg lacrimile, ca deja mi s-au aburit ochelarii! Auuuuuuu... "amintirile ma chinuiesc, amintirile ma rascolesc".... ma duc cu gandul la presedintele Traian Basescu, cum nu am scris nimic despre operatia de hernie de disc la care a fost supus cu cateva luni in urma la Viena :( ! Nu stiu daca aveam blog atunci, dar asta e un alt motiv pentru care sufar acum... cata desconsiderare din partea mea! Ar rezolva ceva autoflagelarea? Sunt dispusa sa fac orice pentru a-mi recapata linistea... nu, nu, iar dau dovada de siniubire. Mai punem 13 lovituri, sa fie cu noroc.

Banuiesc ca presedintele tarii si mana sa... (era sa zic "dreapta") nu ar putea fi operati in spitalele din Bucuresti, cu atat mai putin in cel din Constanta. Nu stiu daca le-ar merge conectia la internet, ca am inteles ca doar de asta si de televiziune au nevoie pentru a conduce tara. Sa nu mai vorbim despre gandacii care ar putea intra in computer si cine stie ce fisiere importante ar face sa dispara, daca nu chiar l-ar strica de tot.

Mai fac si eu haz de necaz; ii doresc "insanatosire grabnica" primului-ministru, orice problema de sanatate trebuie luata in serios, dar ma deranjeaza si pe mine unele lucruri...