Not Just Obamacare But Medicaid, MEDICARE Also On GOP's Chopping Block

As a mature American (over 65 yo), I am very concerned about the future of Medicare. Tangentially, I care about the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid for those younger people in my life but Medicare affects me very personally! Prior to turning 65, I had my own company and little access to health care insurance. What I did have was an insurance card that I showed at the doctor’s office which (no matter the incredible monthly premium) covered none of the care received. The only benefit was that I could say “I was insured.”. A scary time but luckily for me personally, I had no medical issues that could have bankrupted us. I love Medicare. The ease with which I am able to get care, the speed with which the bills are paid and the security of knowing I have health insurance makes me breathe easier.

Please check out this article and watch the efforts of your representatives/senators with respect to Medicare. Thanks!

“When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” Maya Angelou

1st Amendment Support

Amendment I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Support the 1st Amendment’s freedom of the press, subscribe to your local paper and one of the national papers’ digital versions (NY Times, Washington Post, USA Today, etc. etc. etc.). We can’t get “home” delivery of the local San Diego Union-Tribune here at the RV park. So, we buy it daily out of one of the boxes within the park. That’s more expensive but we do like the local news, NYT Crossword/Sudoku puzzles, and honestly the “feel” of the paper in our hands.

“Withholding information is the essence of tyranny. Control of the flow of information is the tool of the dictatorship.”
― Bruce Coville

Isn't It IRONIC

Our Vice-President-elect wants to keep the public from accessing HIS EMAILS. Note, these are not personal emails but those from when he was Governor of Indiana (a public office). Isn’t it IRONIC!

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”― Edmund Burke (in a letter addressed to Thomas Mercer).

Citizenship Test

Here’s a link to the USA Citizenship Test, try your hand at it. I found it challenging and very interesting.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”― Edmund Burke (in a letter addressed to Thomas Mercer).

Crash Repairs - Valencia, CA

Remember the CRASH ( see 8/12 blog entry) - an incoming rig crashed the picnic table into our slide wall. Well, on our way south to Santee/San Diego area for the winter we stopped at Camping World for some annual checks/fixes. We didn't think they had any body shop facilities but we had arranged for the insurance adjuster to meet us there and figure out how and for how much the fix would be. Since the hole punched into the side of the rig broke the moisture barrier, it was important to get it sealed before the winter rains came.

Camping World did an amazing job - BEFORE

AFTER

Really this is the same spot! There is no way for anyone, who didn't know of the crash, to guess that there was a hole there. they were able to get it sealed smoothly and painted the same shade of faded dark blue. AMAZING! and it didn't cost us a penny - they on the other hand had to shell out $900.00. And, we are ready for the rains!

The future of political issues

OK, I am going to start sending political emails that support my various perspectives.

Here’s your chance to be removed from that particular list of receivers.
You can remain on the “HUMOR” (sometimes silly/stupid/inspiring or just cats/dogs).
And/or the “TRAVEL” (let’s you know where we are and how things are going, with our blog link).
While declining the “POLITICAL”.

Just respond and let me know. No response means you stay on all the lists and get added to my new one – your choice! Thanks and have a wonderful Fall day!

If by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people---their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights and their civil liberties---someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I'm proud to say I'm a Liberal.
---John F. Kennedy

Oceano to LA to San Diego to LA to Oceano, CA

We needed to go back to SD for Boots’ headache fix. This time we boarded Karma at her regular daycare facility, so as to minimize her stress levels. We left early (for us) on Sunday and zipped through LA relatively easy. We got to SD in time to check out some other RV park options so we don’t have to drive the 300 miles each summer to avoid the heat in Santee.

Our motel/hotel was right in the middle of a number of restaurants. So, we were able to walk to/from for dinners. The Monday Drs’ appointments were spaced enough that we got to go to our favorite ramen restaurant. Remember this isn’t your college ramen experience at all. If you ever get a chance to see “The Ramen Girl,” you will have a whole other appreciation of the noodle called ramen. We were first introduced to REAL Japanese ramen in Hawaii and have sought it out ever since.

Anyway, after the last procedure we stayed overnight again so that we could rest and get an early (for us) start back up the coast. Knowing that we would be going through the 2nd largest city in the US on a Tuesday, we expected a lot of traffic. We like to drive I-405 through LA and Google Maps accommodates us well. As we have mentioned before, we have discovered the HOV lane (for High Occupancy Vehicles, i.e. 2 or more) keeps us out of harm’s way and pretty much zips along pass most traffic slowdowns.

So, we are moving along fairly steady between 60-70mph with cars in the other lanes crawling or maybe going 40mph. Suddenly, Google Maps tells us to get off I-405 and go to I-605 because of traffic delays. We talk about it and decide that being in the HOV lane means that the delays would have less impact on us and continue on I-405 North. Then we are instructed to get off and use I-710 to avoid more slowdowns – which we cannot see and are not experiencing in the HOV lane.
Next, we are informed that the road is closed ahead. We find that very hard to believe and decide to take our chances with any forced exit and the side streets that would need to be used. Since we weren’t towing (i.e. just had the truck), we didn’t see that as so bad. Soon, Google Maps tells us to exit to I-110 and then I-105 and finally I-10. None of which we do. We continue on I-405 to its end at CA 101 North with rare slow downs, no closures and relatively quick travel through LA. We think that Google Maps couldn’t tell that we were in the HOV lane and really immune to traffic delays as a result.

The moral of the story is always travel with more than 1 person in your vehicle and use the HOV lanes at every opportunity!