Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Minnesota Nice !
Bob Idso is a long time friend, he was one of the many speakers at a Town Hall Meeting in Mankato, Mn.
He is a Viet Nam Vet and has been an active member of his community.
His story is just one of many we are hearing.
Unfortunately the Media chooses to only show the protesters opposed to changes in Health care and
the Fox news fear mongers
But at this town meeting every one was allowed to speak.
It's called Minnesota Nice.
This is an Editorial from The Rochester paper Monday August, 24,2009
One family's struggle says more than 1,000-page bill;
Prior to Thursday's town hall meeting in Mankato, a member of the Post-Bulletin's editorial board chatted with Eric Thronson, a Rochester resident who was waiting for the doors to open.
"This government is getting between my four kids and the American dream," he said, pulling a photo of his youngest child from his shirt pocket. "What's Obama's hurry? Why does he have to get everything done in his first 100 or 200 days in office? My dad was a farmer, a DFLer, and he wouldn't recognize this DFL."
Ten minutes later, Dave Blanchard, also of Rochester, expressed a different view. "I've got a granddaughter," he said. "I've got three daughters. I want to know that they're going to be able to afford health insurance for themselves and their kids. If we don't fix health care, it won't fix itself."
Two strong views, from people on either side of the political aisle, and each focused on their children.
Two hours later, an otherwise-boisterous crowd of 700 people sat in absolute silence as Bob Idso -- a resident of St. Peter, a veteran and a teacher at Mankato East High School -- took his turn talking about health care, children and a parent's nightmare.
His youngest child, Everett, is 20 years old and about to graduate from trade school. He has Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the intestines. When Everett graduated from high school, he weighed 99 pounds. He endured multiple hospitalizations and emergency room visits before a treatment program started working.
It involves a drug called Remicade, and it isn't cheap -- more than $7,000 per dose, administered every six weeks.
"It's the only thing that's been of any help to him," Bob Idso said later outside the auditorium. "But now, with his pre-existing condition, no insurance company will touch him, even if he does get a job. He tried to join the Army, but they wouldn't take him. He's thought about moving to Canada, even moving to Norway, just so he could get his treatments."
"We're desperate," Idso said with tears in his eyes -- and he wasn't alone. Several people came by to shake his hands, and there wasn't a dry eye among them.
As we look back on what we believe was an orderly, productive discussion on that drizzly evening in Mankato, we wonder how many of those present fully grasped the Idso family's desperation. Bob Idso couldn't care less which political party is able to claim victory if and when the dust settles on health care reform: All he cares about is finding a way for his son to lead a normal life that isn't dictated by the cost of medical care.
And really, that's what this nationwide debate should be about: quality of life, not just politics and dollars and cents.
Rep. Tim Walz had a lot to say on Thursday, and not all of it was well-received. He endured some boos and heckling, and more than a few times had to raise his voice to be heard over shouts from the crowd.
He admitted that he isn't fully sold on what many have dubbed "Obamacare." And on several occasions he stressed that until he sees a plan that is deficit-neutral and pays health-care providers for value, rather than on a fee-for-service basis, he won't sign on.
But his most important statement came in response to a young woman who had actually studied the reform bill and was concerned that the proposals it contains would disrupt the free-market health insurance industry, thus jeopardizing her current health plan.
Walz disagreed, and the two went back and forth for a bit about language in the bill, but then Walz made the most important point of the evening.
"We need to make a choice in this nation: Are we willing to have winners and losers in health care?" he asked, then answered his own question. "We can't treat health care as a commodity."
We have many unanswered questions about the health care reform plan. We don't know how it would be paid for, how it would be administered and how it would affect the insurance plans many of us enjoy. We hope that by the time Walz comes to Rochester for a town hall meeting -- next month, presumably -- some of the fuzziness in the current proposals will be replaced with specific details.
But we do know that right now, some people are losing in our health care system. Any reform plan that doesn't help people like Everett Idso won't be worth the paper it's printed on.
He is a Viet Nam Vet and has been an active member of his community.
His story is just one of many we are hearing.
Unfortunately the Media chooses to only show the protesters opposed to changes in Health care and
the Fox news fear mongers
But at this town meeting every one was allowed to speak.
It's called Minnesota Nice.
This is an Editorial from The Rochester paper Monday August, 24,2009
One family's struggle says more than 1,000-page bill;
Prior to Thursday's town hall meeting in Mankato, a member of the Post-Bulletin's editorial board chatted with Eric Thronson, a Rochester resident who was waiting for the doors to open.
"This government is getting between my four kids and the American dream," he said, pulling a photo of his youngest child from his shirt pocket. "What's Obama's hurry? Why does he have to get everything done in his first 100 or 200 days in office? My dad was a farmer, a DFLer, and he wouldn't recognize this DFL."
Ten minutes later, Dave Blanchard, also of Rochester, expressed a different view. "I've got a granddaughter," he said. "I've got three daughters. I want to know that they're going to be able to afford health insurance for themselves and their kids. If we don't fix health care, it won't fix itself."
Two strong views, from people on either side of the political aisle, and each focused on their children.
Two hours later, an otherwise-boisterous crowd of 700 people sat in absolute silence as Bob Idso -- a resident of St. Peter, a veteran and a teacher at Mankato East High School -- took his turn talking about health care, children and a parent's nightmare.
His youngest child, Everett, is 20 years old and about to graduate from trade school. He has Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the intestines. When Everett graduated from high school, he weighed 99 pounds. He endured multiple hospitalizations and emergency room visits before a treatment program started working.
It involves a drug called Remicade, and it isn't cheap -- more than $7,000 per dose, administered every six weeks.
"It's the only thing that's been of any help to him," Bob Idso said later outside the auditorium. "But now, with his pre-existing condition, no insurance company will touch him, even if he does get a job. He tried to join the Army, but they wouldn't take him. He's thought about moving to Canada, even moving to Norway, just so he could get his treatments."
"We're desperate," Idso said with tears in his eyes -- and he wasn't alone. Several people came by to shake his hands, and there wasn't a dry eye among them.
As we look back on what we believe was an orderly, productive discussion on that drizzly evening in Mankato, we wonder how many of those present fully grasped the Idso family's desperation. Bob Idso couldn't care less which political party is able to claim victory if and when the dust settles on health care reform: All he cares about is finding a way for his son to lead a normal life that isn't dictated by the cost of medical care.
And really, that's what this nationwide debate should be about: quality of life, not just politics and dollars and cents.
Rep. Tim Walz had a lot to say on Thursday, and not all of it was well-received. He endured some boos and heckling, and more than a few times had to raise his voice to be heard over shouts from the crowd.
He admitted that he isn't fully sold on what many have dubbed "Obamacare." And on several occasions he stressed that until he sees a plan that is deficit-neutral and pays health-care providers for value, rather than on a fee-for-service basis, he won't sign on.
But his most important statement came in response to a young woman who had actually studied the reform bill and was concerned that the proposals it contains would disrupt the free-market health insurance industry, thus jeopardizing her current health plan.
Walz disagreed, and the two went back and forth for a bit about language in the bill, but then Walz made the most important point of the evening.
"We need to make a choice in this nation: Are we willing to have winners and losers in health care?" he asked, then answered his own question. "We can't treat health care as a commodity."
We have many unanswered questions about the health care reform plan. We don't know how it would be paid for, how it would be administered and how it would affect the insurance plans many of us enjoy. We hope that by the time Walz comes to Rochester for a town hall meeting -- next month, presumably -- some of the fuzziness in the current proposals will be replaced with specific details.
But we do know that right now, some people are losing in our health care system. Any reform plan that doesn't help people like Everett Idso won't be worth the paper it's printed on.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Week 4 in Recovery
It has been a hectic couple of weeks and I just haven't had time to visit the blogs.
I also had some Internet down time for a few days, but Techy Flash has taken care of that.
Runningwmn has been picking up Hubba and driving him to work this week.
He really wants to jump into his truck and go it alone, but I told him he had to get rid of the crutch first, I noticed this Morning he limped out the door on a cane.
I can see that my days are numbered.
He did drive my car when we took a trip to our Hometown on Sunday to watch the Drum and Bugle corp competition.
It was a gorgeous day and the Corps were in prime form.
Flash is probably one of the older members of Minnesota Brass, but he managed to fast foot it around the stadium and kept up with the 20 year olds.
The music and performances were awesome.
If you go to Centrisity on my links you can read more about it.
Hubba was a former drum corp member of the St.Peter Govies, after we married
and the babies came he pulled the plug on marching.
It wasn't in his blood the same way it is in his son's.
Flash went right into drum corp after marching band and has probably marched most of his adult life, the lovely Mrs. Flash is a much more patient woman then I am.
Two of my grandsons usually go with him and it was fun to see them there on Sunday.
Neither of them seem to have the urge, right now they are both looking at the military, Air Force and Navy.
School starts in a couple weeks.
Time will tell
I don't have the video of this years show which is superior to last years.
But this is a taste of drum corp.
Minnesota Brass 2008 opener.
I also had some Internet down time for a few days, but Techy Flash has taken care of that.
Runningwmn has been picking up Hubba and driving him to work this week.
He really wants to jump into his truck and go it alone, but I told him he had to get rid of the crutch first, I noticed this Morning he limped out the door on a cane.
I can see that my days are numbered.
He did drive my car when we took a trip to our Hometown on Sunday to watch the Drum and Bugle corp competition.
It was a gorgeous day and the Corps were in prime form.
Flash is probably one of the older members of Minnesota Brass, but he managed to fast foot it around the stadium and kept up with the 20 year olds.
The music and performances were awesome.
If you go to Centrisity on my links you can read more about it.
Hubba was a former drum corp member of the St.Peter Govies, after we married
and the babies came he pulled the plug on marching.
It wasn't in his blood the same way it is in his son's.
Flash went right into drum corp after marching band and has probably marched most of his adult life, the lovely Mrs. Flash is a much more patient woman then I am.
Two of my grandsons usually go with him and it was fun to see them there on Sunday.
Neither of them seem to have the urge, right now they are both looking at the military, Air Force and Navy.
School starts in a couple weeks.
Time will tell
I don't have the video of this years show which is superior to last years.
But this is a taste of drum corp.
Minnesota Brass 2008 opener.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Sick In America !
Over the last week, NBC news has been showing us what it is like if you don't have health care in this country.
Why aren't we seeing these stories on every network?
This is the USA people, what in the hell is going on?
If we were in France, Britain or for that fact almost any European country and something happen to an American citizen they would be given free care.
But here in this country thousands have to stand in line to get basic care, and many are turned away.
Isn't there anyway we can stop the crazy right wing from destroying our country?
These people are shouting at town hall meetings that they don't want any Government options in health care, but many are taking Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, Police and Fire protection.
Maybe Bush was smart after all, he screened all of the people coming to his rallies etc.
Why aren't we seeing these stories on every network?
This is the USA people, what in the hell is going on?
If we were in France, Britain or for that fact almost any European country and something happen to an American citizen they would be given free care.
But here in this country thousands have to stand in line to get basic care, and many are turned away.
Isn't there anyway we can stop the crazy right wing from destroying our country?
These people are shouting at town hall meetings that they don't want any Government options in health care, but many are taking Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, Police and Fire protection.
Maybe Bush was smart after all, he screened all of the people coming to his rallies etc.
Sunday, August 09, 2009
It's all about Family !
The rains went away and brought hot humid weather yesterday to our family BBQ. This year some of the family hit plateau birthdays including Hubba and Linda.We have at least 6 Leo's in our family so you can imagine what it is like having all those bosses in one room. I wish we had gotten the group together for a picture, maybe next year.
Ignore the Smart A in the red T shirt, one of the Leo's along with his twin brother, they like to push our buttons.
Linda surprised us all with a Dixieland Trio called the Medicine Company who entertained us for about an hour. It was also great to mix nieces and nephews from both Hubba and my side of the family. A big surprise when some of our hometown friends showed up.Since Hubba did so well with his crutches I may drive him to work tomorrow.
Not sure if that is for his sake or mine.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Whose qualified?
John McCain doesn't think Judge Sonia Sotomayer is qualified to be a Supreme Court Judge, therefore he will be voting No,
but his choice Sarah Palin was ready to be Vice President?
I wonder what kind of Mushrooms he's been eating?
but his choice Sarah Palin was ready to be Vice President?
I wonder what kind of Mushrooms he's been eating?
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Mission accomplished !
Last night Rachel Maddow's reported that Bill Clinton was on his way to secure the release of the journalists being held in North Korea.
Some of the Clinton haters made comments that he should keep his nose out of it.
It turned out that Kim Jong Il requested Bill Clinton's visit.
A little while ago Breaking News said that Clinton was successful.
Now it is a waiting game to see if they allow them to fly back with him.
Ya got a love "The Silver Fox "
Some of the Clinton haters made comments that he should keep his nose out of it.
It turned out that Kim Jong Il requested Bill Clinton's visit.
A little while ago Breaking News said that Clinton was successful.
Now it is a waiting game to see if they allow them to fly back with him.
Ya got a love "The Silver Fox "
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Hubba Uodate
I went to the hospital around 9:30 we spent most of the day waiting for the Orthopedic doctor to show up and give us the results.
He was suppose to come first thing in the morning,instead he came late afternoon when he was through with is surgeries and he sauntered in.
The crappy part is, Bob was on fasting in case they had to do surgery.
Luckily it turned out to be unnecessary.
He has a couple slight cracks in his pelvis, the hip was OK.
They don't do much for it other then some therapy,kind of like a broken toe, so He will probably be at Hospital a couple more days depending on how well he does with the therapy.
Then he will need crutches for a while, which normally would slow him down, Ha!!
He will be off work the rest of the week for sure and then we will take it from there.
He is not a Happy Camper, since his birthday is on Wednesday and he had planned a Pizza party for all the guys at the shop..
Well guess what, they will still be there next week.
The worst thing the Doctor could possibly have said was "You can do anything with that leg, your recovery depends on how fast you can bear weight on that side."
He doesn't know this stubborn German very well!!
Thanks Fella.. !!!
He was suppose to come first thing in the morning,instead he came late afternoon when he was through with is surgeries and he sauntered in.
The crappy part is, Bob was on fasting in case they had to do surgery.
Luckily it turned out to be unnecessary.
He has a couple slight cracks in his pelvis, the hip was OK.
They don't do much for it other then some therapy,kind of like a broken toe, so He will probably be at Hospital a couple more days depending on how well he does with the therapy.
Then he will need crutches for a while, which normally would slow him down, Ha!!
He will be off work the rest of the week for sure and then we will take it from there.
He is not a Happy Camper, since his birthday is on Wednesday and he had planned a Pizza party for all the guys at the shop..
Well guess what, they will still be there next week.
The worst thing the Doctor could possibly have said was "You can do anything with that leg, your recovery depends on how fast you can bear weight on that side."
He doesn't know this stubborn German very well!!
Thanks Fella.. !!!
Doctor Doctor
Yesterday while Hubba was doing yard work he tripped over the hose and fell backwards landing him on his hip.
He got up and continued to finish a few other things. I noticed him limping very badly
when he came in the house and he told me he fell, but he was fine, yey sure!
Mr. Sunshine never wants to admit that his body might have betrayed him.
My immediate thought was broken hip or pelvis, he is no spring chicken.
I called the Doctor and could not get him in to see her, they were booked solid.
They sent us to Urgent care, never again will I go that route, because after 2 hours there they sent us to the ER.
The X Ray they took showed nothing, but the fact that by then he could hardly bear any weight on his left leg she wanted him admitted to the Hospital for an MRI,
I guess X Rays miss 10% of all breaks.
If you have never been to an ER room it is an experience, after sitting in Urgent care from 4:00 to about 6:15, we headed to the Hospital to a sight that sent my stomach doing somersaults.
The waiting room was packed, and we were just 2 of the sardines sitting there.
It was about 9:00 when they finally took him to a room,and within the first 10 minutes said they were admitting him so they could do an MRI in the AM.
If there is a fracture he will have the surgery right away, if not a physical therapist will come in and appraise the situation.
I finally got to bed around midnight. I was able to fall asleep but that lasted till 4:30 and right now I am just passing time till I can go the the Hospital to find out what the verdict is.
We had visited with a young couple, a trucker and his wife, she had been having
sharp stabbing pain in her upper abdominal area so they had pulled off the road in a small town west of here and stopped at a Urgent Care they suspected gallstone or maybe an ulcer so in a few minutes time they sent them to North Memorial where we were.
It is one of the best trauma Hospitals in this area.
The trucker was carrying a load of cars out east and right now that load is sitting in a parking lot of a nearby shopping center.
She was hoping for an ulcer instead of a gallbladder problem.
She told me she had gone with her husband for the ride and never again will she be that dumb
A really cute young couple and I hope what ever they find, it is something they can treat and send them on their way.
So if you have a few extra minutes and you do pray, remember us, them, and all the people sitting in ER rooms everywhere.
Our health system sucks, the doctor at the Urgent care wasn't able to admit him to the Hospital he had to go through the paces at ER to be admitted.
Double the time Double the charges, something has to change.
Call your Senators and Congress and tell them to get to work and fix this mess they call health care.
He got up and continued to finish a few other things. I noticed him limping very badly
when he came in the house and he told me he fell, but he was fine, yey sure!
Mr. Sunshine never wants to admit that his body might have betrayed him.
My immediate thought was broken hip or pelvis, he is no spring chicken.
I called the Doctor and could not get him in to see her, they were booked solid.
They sent us to Urgent care, never again will I go that route, because after 2 hours there they sent us to the ER.
The X Ray they took showed nothing, but the fact that by then he could hardly bear any weight on his left leg she wanted him admitted to the Hospital for an MRI,
I guess X Rays miss 10% of all breaks.
If you have never been to an ER room it is an experience, after sitting in Urgent care from 4:00 to about 6:15, we headed to the Hospital to a sight that sent my stomach doing somersaults.
The waiting room was packed, and we were just 2 of the sardines sitting there.
It was about 9:00 when they finally took him to a room,and within the first 10 minutes said they were admitting him so they could do an MRI in the AM.
If there is a fracture he will have the surgery right away, if not a physical therapist will come in and appraise the situation.
I finally got to bed around midnight. I was able to fall asleep but that lasted till 4:30 and right now I am just passing time till I can go the the Hospital to find out what the verdict is.
We had visited with a young couple, a trucker and his wife, she had been having
sharp stabbing pain in her upper abdominal area so they had pulled off the road in a small town west of here and stopped at a Urgent Care they suspected gallstone or maybe an ulcer so in a few minutes time they sent them to North Memorial where we were.
It is one of the best trauma Hospitals in this area.
The trucker was carrying a load of cars out east and right now that load is sitting in a parking lot of a nearby shopping center.
She was hoping for an ulcer instead of a gallbladder problem.
She told me she had gone with her husband for the ride and never again will she be that dumb
A really cute young couple and I hope what ever they find, it is something they can treat and send them on their way.
So if you have a few extra minutes and you do pray, remember us, them, and all the people sitting in ER rooms everywhere.
Our health system sucks, the doctor at the Urgent care wasn't able to admit him to the Hospital he had to go through the paces at ER to be admitted.
Double the time Double the charges, something has to change.
Call your Senators and Congress and tell them to get to work and fix this mess they call health care.
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