I HAVE A SCHEME !!

PERSONAL:

I awoke this morning at 7am to a 3 after 8+ hours of sleep after sleeping in my bed, with a little sniffles. I checked the south deck and it was over 40 degrees, cloudy 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 gone. I called in the birds today and a few showed up. We had a wonderful time watching the Super Bowl up at Marty's and we did put together an inexpensive board, and while I was on for a few minutes, I didn't win a quarter, but Judi did win one and her wings were a definite hit; Marty and Kelli did a wonderful job has hosts; brother Mike introduced us to his new “squeeze” and she did fit right in. We did discuss my backyard bird table and I received a number of suggestions on “re-engineering” I am sure to incorporate them into it, and I hope to get it done before the end of summer :-). 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”. I will definitely need my BULL SESSION magnifying glass and binoculars to help me identify the birds on my bird table and I need to start on the re-engineering suggestions. I did get Judi a dozen roses for our anniversary yesterday and she was very appreciative. And I think she had a very HAPPY ANNIVERSARY. I did call Jim Moss to try to find the BULL session web site and get signed up, but I had to leave a phone message. 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. The official swearing in will be at the meeting on the 15th so I definitely had time. I will keep the prayer to Saint Jude, but with the new dedications to those that have passed recently. I will wish Happy Birthday to all whose Birthday is this month and maybe I won't forget so many; I did remember to take my Trailblazer Basketball and Heidi did say she would make sure that Austin did get it. 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 post my thoughts again on negotiations in the “OTHER STUFF” section and try to make the “informational” meeting on the Sunday 13th 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.

Good friend Bob Shiprack is up for an appointment to Metro and he would make a GREAT counselor. (JOBS, JOBS, JOBS) The Labor Press had a very good article in their last edition. It appeared in the last Labor Press that the Governor (Kulongoski) has requested a state arbitrator get the 2 sides together. I am not sure now if the Trimet drivers are going to do another informational picket at the Trimet board meeting. It sounds like the Trimet office is not too far from Kaisers main office, so maybe I can help them and if needed my leaflets should be ready by then and they may help me. I want to remind everyone about the (I.L.W.U.) Longshore Workers and every worker in Oregon and Washington that the Workers Compensation system NEEDS a little revamping.

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, 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:

The M.S. Walk is scheduled for Saturday April 9th here in Portland and I hope everyone can participate($) in some form or another. AND THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE NORTHWEST OREGON LABOR COUNCIL. I better get our request to the 290 E-board soon.

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 was 129/78/64, at 8:20am. 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 !!

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!

Quote: "We know what it takes to compete for the jobs and industries of our time. We need to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world. We have to make America the best place on Earth to do business. We need to take responsibility for our deficit, and reform our government. That’s how our people will prosper. That’s how we’ll win the future." --President Obama
The Democrats in the Senate successfully blocked the repeal of health reform -- preventing Republicans from tacking it on as an amendment to a completely unrelated bill.

But Republicans in Congress aren't finished with the political games.

Instead of focusing on creating jobs and growing the economy, they are insisting on re-litigating the battles of the last two years. They've vowed to do whatever it takes to tear apart the Affordable Care Act bit by bit, and they're already planning to go after it at every turn.

These opponents of reform are in full campaign mode.

But we don't just have the facts on our side -- we also have the millions of Americans who already benefit from reform. And it's up to us to help tell their stories, to make sure everyone understands the costs of repeal.


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:

I sure hope baseball pre-season gets here soon.

I was all wrong on yesterday's Super Bowl Sunday, I hope Austin appreciates that basketball, and Heidi remembers the personal stories I told her about it.

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.

Yusuf Word is in Americorps, and trying to get to Guatemala in Central America and spread the GOOD WORD about the U.S.A. (You can help by donating to him at 1825 S. Stevens St. Apt. 13 – Tacoma, Washington 98405. If you haven't met this wonderful young man I think you can find an interview with him at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mxo7m4rrDo4 – We did send off a small check yesterday and I will definitely add him to my prayers also.

The Campaign to Stop Killer Coke originated to stop the gruesome cycle of violence against union leaders and organizers in Colombia in efforts to crush their union, SINALTRAINAL. Since then, violence, abuse and exploitation leveled against Coke workers and communities have been uncovered.

I did make it to the O.M.S.N. and and I hope Senator Murray uses my suggestion; I did say I will help with their fund raising and I do have a few more ideas to suggest.

I did try 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.

I did get another update from Molly Smithson on her “playing for others” program and it is still ongoing also; it is absolutely scary that she is exploring colleges now.

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 April 9th here in Portland. ALL HELP APPRECIATED.

HERE IS THE LINK FOR THE AOH CHARITY that was chosen as the recipient of the Neil Kelly AWARD (a good union contractor), but they could always use 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 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, GERRY, 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 6 pages, and over 3,000 words today, I think.