journal features

fatherhood and health

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Tokyo, 2008.11.30

One thing I hadn't really counted on in becoming a father (among so many others) was the many effects on my health. My weight's been bouncing up and down, for one thing. I reached a high of 98kg this summer, up from about 94kg at the time the kid was born. Now I'm back down to 92kg. I don't entirely know why.

Another thing is the plantar fasciitis. When I lived in Halifax I had adopted the somewhat sedentary local lifestyle and had put on weight as a result. The added weight started hurting my feet, and I forced myself to tend to my weight. The fasciitis eventually subsided.

But now that I'm carry 10kg of child around with me during mornings, evenings and all weekend, the fasciitis is back and worse than ever. It's about the last thing I expected.

I don't know what can be done about any of it, I suppose it's just a matter of coping. Like any other inconvenience.

rand()m quote

Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.

—Hermann Goering