HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUDI AND HAPPY KWANZAA EVERYONE

PERSONAL:

I awoke this morning at 6am today after 8+hrs of sleep to a 3. It was above freezing and damp. I did figure I'd sleep later and awaken to a less than 3 but today will be a VERY BUSY day for me as it is the beginning of a new Holiday (Judi's Birthday) and Holiday season (KWANZAA). I apologize for the repeat's and mistakes as I am a little rushed right now. I had more turkey (sandwiches for lunch and turkey, mashed potato's & gravy for dinner), along with the last 4 days of wonderful celebration's. I will get to my Christmas “home made” banana bread from Michael Ross and Courtney and do hope to see them before they head south as COURTNEY has to return to school on the 10th of January and I do have another lecture to give. He, and Courtney, did say that he gets a regular “talking to” from her and I asked her to keep it up. I called for the birds, the geese and the sun to arrive, but no one has arrived yet. I do have to get my Kwanzaa wishes emailed to Keith and Donna also. I didn't put out my flag because I am not sure when we will return from Spirit Mountain. I will attribute my 3 to an overabundance of turkey and I slept in my brand new pajama's and had a wonderful night's sleep. We are scheduled to head out by 9am and I do have to get some seed money on the way. I am also preparing for my New Years Resolutions, I think; after 2+ years with this blog I have an idea for another one.

We did get a get well card off to Senator Ron Wyden; he is recovering from surgery, but still made it to work to help finish up the “Lame Duck” session; but there was nothing Lame about what they accomplished; so I will ask all to include him in our prayers; I'll take this time again to tell all of you (especially those over 50 yrs old) to be sure and get in and have your colon check ups.

I did get the address for Brother Shiprack and I hope he had a wonderful Christmas and I will put his address in my “OTHER STUFF” section one more time.

My “backyard bird table” is still on hold so maybe after we get back from Spirit Mountain.

Don't forget to say THANK YOU, to all those servicemen and women who have served or are serving. Christopher is back in Afghanistan and I understand nephew Rhyon is heading back there in May, but we did see him, and hope to again before he leaves. So a prayer a day for them from all my readers would sure make me feel better.

I will put the prayer to St. Jude in here again for Andrew McVey's Mother and because I didn't make it to brother Dick Coyle's funeral. I did get a real nice card from Dick's wife for the funeral spread we sent, so please add them to your prayers also.

** For Brother's Andrew's, Bill's and Dick's families **

Prayer to St. Jude for Eternal Life
You are my solace, St. Jude, in the face of loss and sorrow. I pray that you will guide my heart away from the darkness of fear and into the light of Christ. May the hope that St. Jude keeps alive in my heart be a source of comfort to all those who grieve. For in that hope, we know God's mercy, and we trust God's promise of eternal life. My soul longs for the fullness of life, which is only to be revealed when I meet my Maker in heaven. Stay by my side, St. Jude, so that my soul will always know the power of your healing love. Amen.

God grant that I may live to fish until my dying day, And when it comes to my last cast, I then must humbly pray. When in the Lord's safe landing net I'm peacefully asleep, that in His mercy, I be judged............Good enough to keep.

**** My daily prayer, is to Mary Mother of God…..”O Most Blessed Mother, heart of love, heart of mercy, ever listening, caring, consoling, hear our prayer. As your children we implore your intercession with Jesus your Son. Receive with understanding and compassion the petitions we place before you today, the welcoming of Uncle Sandy, Frances's aunt, good friends Bob Spicher, Jim Fox, brother Dick Coyle, Andrew's Mother and good friend Bill Gallager's father into the house of the Lord; cousin Mick, brother Shiprack, nephew Arron, Kelli's Mom, good friend Ron Wyden, good family friend Pat Percin, and those who are having health issues; protecting Christopher and Rhyon and all in need. We are comforted in knowing your heart is ever open to those who ask for your prayer. We trust to your care and intercession, those whom we love and who are sick or lonely or hurting. Help ALL of us, to bear our burdens in this life until we may share eternal life and peace with God forever, Amen.”
Thank You, Mother Mary, for your help and assistance, especially for BRINGING DANIEL HOME SAFELY,; for the safe delivery of Brandee's new baby girl, Larry's big win, Mick and Gloria; and those, NOW covered with Health Care.

I know I have been repeating things, apparently too much, on my blog; but some of this stuff I need to be reminded of and some of this stuff others need to be reminded of.

KAISER AND M.S. REPORT:

This is my attempt to keep track of my experiences with Kaiser Permanente and my LDN treatment for my Neurologist and his RN. So far with the 4.5mg, I think I'm noticeably better, I have changed the LDN to coincide with my noon regimen and I am experiencing better days now that I'm doing the L.D.N., at noon. I have started that brand new FDA approved pill, Ampyra and unless they screw it up it is only supposed to be a $20 copay. My BP is 121/80/71 at 8am. I am still working on cutting down on my smoking and if I can keep it at a half a pack or less I may add it as a new years resolution. I did get a questionnaire on my satisfaction from my last visit with my neurologist but the space for my personal statement was to small and I had to add my own little letter and I did get it in the mail. After my visit to “membership services” at Kaiser Sunnyside, in their New office, with a New “service person” I am even more concerned, because she could not find my previous “compound” receipts in the computer system. I did however get a notice from medicare that they received my appointment of the trust attorney to represent me, the same day I got Kaisers latest denial of the LDN. The membership services person did give me a copy of the “Non Plan” form for my LDN refill and my receipt and I did speak with trustee Lou Christian and asked if he heard from the Kaiser rep since I turned in my last receipt for the LDN and based on my most recent prescription denial, hopefully they won't lose that one. And I did get a “comparison” between Kaiser and the self funded plan and even after Judi and I reviewed it we decided a change was not timely. I did tell Lou that I WILL be creating my own picket sign, and it will be so convenient for my picketing at Kaiser Sunnyside, Mt. Scott and Mt. Talbert and their whole complex.

POLITICAL:

The Road Back to Recovery
The challenges that President Obama inherited were immense–two wars, record debt, a broken health care system, and an economy in crisis. For two years, Democrats have worked to rebuild our economy from the bottom up, spurring job creation, expanding access to health care, investing in small business, and expanding opportunities for education.
There is still much work to be done to recover from the worst recession in decades, but America is now moving in the right direction. Across the country, Democrats have made investments to lay a new foundation for growth and build an economy that works for all Americans.

Economy & Jobs
3,170,000
Number of jobs created or saved through October 2010 in because of the Recovery Act

Small Business
6,732,000
Number of small businesses eligible for health care tax credits under the Affordable Care Act
The middle class
111,399,000
Number of middle class families in the United States that received a tax cut through the Recovery Act
HEALTH care
5,615,000
Number of Americans with pre-existing conditions who can no longer be denied coverage by health insurance companies
Education
161,000
Number of education jobs saved because Democrats passed a deficit-neutral state-aid bill

3,880
Number of Department of Energy Recovery Act projects that will help secure our energy future
I did post the accomplishments for the Presidents 1st 2 years and I did try to list them all; I just wish that E.F.C.A. was one. I know it is a long time still until the 2012 elections, and I'm probably not the first, but I will say right here that; President Obama deserves and has earned his second term.

SENATOR RON WYDEN, HERO AND FRIEND, HAS BEEN RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL, AND HIS SURGERY IS BEING REPORTED AS A SUCCESS, but please keep him in your prayers also.

CHECK OUT PAST BLOGS FOR THE Top 5 Social Security Myths. I am only going to list the first one from now on, as it is the biggest, as far as I'm concerned and I will save the space.

Myth #1: Social Security is going broke.
Reality: There is no Social Security crisis. By 2023, Social Security will have a $4.6 trillion surplus (yes, trillion with a 'T'). It can pay out all scheduled benefits for the next quarter-century with no changes whatsoever. After 2037, it'll still be able to pay out 75% of scheduled benefits—and again, that's without any changes. The program started preparing for the Baby Boomers' retirement decades ago. Anyone who insists Social Security is broke probably wants to break it themselves.

The nation's retirement deficit; the gap between your current pension/retirement savings and what you should have for retirement--is a staggering $6.6 trillion. Yet there are calls to cut Social Security, fewer people have pensions and 401(k)s have been decimated. It's time to wake up Washington and tell lawmakers to keep their hands off of Social Security and FIX our patchwork private retirement system.

Well, here we go......(John Bohener as Speaker of the house), BACK to the BUSH years? (that is in this new Contract on America) Do you suppose he is one of the protégées of Delay, even though he is soooo emotional? After 2 years with him as speaker starting in January, it should insure a Democratic Landslide in 2012 !

MY MOST IMPORTANT SECTION!!

YELLOW RIBBON SECTION:

I still have to email Glenn Shuck and let him know I will try to make that “organizational” meeting and I have already recruited a couple more volunteers, his email address is ggshuck36@aol.com and he is looking for some help to establish a new 501C3 Vets program. When I figure out how to download and copy to the “front page”, or get my new lap top moved over here, I will get 'er done. Unless I misheard Jill Biden on that interview with the First Lady I thought I heard her say “Lets Bring Em Home”, now that would be an excellent Kwanzaa gift.

Organizational Summary and History

This Business Plan is for the Oregon Military Support Network (OMSN) which operates as a not-for-profit organization throughout the northwestern United States and is located in Milwaukie, Oregon.

The idea for OMSN began in 2007 as an outgrowth of the Military Resource Meetings that were part of the Oregon reintegration strategy for service men and women who were returning from deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan. The effort was lead by a young Oregon woman, Michelle Davidson, who had served her country for seven years as both an active duty member of the U.S. Army and then as a member of the Oregon National Guard. Michelle worked as a paid intern for National Guard Reintegration Team one and a half years and State Senator Martha Schrader for six months and directed the majority of her earnings to cover the costs of traveling throughout Oregon to conduct the Military Resource Meetings, providing materials and refreshments for meetings, and physically taking veterans and their families to service provider agencies if they lacked transportation. Since the beginning these outreach efforts were underwritten through Michelle’s generosity and her unwavering support of the need to connect veterans and their families with much needed services.

A NEW PROGRAM THAT IS ALSO LOOKING FOR HELP: LETS BRING EM HOME
http://www.lbeh.org/

NEPHEW CHRISTOPHER IS STILL IN AFGHANISTAN, DAMN AND IT APPEARS THAT NEPHEW RHYON WILL BE HEADED BACK.

ONE RIBBON STILL UP, FOR CHRISTOPHER, AND WHEN RHYON GETS REDEPLOYED, HIS RIBBON WILL GO BACK UP.

DON'T FORGET, THE SOFT LANDING BILL, and thank you SENATOR PATTY MURRAY and CONGRESSMAN KURT SCHRADER for helping with it.

If you are flying the American Flag, please keep flying it until ALL our Troops return home.

At the 11th Hour, on the 11th Day, of the 11th Month a cease fire was signed to end the war to end all wars in 1918. How's that worked out so far?

SPORTS:

I don't know if Spirit Mountain has a “Sports Book” but I will check today on the over/under on the Ducks game.

I did get this off to Giz and he did pass it along:
Mr. Angelos, sir, I hope you have had your people keep an eye on that Mehrens kid, that played fall ball for the S. Cal Rangers, I have been trying to follow his progress on line and he definitely has the right stuff; based on what I've read he will be making a wonderful closer. I spoke, “lectured” him and I am working hard on my next “lecture”!!

COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS & CHARITIES:

I did get the 2010 BULL SESSION program and results in the mail Saturday and it sure was well done, Thanks Tim. And I think I misspoke before, because after rechecking our total for 20 years it was actually $4 million. I did talk to Jim Moss and he will try to get their website to accept partial payments; I did check, and it wasn't set yet so I will try to call Ed Ellis to find out what's up? Jim did say that the individual entry would be the same rate as last year for the Unions and members. THANK YOU JIM ! AND THANK YOU ALSO TO THE MEMBERS OF LOCAL 290 FOR YOUR VERY GENEROUS DONATION. (I sure hope Jim found his Moms Christmas decorations)

I did get an update from Molly Smithson on her “playing for others” program and it is still ongoing also.

The planning for the 2011 Hood to Coast in August has started already and Judi has signed up for the walk part, and we are recruiting for the 2011 M.S. Walk which is in April. ALL HELP APPRECIATED.

HERE IS THE LINK FOR MY CHOICE FOR THE AOH CHARITY; and it does appear it is garnering more support:

http://www.marthamaryministries.org/


HELP THE KOMEN RUN/WALK – www.5.komen.org/findarace.aspx

The American Rights at Work still needs help. We must not take our eye off that MAIN issue, our two Senators haven't; E.F.C.A. It is very disappointing that it was not lame duck accomplishment, especially in light of that mine disaster in West Virginia and those Rig explosions in the Gulf. I watched the commission on the B.P. Disaster and, from here, it looks like the beginning of a cover up.

The U.A. Local 290 “Don Salee” Member Assistance Program.

OTHER STUFF AND COMMUNICATIONS:

MICK, BOB , RON and CHRISTOPHER, stay positive and we will meet on the golf course (but I'm not sure if Ron even Plays) and I will take it easy on all of you. I also talked to good friend Scott Gardner and he wants to get together for some golf. BOB'S ADDRESS IS 4406 SE 76TH PORTLAND, OREGON 97206; for those thinking of sending a card.

May love and laughter light your days
And warm your heart and homes
May good and faithful friends be yours wherever you may roam
May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures
May all life's passing seasons bring the best to you and yours

Whether you attend a church service, a Mosque, GLBT gathering, or Synagogue service, please say a prayer that God; yours, mine or ours; keeps our service men and women in the Palm of their hand.

Mike; My blog, is 6 pages, and under 2,900 words today, I think.