Rant....We're screwed until further notice..........

Well...after I watched Obama last night, talking about how he thinks we should reform health care, I just cried! It was such a let down. Except for a possible 'public' plan added to the mix, which looks like welfare/medical in a different package, we are still in the same boat! Don't know how many of you watched the ABC program last night, but I thought it was horrendous! Of course it showed the realities of what we are facing...the complexities, differences in ideology, costs...blah, blah blah! There were no significant stories that mattered, and nothing that would show what we need to bring REAL change into people's lives....but instead, there were stories from the AMA, an insurance company CEO, and business owners?? Hello?! It was all about what insurance plan you can choose? According to the plan, we'll have LOTS of insurance plans to choose from...just what we need...more insurance plans to choose from.............. We'll see if premium costs go down, and if abusive practices are stopped....don't hold your breath.
There was only one person, who very eloquently introduced the choice of a universal plan, and told of other countries who successfully made it work, only to be told by the President that it wouldn't work because we have had an employer based system for so long that it would be too disruptive....that's when I lost it! If most businesses were told they were relieved of paying health care for their employees and could put a percentage of the money they spent into the government system in the form of taxes, would they not jump at it? There are other ways to put money into a universal, simple, workable, high quality plan for everyone...other's are doing it, and I don't want to hear the excuses.......
Forgive me, but for now, until the Congress can make this ridiculous looking plan even close to workable, I feel screwed.........

Rave...Dads

This is my dad, now 83, and going strong! Despite being active and committed most days to walking 2 mi, he's spending Father's Day in front of the TV watching golf! Way to go Dad!!!!!!!

Sports is his passion and he has spent his life being a jock...playing semi-pro baseball, and being a coach at the high school level...most of his career, as the basketball coach at Berkeley High School, where he was inducted into the Hall of Fame. He is revered by his former students and players, many who went on to play professional sports. Of course I am proud of his professional career, and was always in awe that we could never go anywhere, or out to dinner without someone asking him if he was who he was! But even more than being a coach, he educated the community about racism by integrating the team at a difficult time in our history, he was a "DAD", a mentor, a social worker, and much more to many of his young men. I inherited many of my Dad's ideas of social justice, which I am forever greatful for, and proud that he voted for Obama!!!

My brother's and I were very lucky to have had summer time with our Dad...he was the lifeguard at the pool, where we were most days! We traveled cross country most summers, to see our families in the midwest......camping and visiting some of the most wonderful places in the country...too many stories to tell here!

Thanks Dad for being you, and I am so blessed to still have you in my life....








I can't let Father's Day go by without saying that I have the best husband/Dad/Grandpa combo around!! My daughter was so lucky to have him be the one to raise her from age 9 1/2! He has given her so much......a love of books, music, movies, as well as a sense of security. The grandgirls worship him...there's nothing he won't do for them!

Thanks for being the best ever Dad and Grandpa!!!!

Rant....I don't think it will happen.....sigh!

Maybe I'm just feeling morose today...maybe I'm feeling jealous and angry about what other countries have in the way of health care, and it sounds so easy, so why not us? Maybe it's because I just wrote a check for my first COBRA payment....a 600% ouch!!!! When I read about and listen to what our lawmakers are doing to completely screw up the health care reform, I just want to cry. I feel so helpless. I've lost my confidence. I don't think it's going to happen!

We've been led to believe that health reform is high on the list, maybe a reality by August. Something might happen, but what will the end result be? Real reform, or just more band aids? Will it really change people's lives? Look at the people who are deciding our fate! Look how they continue to pander to the insurance companies, who still have the money and the influence to have Washington by the balls...the American public is suffering, getting sicker, unable to get the care they need, have Dr.s who can't practice medicine, losing their homes and savings because of illness, etc, etc.........

We don't need "token" reform....we need the REAL THING! The system is so complicated and uneven right now...a friend has worked for 6 years for the state to be able to have health care for the rest of her life after she retires....I worked as a nurse, in a hospital, for 30 years and I left with nothing! The proposed reform, as it stands now, will only complicate, and add more differences.......

I've written letters, I've blogged, and done all of the things only one person can do to enact change.........But today, I'm feeling like it won't happen..............

Rant...Bad Blogger!!!

Well, as you can see, I haven't been good at blogging lately, even though I try to read my favorites and comment now and again. I still have dialogue going in my head, but can't seem to get it down on a post!!
Here's my life right now:

I'm researching my health care options...going over plans, talking with people, and deciding what to do.....by July 1st

I'm doing an on-line class to keep my RN license current for now.....by July 31st

I'm renewing my driver's license at the DMV for the first time in about 20 years...what a hassle!! I am due for a new picture!!!...by June 23rd

Trying to decide if I still need as much life insurance since the premium is more than tripling... in June

Attending family birthday parties and graduations...

Chaperoning a school field trip to an amusement park with the grandgirls school.....

Taking care of two grandgirls and a husband with a stomach bug......

Trying to keep up with my garden...I have lettuce and spinach coming out of my ears! My list of garden projects is almost half done!

Planning a design project for my bedroom...I'm living with weird splotches of color on my walls at this point! When I can figure out how to have the room NOT be a playroom too, I think I can move forward!

Trying to decide if I am going to have the time, energy, money or even give a shit about celebrating my 60th birthday!!!!!!!! The jury is out, but it's only 2 weeks away!!!

This morning I got up at 6:30am, got the girls ready for school, drove them forty miles down the coast to Big Sur to take them to school, drove home...I go back down tomorrow for Valentina's graduation party from pre-school, and return just in time to greet my houseguest who will be here for a few days...so I guess I need to de-kid the house and get the guestroom ready!!!

Lastly, trying to stay greatful, because being busy is no excuse not to be!!

Since I think I mostly RAVE most times, thanks for giving the old girl a chance to RANT!!!!! Sometimes you've just got to do it!!

Rant...Blockage

I am on a roll here folks, bear with me...as a retiree who is about to have a $650 healthcare premium thrown my way, I have no more patience with the system that we have...done, over it, not working for me. I will be mostly ranting in the near future, but I'm hoping for a rave now and then. This artlcle will definite cause you pause. Written by Jeff Merkley, and published in the Huffington Post:

Words Designed to Kill Healthcare Reform

This is only ONE of the issues we are up against! I'll be doing more research on healthcare in the coming weeks, in the hopes of helping to sort through all of the choices...not only for you all, but for me too. Right now, I'm thinking ALL of the money going into one system makes the most sense...wouldn't that $94million insurance industry CEO bonus look good on the books of a healthcare system? That asshole would be getting MY $650/mo. that I can't afford?????????? Wish I could say "not on your life!" But unfortunately he gets it, and I can't say anything about it, or I go without coverage!

I also just wrote to my Congress people...lets keep them accountable!! We are literally in for the fight of our lives.........

Rant or Rave?...Health care reform??? Or not?

Call me crazy, but I think the insurance companies have had their chance to show us their stuff....not working!!!!! Who wants them to continue to be in the mix of health care reform? At this time they tell doctors what tests they can order, who can be hospitalized, and basically making medical decisions that they don't have any business making. They tell us that if we have a pre-existing condition, we are excluded...who doesn't have a pre-existing condition? If we happen to be taking a certain medication, we pay more....even if that medication is keeping us healthy and not racking up serious hospital bills. Only working people deserve medical care? What if you aren't working, or ARE working and still can't afford the premium? Interesting, and troubling questions.

Insurance companies have more money than God, so they have always been able to fight any political attempt to change the system...you know, the system that they have in the bag, and so far, no one has been able to change! Is that okay with you? Now that there is a chance that they are up against a possible system change, maybe one that excludes them altogether, like the single-payer system, they are acting like rats on a sinking ship. They are scrambling to make concessions, but it's too little, too late. Greed gone bad, like the auto industry...it isn't meeting the needs of the people, so we need a new approach, to move on into the future of health care...something that works.

I personally, along with so many others, are dealing with these issues....now that I'm retired, and not in the work force, I will be spending almost $700 a mo. for health care, as I'm not old enough for medicare. Many will choose not to have health coverage, as this is prohibitive for them...many will choose not to take the medications they need to stay healthy, or have Dr. appts., medical tests, or treatments to save their lives. These things should not have to be choices, and available to only those that can pay.

We need to write to our congress people and let them know how we feel, tell our stories and advocate for ourselves...we finally have someone who is listening. Give it some thought, put it on your short list, research it and act. Whether you agree with the President, or with the single-payer people, or not sure, it will be the fight of our lives......literally!!!!!

Rave...Mothers

Happy Mother's Day to all of you Moms out there...it's the hardest and best job ever!