Obama healthcare

Well I did something a week ago to give my back a little twinge, no big deal... 2 days later after sitting at my desk non-stop (driven by my work load and fear of being laid-off if I don't show up for work) my middle back was in full spasm. I stayed flat and did the ice / heat routine but by 1am I knew I needed to go somewhere. Jenn was on patient watch and we started calling to find where to go to urgent care. My insurer sent me to a place that no longer accepted my insurance. My doctor's after hours recording sent me to a place an hour away that was not even open after 8pm. Finally at 3:30 I had a place to go - only a $50 dollar co-pay just to walk in the door. 5 days of bed rest muscle relaxants and morphin (yep, the pain is that bad, not to mention the pain of the perscription co-pay costs) but I can finally shower without a baby sitter. I have no more sick days and only 2 days more of meds before I get the pleasure of paying another $50 dollar cover charge to have someone tell me to "stay in bed". As if not showing up for work on Monday is an option.
I left my house tuesday night in my pajamas (thanks to Jenn taking such good care of me I have clean pj's) but in pajamas I stay. I am seeing a lot of improvement but I have no idea how I will actually get back to work, I can walk but not sit. I don't know what the answer is to the healthcare problem - but I it is clear to me that people abuse pain killers in part because they are forced back to work too soon.
Pass a health care bill - we can always keep working on it - but something has to change.

Photo by Elder Jack Eichelberger

Leaders of the five districts and other leaders of the India Bangalore Mission meet after three new districts were created from the two existing in the southern part of the nation.

Happy Birthday Mom - I Love You.

draft of our new website

The battle continues

As I expected...The California Supreme Court has upheld a voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage, BUT it also decided that the estimated 18,000 gay couples who tied the knot before the law took effect will stay married!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Disappointing, but both sound constitutional decisions. On to the next step: CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION ARTICLE 18 AMENDING AND REVISING THE CONSTITUTION SEC. 2.

Ken Starr attacks people you know.

Please don't force divorce on Julie Houser's family.
Please don't force divorce on David Smith-Evan's family.



Have you heard that Ken Starr -- and the Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund -- filed legal briefs defending the constitutionality of Prop 8 and attempting to forcibly divorce 18,000 same-sex couples that were married in California last year? The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in this case on March 5, 2009, with a decision expected within the next 90 days.

The Courage Campaign has created a video called "Fidelity," with the permission of musician Regina Spektor, that puts a face to those 18,000 couples and all loving, committed couples seeking full equality under the law.

Please watch this heartbreaking video now. If you have the same reaction that I did, you can help spread the word by sharing it with your friends ASAP -- before the Valentine's Day deadline:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/Divorce

The more people who see this video, the more people will understand the pain caused by Prop 8 and Ken Starr's shameful legal proceeding.

After you watch the video, please join me and over 60,000 people who have signed a letter to the state Supreme Court, asking them to invalidate Prop 8 and reject Starr's case.

Thanks.

SPRING CLEANING

I've seen Jack begin to embrace this idea and it seems to give great peace and satisfaction.
I have always committed to parking my car in the garage (when I've had a garage) it keeps your car clean and automatically controls what you keep.
What do you think?

Clearing a Space for Change
The Weight of Objects

In life, we tend to have an easier time acquiring possessions than we do getting rid of them. Just as we harbor emotional baggage that is difficult to let go of, our lives can tend to be filled with material objects that we may feel compelled to hold on to. Most people are not conscious of how much they own and how many of their possessions are no longer adding value to their life. They fiercely hold on to material objects because this makes them feel secure or comfortable. While it’s true that the ownership of “stuff” can make you feel good for awhile, it seldom satisfies the deep inner longings that nearly everyone has for fulfillment and satisfaction. It is only when we are ready to let go of our baggage and be vulnerable that it becomes possible to recognize the emotional hold that our possessions can have on us.

It’s not uncommon to hold on to material objects because we are attached to them or fear the empty spaces that will remain if we get rid of them. Giving away the souvenirs from a beloved voyage may feel like we are erasing the memory of that time in our life. We may also worry that our loved ones will feel hurt if we don’t keep the gifts they’ve given us. It’s easy to convince ourselves that unused possessions might come in handy someday or that parting with them will cause you emotional pain. However, when your personal space is filled with objects, there is no room for anything new to enter and stay in your life. Your collection of belongings may “protect” you from the uncertainties of an unknown future while keeping you stuck in the past. Holding on to unnecessary possessions often goes hand in hand with holding on to pain, anger, and resentment, and letting go of your material possessions may help you release emotional baggage.

When you make a conscious decision to fill your personal space with only the objects that you need or bring you joy, your energy level will soar. Clearing your personal space can lead to mental clarity and an improved memory. As you learn to have a more practical and temporary relationship to objects, positive changes will happen, and you’ll have space to create the life that you desire.

Color Barrier

Now that we've cracked the race barrier can we break the real color barrier and have a President bold enough to wear a neck tie that is neither blue nor red?