Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

And Then The Rains Came

We woke up this morning to 51 degrees and much of the snow was gone. The rains began late yesterday afternoon and continued all night. The seven day forecast is for rain every day and flooding.

We could not wait to break out of this place. I put on my waterproof shoes designed for just this kind of weather, grabbed my cane and we were off. We went to the grocery store and picked up food for lunch.

For about three months I've had a chronic sensation in my left arm between my elbow and shoulder, but not in the joints. I decided it was nerve pain. Nothing relieved it. The last few days it has improved greatly. Last night I was even able to lay on my left side for a while.

Soon after we were out and about I realized that sensation was coming back. Before this last week there were two things that made it worse, driving and lifting groceries. I cannot imagine why driving would bother it but it does. Today I took items off the shelves and put them in the cart and then put them on the belt from the cart. Bob lifted everything once it was in bags. Still I am back in trouble with this awful sensation in my arm. Grrrrr
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Bob is reminding me more and more of my father. He now has one speed for everything, full throttle. For days now our heat has seldom cut off, night or day. When he cooks he turns the burner on high. He's always been exceedingly careful about how much electricity we use because he didn't want a high electric bill. He's exhibited none of that behavior lately. He is going to be one shocked and unhappy camper when he sees this month's electric bill.
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I came across an article I want to encourage you to read. It's by Neal Gabler,
Why Obama Nostalgia Matters.
"Obama is consequential because he is good and because he asked that we be good too. History will judge his presidency. But we can already judge his character, and it is sterling. He showed us who we are supposed to be."
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Today my letter of appreciation, encouragement, and support will go to Senator Al Franken of Minnesota. I have chosen him for the splendid work he is doing at the confirmation hearings for the new cabinet appointments.

Senator Al Franken
U.S. Senate
309 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 205100001

21 comments:

  1. Thanks for the address. You're inspiring me to jump on the letter writing wagon.

    I love the quote about Obama. I understand people disagreeing with his agenda but I'm honestly mystified about why so many people can't see that he's a moral man of good character. Some of the names he's called, the hate coming his way and the misinformation that is spread about him is appalling and so unfair.

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    1. Never in a million years will I understand the personal attacks on Obama and his family. They truly are a couple who chose to go high when their attackers went low.

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    2. I'm convinced it's veiled racism.

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  2. Yes, I wish I could live long enough to see the reverence that I know future history books will extend to Obama - well deserved reverence.
    And you also are modeling behavior we should all follow by taking the time to write in appreciation to your congressman.

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    1. They say the best way to make your voice heard if you're protesting is phone calls. A call every day or twice a day, the goal being to keep the office staff's phones ringing until they can't get any work done. The negative to that is you generally have to wait. I'm not good at waiting. Since I'm not protesting I'll write letters.

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  3. I am having some problems with my left arm and shoulder. I think it is a result of a new pillow I bought. Going back to the old pillow tonight and see if it helps. Most men are the ones turning down the thermostat and lights. Maybe Bob is feeling a little chilly as he ages? My feet seem to always be cold now--circulation problems, no doubt!!

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    1. Bob is always very cold and has Raynauds syndrome in his hands. Before he's always kept the heat on high only in his room, not the whole house.

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  4. We are really going to miss President Obama. I don't think some people realize how much yet.

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    1. I think people will begin to realize very quickly what they miss about the Obamas. Just today I was thinking about all the things we've enjoyed that probably won't continue with the next administration.

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  5. I can imagine how you feel when you finally get out of the house. But rain for seven days? No thanks.

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    1. I've see it rain for 30 days straight here. We get a lot of rain in January and February.

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  6. I just finished sending short "thank you" emails to my senators Murray and Cantwell. Not sure what else I can do but keep on speaking out in whatever forum I have.
    I'm glad you got to bust out today. Hurray!

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    1. We have to remain vigilant in fact checking and speak truth to the lies. Not only does Trump lie, his press secretary Sean Spicer, his chief of staff Reince Priebus, and Kellyanne Conway also lie. They lie knowing it can be fact checked and then they deny the facts. It's like they're trapped in some sort of sick fantasy bubble, really strange.

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  7. Al Franken is doing a great job. Who knew that appointees who seem to be so black and white about their views would have to be so pointedly schooled in how to answer a "yes" or a "no"?

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    1. Who knew Al Franken was such a sharp guy!! I hope He can remain in the senate for years to come.

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  8. Your letter-writing enterprise is inspiring. We had a horrible move once, and I swore I was going to write complaint letters to every person/company that had not lived up to their promises. In the end, I wrote several complimentary letters to the supervisors of the people who had done competent jobs. I like your idea of letting people know when you notice that they're doing the right thing.

    It makes me sad that many people cannot recognize President Obama's integrity. I think history will remember him kindly. One of the greatest burdens we place on high-level politicians is the task of making the hard decisions. They are sometimes faced with the choice between bad or worse, and they have to take responsibility for decisions that affect so many lives. Wisdom is hard won. I always wonder what they think about when they cannot sleep.

    I bet the people who suffer from seasonal depression in your area are struggling. I'm wishing sunshine on you.

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    1. It makes me sad that people never allowed themselves to get to know President Obama. Anger and prejudice are evil characters at work in our society depriving people of a lot of good experiences they might otherwise have experienced.

      Seasonal depression is a real problem for many people in this part of the country. Perhaps that's why we have a coffee shop on every corner, keeps people drunk on caffeine.

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  9. The rains came just in time. Weren't you down to your last egg?? Food flows again.
    Nice idea on the thank you's. I am sure politicians mainly hear criticism and your letters will make their day.

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    1. Yes, we had used the last egg. Bob found a box of cake mix in the pantry that expired in 2015. He whipped it up anyway and it was fine. So much for expiration dates.

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  10. I, too, am generally very pleased with our two Calif. Senators. I've sent messges to Sen. Feinstein with most recent one receiving a response. Sen. Harris is newly elected but I believe she'll be strong also. I agree about Sen. franken's effective questioning. Have read that Congresspersons and Senators pay attention only to communiques from their constituents. Large donors would likely be a different matter.

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    1. I would think you are probably right about paying attention only to communiques from their constituents if they are complaints. That is exactly the reason I don't fire off letters to the Congress people in Texas. I don't live there anymore, what do they care what I think? I suspect though they welcome messages of encouragement from anyone.

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