SENATOR MERKLEY IS A STAR !!

PERSONAL:

I awoke this morning at 6am today after 8+hrs of sleep to a 3-, took my pills, it was raining but above 40 degrees. I went out to feed the birds and I did call the birds in and I have to check the weather and watched for a break and went down to Kaiser and turned in my latest compound prescription receipt to membership services. I didn't put out the flag because of the rain and wind. I still haven't changed over to my larger lap top yet but Judi says she has it ready to go, and I still have to clean up my Nest here on the Lazy Boy. I still have to get a hold of the Molly Malone Irish Dance studio and I did call sister Danni and she will get some shoe sizes and Erin did let me know who we drew for Christmas. I am sure looking forward to the CPBT Christmas Party on Tuesday, and I REALLY hope there is a Kaiser representative there. Judi did decide what she wanted for her Birthday, a day trip to Spirit Mountain with Mike and Mary Botkin, lets all hope for good weather from Christmas to New Years. My progress with the Ampya is so far I am very happy. I do hope the Ampyra helps enough to make my road trip this summer. I will keep posting Uncle Hank's letter so I will have a much longer blog, and I did add my choice for our AOH charity and put a direct link on the blog. I did add it and Uncle Hank's letter in my “OTHER STUFF” section.

Don't forget to say THANK YOU, to all those servicemen and women who have served or are serving. I also received a Christmas email poem from good friend Craig Schommer that I sent around and it will be a good read at Christmas. Christopher is back in Afghanistan and I understand he will be stateside earlier than I thought; he is looking forward to taking down his yellow ribbon next summer; but I understand nephew Rhyon is heading back there, so a prayer a day for them from all my readers would sure make me feel better until then.

I will put the prayer to St. Jude in here again for Andrew McVey's Mother and because I didn't make it to Dick'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, nephew Arron, Kelli's Mom, 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.

M.S. REPORT:

This is my attempt to keep track of my experiences with 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 start 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 128/77/55 at 9:25am. 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 hope I remember to put it in the mail today.

POLITICAL:

SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY SPONSORS BILL TO GET RID OF THE "OBSTRUCTIONIST'S #1 TOOL.........MAKE THEM ACTUALLY H O L D THE FLOOR!!


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?

MY MOST IMPORTANT SECTION!!

YELLOW RIBBON SECTION:

NEPHEW CHRISTOPHER IS BACK IN AFGHANISTAN, DAMN AND IT APPEARS THAT NEPHEW RHYON IS HEADED BACK. I HAVE PUT THE SOLDIERS POEM, U-TUBE LINK IN NOW: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_P6yU_ymFM&feature=share
ONE RIBBON STILL UP, FOR CHRISTOPHER.

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:

The Trailblazers seem to be struggling but Andre Miller sure looked good yesterday, it is nice to have both Joel and him back.

THE FOOTBALL DUCKS DESERVE THE #1 RANKING. WHAT IS IT WITH THOSE SOB'S AT ESPN AND EAST OF THE MISSIPPI THAT SAY OREGON IS #2

I did get this off to Giz and he said he would 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 with him and he is moving up from A ball to AA and he told me he has developed a GREAT knuckleball, clocked at 79mph, and after the World Series results Texas could sure have used him.

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 still need to check and see if their website has the ability for partial payments.

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:

Dear all,

The video is great. I think we should give them the award!!

Chuck Duffy

On Dec 8, 2010, at 9:17 PM, Tom Markgraf wrote:

Several nominations were made for the Neil Kelly Award at our last meeting. One of these nominations was Martha and Mary Ministries.

It was founded by a woman in my parish Pat Carey. You may know her brother, Fr. Liam Carey. This family is ridiculously Irish.I say that in fun. They are very good people.

Several of you asked me many questions including where it is:

4303 SE Henderson St. Portland, Oregon 97206

Pat’s contact number is 503-774-5214

If you are interested, there is a web site with a very good video that describes what they are doing. It is a little out of date – they talk about getting the house remodeled. It’s been remodeled and is up and running.

http://www.marthamaryministries.org/

Tom Markgraf

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. Hopefully this will be a 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 and CHRISTOPHER, stay positive and we will meet on the golf course and I will take it easy on both of you.

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.

UNCLE HANK'S “OH HELL NO”

I've seen so many anti-Obama rhetoric e-mails come to my in-box since he was elected. Here is the other side’s rhetoric. What do you think?

We had eight years of Bush and Cheney. Now you get mad? 
You didn't get mad when the Supreme Court stopped a legal recount and appointed a President?
You didn't get mad when Cheney allowed Energy company officials to dictate energy policy?
You didn't get mad when a covert CIA operative got outed?
You didn't get mad when the Patriot Act got passed?
You didn't get mad when we illegally invaded a country that posed no threat to us?
You didn't get mad when we spent over 600 billion (and counting) on said illegal war?
You didn't get mad when over 10 billion dollars just disappeared in Iraq?
You didn't get mad when you found out we were torturing people?
You didn't get mad when the government was illegally wiretapping Americans?
You didn't get mad when we didn't catch Bin Laden?
You didn't get mad when you saw the horrible conditions at Walter Reed?
You didn't get mad when we let a major US city drown?
You didn't get mad when we gave a 900 billion tax break to the rich?
You didn't get mad when the deficit hit the trillion dollar mark, and our debt hit the thirteen trillion dollar mark?
You finally got mad when the government decided that people in America deserved the right to see a doctor if they are sick? Yes, illegal wars, lies, corruption, torture, stealing your tax dollars to make the rich richer, are all okay with you, but helping other Americans ? Oh hell no.

Mike; My blog is 5 pages, and over 2,300 words today, I think.