BOB SHIPRACK FOR METRO - SEE YOU ON THE 16TH - JOBS, JOBS, JOBS

PERSONAL:

I awoke this morning at 7:15am to a 3 after 8+ hours of sleep, with a little sniffles. I checked the south deck and it was over 40 degrees, cloudy, damp and no wind. I took my am pills, including my stop smoking one and put out my flag. I checked the west deck and most of the bird seed was still there. I called in the birds, and a few showed up, mostly chickadees and 2 female and one male varied thrushes. I did make the CPBT E-board meeting this morning and found out I'm not the only one miffed at Kaiser and now I'll get ready for our trip to the Mountain tomorrow. We will be gone until Friday as I have a keno tournament and Wednesday is double points day. I did hear yesterday that Uncle Hank had been in the Hospital and I would ask all to include him in your prayers. I hope to clear a lot off of my blog today, as most of it is pretty repetitive anyway. I watched the President speak at the Chamber of Commerce and at least I thought he did very well. He was definitely in a JFK mode as he said a number of times to those present, “ Ask not what your Country can do for you, ask what You can do for your Country”; but I fear he was speaking to deaf ears. I will start on the re-engineering suggestions, after I get back. I am not going to make Dave Hunt's town Hall tonight in Oregon City. We did get a visit from Eric, Peg, Stephanie and Lacey last night with a very nice HAPPY ANNIVERSARY CARD. I will now make another pitch for support for my election to our International's National Convention. I do want to keep my record intact of making every National Convention I have been eligible for since I joined the United Association. I did get hooked up on face book with good friend Gerry Bruce and he was recovering from a little surgery himself but was waiting for some dry warm weather to get back on the golf course. I did email all the City Council on the AOH resolution and asked to be told of when it might be taken up, and again, commissioner Fritz did not want to be bothered. Our official swearing in will be at the AOH meeting on the 15th and I definitely will make it, Good Lord Willing and the creek don't rise. I will wish Happy Birthday to all whose Birthday is this month and maybe I won't forget so many; Happy Birthday sister-in-law Peg, niece Brenda, Dad, brother Marty; and I would ask everyone to let me know who I may have missed. I will still post my thoughts again on negotiations in the “OTHER STUFF” section and try to make the “informational” meeting on the Sunday 13th (DAD'S BIRTHDAY) at the Convention Center. And please don't forget to register at the M.S. Walk Oregon for “WALLY'S WALKERS”, THANK YOU NORTHWEST OREGON LABOR COUNCIL FOR YOUR VERY GENEROUS DONATION, and I sure hope Julie can convince Joe to walk. I also need to get my request in to the 290 E-board.

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 290 brother Richard Hopkins (Hoppy), and the families of the Tucson shootings so please add them to your prayers also.

** For Brother Hopkins 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, uncle Hank, nephew Arron, Kelli's Mom, good friend Ron Wyden, good family friend Pat Percin, brothers Jimmy Judge, and Gerry Bruce 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:

I better get our request in to the 290 E-board soon for the M.S. Walk. To register and get started with fundraising, donate to a walker (WALLY'S WALKERS), or find out about volunteer opportunities, visit www.walkmsoregon.com.

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 was 137/76/61, at 9:10am. 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 the allowed amount of $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?? It sounds like the trust attorney is trying to get to the bottom of it. I did clean a little off of my “nest” here on my Lazyboy and I have a full briefcase just of my Kaiser stuff. I will remind everyone that I WILL be taking action with Kaiser Member services, if and when I need to.

POLITICAL:

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

Good friend Bob Shiprack is up for an appointment to Metro and he would make a GREAT counselor. (JOBS, JOBS, JOBS) SUPPORT BOB AT A PUBLIC MEETING FEBRUARY 16TH AT DAVID DOUGLAS ADMINISTRATION BUILDING; 1500 SE 130 IN PORTLAND – IT STARTS AT 5PM – WE SHOULD BE THERE AT 4PM.

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.

One issue that concerns me with this NEW congress is the “SPENDING CUTS” they are considering, and it seems at the TOP of the list is “entitlement” spending. One of the shows said entitlement spending (social security, medicare?) makes up for 84% of federal spending, does that mean that the D.O.D. Budget with 2+ wars, and interest on the current National Debt only accounts for 16%. I have a question for my republican friends; When I put money in the bank and then draw it out, do YOU consider that an entitlement? HMMMN !

CHECK OUT PAST BLOGS FOR THE Top 5 Social Security Myths. I am only going to list the first one, 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.

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.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE OREGON MILITARY SUPPORT NETWORK, I DID INFORM SENATOR PATTY MURRAY OF OUR EFFORTS.

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 are sure playing well and it looks like they will be getting a few of their stars back later this week.

I sure hope baseball pre-season gets here soon.

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. Thank You, Ed and Luanne Barnes, Lynn Lehrbach and Lori Vaughn for getting me started. AND ALSO THE MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS OF THE NORTHWEST OREGON LABOR COUNCIL.

I'm still trying to find the updated 2011 BULL SESSION website, without any luck. I did phone Jim Moss and left him a message. I will share it as soon as I get it. Jim did say that the individual entry would be the same rate as last year for the Union members. THANK YOU JIM ! AND THANK YOU ALSO TO THE MEMBERS OF LOCAL 290 FOR YOUR VERY GENEROUS DONATION. ALL HELP APPRECIATED.

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 for the up-comming Contract negotiations and I hope to share with all on Sunday the 13th. It is apparent to me that the contractors really want a new Drug testing 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 could give both parties what they wanted and 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, JIM 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.

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 just 5 pages, and over 2,300 words today, I think.