CONGRESSMAN EARL BLUMENHAUER'S STAR SHINE BRIGHTLY TODAY, WELL DONE EARL

PERSONAL:

I awoke this morning at 7am today to a 3 after 9+ hours of sleep. I checked the south deck and it was 40+ degrees and raining and blowing. I took my am pills and did not put out my flag because there was a little wind again then checked the bird seed on the west deck. There was some left from yesterday but I put out 3 more cups and heard the geese cross over. I am posting late because I had an appointment with my Kaiser neurologist this morning and I must say, if he were my professor and I was his student I would say I got a grade of B+ this morning. I did NOT have to use my scooter and walked everywhere at Kaiser. I did put out my flag after I got home as it was dry and not so windy. I did not have the time, pre-posting to do my usual typo checking. Judi is off to lunch with Mary and will be gone until sometime this afternoon. I did make and enjoyed greatly our AOH meeting last night and I will have to check Bill's notes because ther was a new member there from Anaconda and I didn't get his name. I got home last night about 10pm and to bed shortly thereafter. I also still need to get my Kaiser leaflet made, as I have decided to leaflet Kaiser instead of picket. I will post my thoughts on negotiations in the “OTHER STUFF” section. Don't forget to register at the M.S. Walk Oregon for “WALLY'S WALKERS”. I am posting later today as I have been busy, busy, busy. I am watching C-span and the House is debating the repeal of the new national Health Care Law. I watched President Obama at the Tuscon memorial and He was spectacular, and they are saying (The Talking Heads) that he is MORE POPULAR and the ECONOMY is in better shape than Ronald Reagan was at this time on his Presidency. I haven't changed my mind about those that have earned a very low esteem in my opinion, but because of my respect for both the President and John Kerry I am still going to tone down my rhetoric.

I still believe that the new co-chair appointments being proposed for the Oregon PWR committee sand voice my concerns, one question that should be asked of the IECO nominee should be How much money has his organization cost the State of Oregon defending their lawsuits against Oregon's PWR Law. I also understand that good friend Bob Shiprack is looking for an appointment for Metro, so the health concerns I have been expressing for him are definitely outdated. The Trimet drivers are also having trouble with the Trimet board. It sounds like they are going to need another informational picket at their next board meeting and it sounds like the Trimet office is not too far from Kaisers main office, so maybe I can help them and they may help me. I want to remind everyone about the Longshore Workers and that the Oregon and Washington Workers Compensation system NEEDS a little revamping.

It seems ironic to me that the #1 issue for Republicans for the next two years is Health Care repeal and they are taking it up in the House right now; LIAR, LIAR, LIAR. I am still preparing for my New Years Resolutions, I have started the stop smoking pills, so Saturday is to be my official quit day; I sure hope you are all rooting for me.

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, Bill Gallagher's Father, 290 brothers Dick Coyle, C.W. Misenheimer, and the families of the Tucson shootings so please add them to your prayers also.

** For Brother's Andrew's, Bill's, Dick's, C.W.'s and the Tuscon 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. For cousin Mick, 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.”

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:

The M.S. Walk is scheduled for Saturday April 9th here in Portland and I hope everyone can participate($) in some form or another.

Thank you for your participation in Walk MS. Last year, we raised $588,000 and had more than 5,000 walkers across 10 sites in Oregon and SW Washington. Those funds were crucial to expanding many of the programs and services that the Oregon Chapter aims to provide for its clients each year.
To build on this positive momentum, we invite you to participate in Walk MS 2011. To register and get started with fundraising, donate to a walker (WALLY'S WALKERS), or find out about volunteer opportunities, visit www.walkmsoregon.com. Some of our Walk sites have new locations and new names, so grab a friend, come see what’s new this year, and continue your support! In 2011, we set our sights even higher, and hope to engage over 5,500 walkers and raise more than $623,000 to continue supporting vital programs and services for the over 7,200 individuals living with MS in Oregon and SW Washington
This is also my attempt to keep track of my experiences with Kaiser Permanente and my Neurologist and his RN. So far with the Ampyra and the 4.5mg LDN, I think I'm noticeably better. My BP is 109/64/75 at 8:40am. After I got an “explanation of benefits” this is not a bill but in the billed amount was $84.10 ( exactly the LDN amount) in the next column was allowed amount was $84.10, the member responsibility was 0.00, Kaiser paid 0.00; if the member responsibility was 0.00 WHY DID IT COST ME $84.10?? I did see trustee Lou Christian at the meeting Saturday and in passing I did ask him where was my money, He responded by asking me if I had heard from the Trust attorney? I will remind everyone that I WILL be taking action with Kaiser Member services.

POLITICAL:

I hope you noticed the changes in my blog. The following is one reason, Tuscon !!

www.credo.com has a petition to tell the republicans in congress, who HAVE government health care to give it up if they are so bent on taking it away from the 30+ million AMERICANS now covered under the new Health Care Law.

I just was sidetracked (12:10pm, my time ) as MY CONGRESSMAN, EARL BLUMENHAUER, is on the floor about the repeal attempts of Health Care by the Republicans and he is definitely a STAR!!

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, especially after that healing speech in Tuscon.

CHECK OUT PAST BLOGS FOR THE Top 5 Social Security Myths. I have stopped listing so I will save space.

MY MOST IMPORTANT SECTION!!

YELLOW RIBBON SECTION:

A NEW PROGRAM THAT IS 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:

Boy, I am sure glad that the Blazers didn't move Marcus Camby, he and Wesley Mathews are still looking GOOD.

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”!! I must have scared him off because I think he already headed south.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS & CHARITIES:

Lets get started with fundraising, donate to a walker, “WALLY'S WALKERS”, or find out about volunteer opportunities, visit www.walkmsoregon.com.

I did get the 2010 BULL SESSION program and results in the mail, 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 haven't checked yet but I did get a facebook notice that Ed Ellis is now my face book friend. 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 did get another update from Molly Smithson on her “playing for others” program and it is still ongoing also. And Judi got a nice call from Maria and it appears everyone is doing very well.

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, and based on what I have been hearing the Republican's have Organized Labor directly in their cross hairs for the next 2 years.

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

OTHER STUFF AND COMMUNICATIONS:

OK, here are my thoughts and suggestions based on the informational meeting Saturday. It was apparent to me that the contractors really want a new Drug program and the “excellence” program. And I think I agree with Buddy that a one year contract would be the most beneficial. 2011 looks like it will be a very good year work wise. If the contractors REALLY want a new “Drug Testing” program and the “excellence” program. If the Negotiating committee wants to get off the cycle of contract negotiations coinciding with the Local Union Elections, it seems to me a 1 year agreement would give both parties a year to shake out the bugs of those 2 “NEW” programs and see if they are really effective and a new contract may be easier to negotiate when both Republicans and Democrats are jockeying for the 2012 elections and we are strongly into the Intel expansion, hopefully the PCC and Portland Public Schools Project Labor Agreements.

MICK, BOB , RON and CHRISTOPHER, stay positive and we will meet on the golf course (but I'm not sure if Ron even Plays) but 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. I also heard from good friend and brother Joe McCarthy and he is going in for surgery on his rotator cuff, but as soon as he is well we will get out also.

THANK YOU RITA FOR THAT WONDERFUL PHOTO !!

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 5 pages, and over 2,400 words today, I think.