REPUBLICANS PROVE TODAY THEIR MANTRA........I GOT MINE !!

PERSONAL:

I awoke this morning at 8:15am after 9 hours of sleep to a 3 plus. I checked the south deck and it chilly but clear. I took my am pills, including my stop smoking one and put out my flag. I did check the west deck and it appeared the birds did not take a liking to the new birdseed I place out there last night as it appeared it was not touched. I did make the AOH meeting and swearing in Tuesday night night and had good enough karma that I got a parking space right out the front door and PARRALEL PARKED TO GET INTO IT. Holmie made it and his brother was there also. I did speak to Uncle Hank and he is home and sounded good, but I would still ask all to include him in your prayers, and I also asked for my brothers to say a prayer for him also. I did talk with my other AOH brother, who happened to graduate from Carroll College, and was a student of Hank's and did say Hank was the best Professor he, and his wife had, and basically was a driving force for them to become teachers. When I checked my file for my latest blog post the 2-17-11 was not there, and I guess I didn't save it so I won't know, for sure if I posted yesterday but I sure thought I did. While I will still try to shorten my blog I won't know for sure until I get to posting today's blog.
I am also going to add a new section “AOH” to combine the various statements and thoughts in a single section.
I did talk to Paul Riggs and the meeting with PCC is next Tuesday the 22nd and I am looking forward to it although it will be a long day, Breakfast with my Congressman, followed by the CPBT E-board and then followed by the PCC meeting. The news is reporting on the fact that the President will be in town today for a visit to Intel and will be discussing their investment here and the need for investment in training. It's too bad his advance people didn't include a visit to the Local 290 training center or IBEW training centers; both 100% industry funded; WELCOME TO OREGON, Mr. President. Also I did get the message that there will be a life celebration of brother Gary Neibert on Sunday the 27th at 1pm at the hall and I hope to make it. I will now make another pitch for support for my election to our Internationals National Convention; I did make a pitch at the retiree meeting yesterday and will tonight at the regular meeting. 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 will wish Happy Birthday again 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. 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 it appears Julie and Joe will not be able to make it, but I will say here THANK YOU PAUL RIGGS for YOUR VERY GENEROUS PERSONAL DONATION.

I will put the prayer to St. Jude in here again for 290 brothers Richard Hopkins (Hoppy), and Gary Neibert and the families of the Tucson shootings so please add them to your prayers also.

** For Brothers Hopkins, Neibert 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, sister Donna 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 did get our request in to the 290 E-board for the M.S. Walk. To register and get started with fund raising, 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 is 125/75/60 at 10am today. 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 did receive a letter of request from Senator John Kerry for a donation to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) and if you take action before March 31st your donation will be matched. I have an envelope and while I can't do too much I will do something. (you can donate online at www.dscc.org/vision (remember CORPORATIONS ARE NOW CONSIDERED PEOPLE) and we have 2 friends; right here in river city; that can be helped by this Committee, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WASHINTON) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OREGON). Don't let these seats become “Walmart seats”.

Good friend Bob Shiprack is up for an appointment to Metro and he would make a GREAT counselor. (JOBS, JOBS, JOBS) SUPPORT FOR BOB AT THE PUBLIC MEETING AT THE DAVID DOUGLAS ADMINISTRATION BUILDING; 1500 SE 130 IN PORTLAND HAD A VERY GOOD TURNOUT, I DID GET THERE AND TESTIFIED, AND IF I COUNTED RIGHT BOB HAD THE MOST SUPPORT AND I WAS SURPRISED AND MIFFED THAT ONE OF THE COUNSELORS WAS “surprised” THAT THERE WAS SO MUCH INTEREST THEN AND HE DIDN'T THINK THE CONSTRUCTION TRADES EVER SHOWED SO MUCH INTEREST IN METRO BEFORE, I DIDN'T HAVE TIME ENOUGH TO EXPLAIN THAT A) THE TRADES HAVE SHOWN INTEREST ALL THE WAY BACK TO METRO EXECUTIVE RENA CUSMA, AND OUR SUPPORT FOR THE BUILDING OF THE METRO HEADQUARTERS BUILDING AND I WANTED TO TELL THEM THAT THERE IS A PLACQUE ON THE WALL OF THE CONVENTION CENTER CELEBRATING MOST OF THE WORKERS THAT HELPED BUILD IT, I DARE SAY A LONGER TIME OF INTEREST THAN EVEN THAT PARTICULAR COUNSELOR.

www.credo.com has a petition to tell the republicans in congress, who HAVE government health care, what the republicans like to call “Obamacare”; 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 hate to report now that I just watched the House of Representatives just voted to not allow the IRS to spend any money on the new health care bill. “I GOT MINE”

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 do think they may have it backwards. 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/

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.

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?

AOH REPORT:

I received my latest AOH NEWSPAPER and I want to congratulate the Anaconda, Montana AOH Division 1 on their 125th anniversary and point out that the Montana State President, Tom Pahut, is my cousin and the Division 1 brothers carrying the AOH banner on the first page of my blog are direct decedents of my Grandfather, also pictured on the first page “John L. Monahan”.

I will also report again that Uncle Hank is recuperating at home.

It appears the Mayor will be doing a proclamation instead of the AOH resolution and I hope to be able to make that Council meeting.

I also received a real nice package from the Portland Timbers trying to sell a few more season tickets for their 2011 MLS season and if there is anyone out there that would like to share a set with me.

SPORTS:

I watched the Trailblazers beat Detroit to complete a sweep of their road trip and while LaMarcus was snubbed on the All Star team, He was voted NBA player of the week, and definitely outshines that Detroit all star. I am sure that the week off should really help their banged up players and when everyone starts playing after the All Star break the league had better beware! I did see where the Oregon M.S. Chapter is putting together a fund raiser game with the Blazers.

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, AND BROTHER PAUL RIGGS FOR THAT VERY GENEROUS PERSONAL DONATION, and I do hope U.A. 290 acts favorably again this year.

I'm still trying to find the updated 2011 BULL SESSION website, without any luck. I did speak with Jim Moss and he told me they had a board meeting and he said that Pack West was reworking the Website to allow for a payment plan for the Tournament and Dinner-Auction. I will share it as soon as I get it. 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 the ongoing protests in Wisconsin, and the mine disaster in West Virginia and those Rig explosions in the Gulf. I do think that both Senator Robert Byrd and Paul Wellstone are rolling over in their graves. And based on what I have been hearing the Republican's have Organized Labor directly in their cross hairs at least for the next 2 years.

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

OTHER STUFF AND COMMUNICATIONS:

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 over 5 pages, and under 2,600 words today, I think.