This time next year we should be looking towards a new President and administration. We should be in the weaning days of the Bush years and ready to move on. The question is move on to what or whom? Did your vote count? Was the election fair or did it appear to have been bought or cooked? What did you do to make sure everything was on the up and up?
It doesn’t matter what political strip you are, without fair elections we don’t have a democracy. Our country was an experiment, our founding fathers believed that humans could govern themselves without divine rights. With kings and queens you have the belief that God intervened to ensure that this family ruled this country. Hence, the Queen of England is Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and is also the defender of the faith. Our country was different and in addition to a personal belief in God, our founding fathers believed in each other. They wanted a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people”, and not a kingdom. The knew this was an experiment because they knew about the ability of power to corrupt.
Our democracy requires that each citizen do their job which is to vote when asked. The citizen’s job goes even further, the citizen is responsible to ensure that his or her vote counts. The question comes right back, what are you going to do? Do you know if your vote leaves a paper trail that can be recounted if need be? What happens when you cast your vote?
This is not an issue for some and not for others. This is not something for the progressives, or liberals and not for conservatives. This is not something for Democrats and not for Republicans, or Libertarians. This is an issue for everyone. Our Constitution is fragile, enforcing it requires people with ethics and integrity. Our soldiers defend it overseas, but we defend it here. IF we are not willing to ensure that our elections are free and fair then the United States is dead and our founding fathers have failed. Now is the time to ensure that your vote counts. Find out the facts, write letters, volunteer to serve, if you don’t stand up who will?
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Post Thanksgiving
I survived Thanksgiving, actually it was one of the best Thanksgivings in years. I guess I have more to be thankful for this year. Actually, I probably only realize that I have more to be thankful for then usual.
Work Comp
I thankful that I didn’t do any teaching while I’ve been off. I got another salary verification from the insurance company/city. Usually I do a fair amount of teaching for the IAFF during the year, but since I’ve been off since May with a shoulder injury I’ve done none. I do miss the time in the classroom, it’s fun and being an instructor doesn’t mean that you don’t learn.
Family
The family has been a little healthier than last year. My youngest is doing better than she was last year. It’s amazing what a visit to the Mayo Clinic can do. The doctors in Kansas City had no idea what was wrong and just wanted to treat her with psych meds. They assumed it was behavioral since they personally didn’t make the diagnosis. One doctor even put in the records that he thought my wife wanted my daughter to be sick. Until you are, or have a family member that is a patient a Mayo you don’t realize how broken our medical system is.
In Kansas City, the doctors worked as individuals. This doctor would see her for this issues and another doctor would see her for that issue. There wasn’t strong coordination between the doctors. I think each of them wanted the glory of making the diagnosis rather than the knowledge that they helped make the sick healthier. There didn’t seem, and I doubt there was a lot of coordination between the doctors. At Mayo there is a lot more team work. The admitting doctor acts like the team leader even though the final diagnosis may not even be in their speciality. After a couple of months of testing they had a good working diagnosis and she has gotten better since. They were not afraid to make the diagnosis even though they couldn’t prescribe a magic pill, something that the docs in KC didn’t want to do.
Horse Therapy
Our medical system is about prescribing pills. If a doctor make a diagnosis then there is probably a pill or magical elixir that goes along with it. In the case of my youngest there is no medication. Her problem requires a lot of therapy and that is something that modern medicine doesn’t want to prescribe. Our insurance company doesn’t even cover this type of therapy and the stuff they do cover they limit to sixty visits. per year total. Horse therapy has contributed more to her well being than all the physical and occupational therapy put together. She needs to straighten her muscles and horse therapy does it together.
General
There are a lot of things that have happened in my life that I’m thankful for. There is even a lot of things that I’m unaware of that I’m also thankful for. God takes good care of my family. I believe this is so because all of our needs are met and I’m unable to do that myself. That is proof enough to me that God is watching over me and my family. My testimonial may not be very compelling since the seas didn’t part or a major catastrophe was preempted at the last second, but God is still there answering prayers and that is what I’m most grateful for.
Work Comp
I thankful that I didn’t do any teaching while I’ve been off. I got another salary verification from the insurance company/city. Usually I do a fair amount of teaching for the IAFF during the year, but since I’ve been off since May with a shoulder injury I’ve done none. I do miss the time in the classroom, it’s fun and being an instructor doesn’t mean that you don’t learn.
Family
The family has been a little healthier than last year. My youngest is doing better than she was last year. It’s amazing what a visit to the Mayo Clinic can do. The doctors in Kansas City had no idea what was wrong and just wanted to treat her with psych meds. They assumed it was behavioral since they personally didn’t make the diagnosis. One doctor even put in the records that he thought my wife wanted my daughter to be sick. Until you are, or have a family member that is a patient a Mayo you don’t realize how broken our medical system is.
In Kansas City, the doctors worked as individuals. This doctor would see her for this issues and another doctor would see her for that issue. There wasn’t strong coordination between the doctors. I think each of them wanted the glory of making the diagnosis rather than the knowledge that they helped make the sick healthier. There didn’t seem, and I doubt there was a lot of coordination between the doctors. At Mayo there is a lot more team work. The admitting doctor acts like the team leader even though the final diagnosis may not even be in their speciality. After a couple of months of testing they had a good working diagnosis and she has gotten better since. They were not afraid to make the diagnosis even though they couldn’t prescribe a magic pill, something that the docs in KC didn’t want to do.
Horse Therapy
Our medical system is about prescribing pills. If a doctor make a diagnosis then there is probably a pill or magical elixir that goes along with it. In the case of my youngest there is no medication. Her problem requires a lot of therapy and that is something that modern medicine doesn’t want to prescribe. Our insurance company doesn’t even cover this type of therapy and the stuff they do cover they limit to sixty visits. per year total. Horse therapy has contributed more to her well being than all the physical and occupational therapy put together. She needs to straighten her muscles and horse therapy does it together.
General
There are a lot of things that have happened in my life that I’m thankful for. There is even a lot of things that I’m unaware of that I’m also thankful for. God takes good care of my family. I believe this is so because all of our needs are met and I’m unable to do that myself. That is proof enough to me that God is watching over me and my family. My testimonial may not be very compelling since the seas didn’t part or a major catastrophe was preempted at the last second, but God is still there answering prayers and that is what I’m most grateful for.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving
A good way to begin a blog is to wish happiness to your readers, so I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. Our meal was on of the best Thanksgiving meals we've had. My wife and mother in law did a fabulous job with the food.
We did the turkey a little different this year. We cooked it in a turkey roaster with potatoes, onions, and celery. The cooking time was just about spot on. You look at the weight of the bird and do the math and hope it comes out right. This year it did. We did find that if you are going to use a turkey roaster, put a piece of aluminum foil over the top of the bird if you want it brown. Otherwise the bird turned out great and cleanup was minimized.
Our wine selection was Winking Owl Cabernet Sauvignon. We paid $2.50 for the bottle from Aldi. The wine was wonderful and complemented the meal well. I've drank a fair number of bottles of this type of wine and this one was the best so far. We chilled it and then opened and poured the first glasses about fifteen minutes before the meal was served.
I will blog on a variety of topics here so stay tuned. I do love discussing politics as politics is life. Feel free to agree or disagree with me. I love a good discussion.
Peace and prosperity to you and yours. Now on to Christmas.
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