Category: Senior & Elderly Issues

Today’s Reality

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Today’s Reality 

Today’s Reality

Note: This is my first article to appear on the Calamity News and Politics website. In fact, its my first article to appear anywhere. Thanks, Calamity.

 

By Poleeta Wallace

 

Assistive Devices

I’m going to be 74 years old next month. My biggest problem is mobility. After an injury last year I need a walker, actually the device my doc provided me is called a Rollator. You’ve probably seen them. They have a seat for the user. Under the seat there is always a storage compartment, great for a book, paperwork, or a purse. The rollator is definitely a better appliance than the original aluminum walker. The aluminum walkers are commonly given out post lower extremity injury or surgery. They are nothing more than basic support, the introductory model you might say. The  two back legs frequently have been outfitted with tennis balls so they slide easier across uncarpeted surfaces.

My Younger Guy

My husband, Dan, a younger guy of 66 years of age, requires a wheelchair if there is any chance he may be required to traverse more than about 10 feet. Thank God, Dan is still able to use a rollator inside our house. If  you haven’t seen one of those electric wheelchairs, let me tell you they are ‘effing HUGE. At least his is, but he’s also a big guy. We would need to have a carpenter enlarge at least one outside doorway if he has to bring that damn thing inside the house. Then what; widen the hallways even more and the doorways. Honestly, I’m feeling the pressure, because the chance of Dan becoming permanently wheelchair bound is a fast approaching reality and the lurking prognosis of dementia has raised its ugly head.

Oh, NO, Me Too

I rarely need a wheelchair, except for functions or appointments that are long both in length of time and distance required to participate in the activity. Because of my irregular wheelchair use I have a manual wheelchair,  “the Big Mo” my friend calls it. Definitely, its a pain-in-the-ass loading Big Mo into the back of the car and then unloading the bitch. Last year, right after my back injury I had to use “Big Mo”  24/7 for nearly six weeks. There are still scrapes on the walls of the hallway where the wheelchair wheels  scratched off the paint. The manual chairs are a real challenge and are difficult to maneuver-thus the deep scars on the plaster walls.

Many Years Ago

Dan and I built our 1,930 square foot, 3 bedroom, two and a 1/2 bath, single level, ranch style, “forever” house on 12 incredible acres with its own beautifully flowing creek and a lovely pond, just north of Vancouver, WA in 1993. That was nearly thirty five years ago. We’ve done numerous updates over the years. A beautiful new guest bath in 2008. A mammoth new deck with fishing pier in 2010, a new kitchen in 2012 the year before I retired, then last year with our disabilities we went all out on a glammed up newly enlarged walk in shower for the master bath. New paint and flooring about every 10 years. Our plan, before reality intervened, was to live in this house until we died. Since my recent disability I am questioning that forever thinking.

Wonder Woman

In 1990 Dan was in management at UPS and I was an RN working at Kaiser Hospital in North Portland. I was in my mid-forties and felt as strong and fit as Wonder Woman. Dan, in his mid-thirties was strong and vigorous. At the time, we owned a fabulous 1920’s craftsman in Portland’s tree lined Ladd’s Addition neighborhood. After a lot of discussion we decided to look for a 5-10 acre piece of property and build a more modern house with a serious eye on retirement and our golden years. A friend of Dan’s who was an architect spent many hours talking with us over Chardonnay about what we wanted, and thought we’d need as we aged. As a nurse I saw the realities of aging up close and realized I needed to spend a bit of time in the Physical Therapy Department and talk to staff about what adaptations we should be making during construction instead of trying to Gerry rig changes later.

Eating Right and Exercising

With only one child it was easy to ski in the winter, hike, bike, and swim the rest of the year. We watched our weight and ate for good health.  We wanted to ‘live long and prosper’ and we were willing to put a lot of effort into staying healthy. Dan’s from strong German stock, straight from the old country with family members living well into their nineties. I was more of a mutt, having English, Irish and Dutch forefathers but at that time my Aunt Lizzie was an amazing 106 years old and I had numerous older relatives several in their late 80’s and early 90’s. These people weren’t in nursing homes or assisted living; they were on their own and enjoying it.  The point being, with a little work and preparation we hoped for the same.

2026 Reality

Planning is a good thing, I highly recommend it. However it is not always a predictor of what will really happen in your life. My point in concluding this piece is that no matter how hard you try to plan for your golden years it’s a crap shoot. You can plan for wider hallways, eliminate stairs, create extra storage for durable medical devices, you can save every extra nickle and dime for that extended retirement, but sometimes the reality of growing disabilities and how those disabilities shrink our world complicate everything. Loss of mobility and mental capacities is more than planning for wide open rooms and walk-in showers. In my case at least, all that planning has turned out to have been more a hope and a prayer than reality.

 

 

 

OPINION: Dementia and Corruption at 20500

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OPINION:

Dementia and Corruption at 20500Not every president of the United States is remembered well.

OPINION:

Dementia and Corruption at 20500 

Editor: The number 20500 most commonly refers to the Zip code for Washington, D.C., often associated with federal buildings like the White House (1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, D.C. 20500)

By D. S. Mitchell

I started the Calamity News and Politics website to vent my frustrations and to keep from losing my frigging liberal mind; that was at the end of 2016, right after Trump’s first presidential win. I joined the Women’s March and the Resistance. Well, its 2026 and the Mango Menace is running wild through the government.  I have always tried to focus on facts and also try to support my statements with at least two sources. With this post, I’ve thrown all those established behaviors to the wind. Fuck Trump and that Project 2025 crowd, here’s what I as an average everyday American am  seeing from Trump and his cronies, and this list of ten terrible things Trump has done in his first year, not one damn one of them has helped lower grocery prices or made life better for the average American.

1.) Presidential dementia should be a big concern for us as Americans and as citizens of the world. This near  80 year  old guy that we call “president” is a babbling, wandering, impulsive, mentally disabled individual encumbered by several severe personality disorders and undeniable and worsening dementia.  Trump has always been evil and cruel, now he is demented too. Seriously, I worry who is running the damn country? What, you say, Trump may not be running the country? It is obvious after listening to 2 or 3 minutes of Trump’s indiscernible  word salad that he’s not running much but his mouth. I believe this guy is incapable of finding his own ass with a handful of toilet paper. They were doing MRI’s of the brain and multiple cognitive tests at his second, or was it his third annual physical. LOL. I thought annual physical meant once a year. However, in our guys case he needs more testing. Shit, folks, I’m 3,500 miles away and I can tell you, without MRI’s and cognitive tests that Trump is deep into his decline into dementia. So; a couple likely suspects for running the country in Trump’s mental absence are the Jewish pretend Nazi, Stephen Miller and the anti-humanist, Russell Vogt. Scary combo. As far as the Trump kids go, they’re out making billions of dollars from foreign governments. Gotta make it while Daddy is in the White House appears to be the combined mantra.

2.)  Images of the masked ICE agents massively funded, newly emboldened and empowered handcuffing and loading people into vans and disappearing them without access to legal representation, without due process. This crap isn’t supposed to happen in America. It definitely reminds me of the Nazi’s rounding up the Jews eighty-five years ago in Germany.  Obviously, hate lives on. But, in some ways this goes beyond hate and straight to the pocketbook of several Trump supporters. These allies intend to make billions of dollars running government concentration camps, like Alligator Alcatraz. The plan is not to remove the immigrants from our country, but to instead, imprison the immigrants and pay some company owned by a card carrying MAGA to operate a government prison at the cost of millions of dollars a year; until then we’ll be filling prisons in Sudan, Cuba, and El Salvador at the cost of the American tax payer.

3.)  I once had a husband.  He believed and practiced the theory, “if you repeat a lie enough times, most people believe it.”  I am more of the,  “You can fool all the people some of the time.  You can fool some of the people, part of the time,  but you can never fool all the people, all of the time.”  I’m watching Trump and he’s lost his luster even to many of the diehards. I’ve got my fingers crossed.  There’s a lot at stake here, our country is celebrating 250 years as a constitutional republic (democracy). But, for how much longer. We need 3 active branches of government each religiously exerting its guaranteed checks and balance power. You would think the reps and senators and the black robed justices on the Supreme Court would cherish their power and guard that power, but since Trump came down the escalator the reps, the senators and the all powerful justices have turned over their power to a 35 count felon.

4.)  In 1973, Richard Nixon declared, “there can be no whitewash at the White House.” A thought that is needed now more than ever; because there is a stench rising out of  Washington, D.C. the stink so foul it can be smelled around the world. I have never smelled anything so disgusting, except the odor that hovers over a rendering plant in mid-August.  a.) A “free” jet for the prez from Qatar. Qatar?? The prez of the U.S. is taking “a gift” from one of the biggest troublemakers in the middle east. Qatar is a supporter of Hamas. This new, “free” Air Force One that’s going to cost at least a billion dollars of U.S government money to retro-fit, and then the old fossil takes it home with him. Wow. Sounds wrong. b.) And then there’s the billions of dollars in profit for the prez and his family from their crypto currency shenanigan’s. Who’s writing the rules on this made up currency?  Oh, silly me, there are no rules and regulations and that’s what makes it so lucrative, folks. c.) With a series of million dollar a plate dinner dates with Donald and the fossil fuel barons have reversed United States environmental policy and Trump is quickly returning to a “drill baby drill” mentality, opening up wide swaths of public lands, most dramatically in Alaska. d.) And the “maybe you” or  “maybe not you” tariffs, I wonder how much is costs to be a “maybe not you” in the tariff war the prez has decided to unleash on the American consumer. e.)  What is the price of a pardon? We may never find out but the pardons being issued by this president seem to have a lot of donor money behind the presidential action.

5.)  The unrelenting attacks and insults against the media, by President Trump, are inexcusable and dangerous.  A little contention is good, but what is going on is unprecedented.  Since when does the top liar in the country have the right to accuse anyone of being “fake.”  The fabricated accusations by Trump are disgusting and unnecessary.  Trump’s assault against the press must stop. The press in an indispensable part of our democracy, understood by our founding fathers that’s why we have the First Amendment to the Constitution.  Free speech whether written or spoken is the foundation of democracy. Calling people “fat”, “nasty”, and “stupid” demeans the office of president and calls into question the abilities and motives of anyone that dares tell the world the emperor has no clothes.

6.) “Who knew, health care was so complicated?” President Trump expressed Monday, February 27, 2017.   OMG.  Move forward to 2026. Nine years later and the dumb ass has participated in the biggest bait and switch in American history. Well, at least now, he admits, not everything can be solved on Truth Social.  In fact, the Republicans are so mean and cruel that they are about to give billionaires the biggest tax cuts in history while making health insurance skyrocket in price for the average American. On top of that health care calamity this country is designated as #42 on the world health care service effectiveness list.  That’s a pathetic placement.  “42”?  That means 41  other countries in the world are providing better and cheaper health care than we are. Absolutely, heartbreaking.  41 other countries provide both  better and cheaper health care for their citizens than we do here in the United States.  Has anyone thought to go to the  number 1 country, or even the number  2 country; and see how they do it?  Universal health care; that’s where I’d start, if I really wanted the best for the American people.  Let’s find out how to do it right.  We can still learn.

7.) What a bungled mess the Trump Administration has made of the Epstein files, nothing unusual for this crew of idiots. Trump’s AG, Pam Bondi said she was about ready to make Epstein’s client list public, whipping up public furor for the big reveal. In fact, Ms. AG said the file was “sitting on my desk right now,” leading to expectations that the information would soon be released. For Trump, a candidate that had made a big deal of releasing the Epstein files was now treading water, doing a lot of backscene arm twisting to keep the files secret. Then by memo the DOJ stated it would not be releasing the promised files. Reports indicate that Trump is mentioned at least 1500 times (maybe more) in the documents received from the Epstein estate. In at least one photo it sure looked like a 50-ish year old Trump had hold of a young beauty contestant’s breast. But, it must contain a lot more than a couple inappropriate pictures otherwise Donnie wouldn’t be so damn scared of what the full reveal will expose. Trump says “people will get hurt.” What the F? Epstein is believed to have sexually abused and trafficked over a 1,000 women and under age girls, perhaps more. These women have been hurt and continue to be hurt. It was about this time that even the Republicans began to break from the official dogma. Marjorie Taylor Green the most famous MAGA in the House, said, “no more”  to the coverup and announced plans to resign from office in January 2026,  after a very public falling out with Donald Trump.

8.)  Trump was impeached twice during his first term, but the Republican dominated Senate refused to convict. and it didn’t seem to slow the 35 count felon down. After a try at insurrection Trump and his followers went loudly into the political night…until 2024 when this friken’ criminal was re-elected by an amnesic electorate and the first thing he did was commute or pardon the January 6th, rioters. The only saving grace in this situation has been that many of them were criminals and kept offending which led to further incarceration. His second term has been different; the Republicans control the house, the senate, and the White House. In 2017 the Democrats were in charge of the House, led by spit fire Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. It seems that the Republicans have no intention to bring this dog to heel. Soo00, folks we need to send the MAGA’s reps and senators home with their tails between their legs and send a whole new generation of Democrats to Washington.

9.) First our troops were attacking “narco” fishing boats off the coast of Venezuela. Trump upped the ante when he began boarding and seizing Venezuelan oil tankers. Then on 1/3/2026, according to Trump in a morning news conference, flanked by Pete Hegseth and Pam Bondi, announced that Nicolas Maduro along with his wife was  apprehended by the U.S military, following a large scale strike on Venezuela. I find this action alarming. What the hell? I’m not alone, the UN’s top counterterrorism expert has condemned the US actions, calling the strikes and “abduction” of Maduro an “illegal aggression.”  Such activities by our government should be alarming. Since when does the U.S. swoop in and kidnap a government leader of a sovereign country? What? Didn’t Trump just pardon Juan Hernandez the former president of Honduras or the crimes Trump is now accusing Venezuela’s leader Maduro. This is not the American way. Really dangerous, folks. Having our demented president Trump claim “we are going to run the country…” should make the hair on your arms stand up. What next, Greenland? Cuba? Mexico? Columbia? Iran?

10.) It was Saturday afternoon and I wasn’t doing anything…so I decided I’d watch former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s testimony to the Republican led House Judiciary Committee on YouTube. Mr. Smith testified in a closed-door deposition in December 2025. He defended his investigations into Donald Trump regarding the 2020 Russian election interference and the missing classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago. Smith pushed back against accusations that his investigation was politically motivated, and stated categorically that Trump was guilty of all charges brought by the Special Counsel team. Smith denied emphatically  that the probes were in anyway political. I think if you have 6 or so hours, please watch it.

My big question, why are we ‘effin around in Venezuela, Nigeria, Argentina? We have hungry kids in this country, we have sick old people, we have nearly 30 million people about to be unable to pay for health insurance. Stop the bullshit, its time for our government to start taking care of the needy in this country. The cost of Trump’s demented government policy is dangerous and costly. And I want to remind you, just because it hasn’t happened (yet), doesn’t mean it can’t, or won’t.

The Results Are In

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Results Report

Results Report 

 

By D.S. Mitchell

I’m not sure when I decided to do it; I think it was about 6 weeks ago; maybe more like a month ago. Anyway, none of that is really important, what is important was the response I got.

I sat down and made a list of 25 old friends that I never wanted to lose contact with; some I hadn’t reached out to in several years. Shame on me, but like with most things I can give you a page long list of reasons why I let that happen. So, rather than bore you with all that nonsense, I’ll tell you what I did.

First of all, I have an entire filing cabinet drawer filled with beautiful greeting cards; Sympathy, Get Well Soon, Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary, Merry Christmas, Thinking of You, and Blank, of course. When you donate, frequently you will be given socks, scarfs, back packs, flashlights, address labels and every form of greeting card ever needed or designed. All-in-all, pretty awesome.

So, I think you can put two and two together and see what’s coming. I took that list of ’25 friends I never wanted to lose contact with’ and grabbed a handful of Thinking of You cards and wrote all of these amazing people a short note telling them each how much I appreciated knowing them and expressed my intent to do a better job of keeping in contact, updating my contact information and asking the same of them. Next, I went to the post office and for less than $20.00 I sent all those precious people a loving and caring handwritten note.

I’m not sure what response I expected; or if I even thought about potential responses, I just did it, comfortable with what ever happened. The phone didn’t ring and there was no written response to my cards…for at least two weeks, then as if the celestial dam broke my mail box was filled with a deluge of responses, each with its unique and beautiful sentiment followed with directions to websites, new phone numbers, updated emails and physical addresses as well.

I counted 18 hand written responses,  and 1 returned ‘d/t no forwarding address on file,’ and five phone calls! Amazing, 100% if you discount the 1 returned d/t no forwarding address. Four of the calls were happy with multiple promises to keep in contact. The 5th caller, the older sister of one of ‘my never want to lose contact with friends,’ a person well-known and loved by me, called to tell me that she was taking care of her sister’s mail and social contacts since her younger sister was no longer able to self care due to advanced Alzheimer’s disease. Heart breaking news, made doubly painful because her husband is also a victim of the disease. Connie, said she would keep me in the loop as to Alice’s health, which gave me some comfort.

From what started as one of those things I just had to do; became a thing I was so thankful I did.  Hearing those warm, familiar voices on the phone, touching the paper their fingers had touched, in those handwritten notes and cards, OMG… thank you dear friends for sharing your love, kindness and mercy. I can’t ever imagine what I did to deserve such kindness and love.

Thank you all, and keep in touch with your friends. You’ll be glad you did.

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

 

 

Flyin’ Solo

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Flyin’ Solo

Flyin’ Solo

 

By Kelli Mathison

 

Long Ago

When I was younger, much younger, I never worried about being alone, in fact, as an only child I found great comfort in being alone. Today, it’s a bit different because I’m not really alone; I have a significant other.  Sadly, that person is ill; and getting sicker on a predicted path toward death. I know we’re all on a short leash as far as life expectancy goes, but most of us don’t have a terminal diagnosis with a predicted expiration date. I make sure that all of his needs are met and that he is comfortable and happy and that his caregivers provide superlative care. As can be expected, his attention is now directed inwards, to his pain, to his wants and needs; perfectly understandable. But, where does that leave me, other than alone. Not physically of course, but emotionally and intellectually, I’m on my own. I guess its preparation for a time when I will be physically alone. A thought I find hard to write. Of course, I have an unknown expiration date myself, I could just as easily go first. Life and death a constant mystery.

Flyin’ Solo

I can feel myself shifting from ‘us’ and ‘our busy lives’, to ‘me’ alone, ‘just me.’ He can no longer travel, even by car. He is housebound. I’m conflicted because I’m not ready to give up on a spontaneous car ride, a lazy lunch at a favorite restaurant, a forest hike, a concert, a golf game with my girl friends, an afternoon loitering at the local art museum. If any reader feels I am selfish and uncaring, you are wrong; what I am, is aware that I need a plan for being alone. I’ve done some reading on living alone after a partner dies and what I’ve learned is encouraging and worth sharing. Most experts recommend establishing a new routine, maintaining and building on friendships, joining a support group, and perhaps getting a pet. Focus on self care, explore hobbies, meet new people.  Remember, when someone you care about has been ill for a long time the mourning begins before death and preparation for the impending loss makes good sense.

What the experts say:
1. Create structure and new routines:
  • To gain a sense of control it may be necessary to set daily schedules for meals, exercise, and basic self-care.
  • To avoid that sensation of lost days, plan one small, simple daily activity such as taking a walk or going to the pool. 
2. Take control of financial matters:
  • Set up automatic bill pay.
  • Create a “team” of professionals (mechanic, house cleaner, appliance repair) for house and auto upkeep.
  • Set up a calendar for maintenance reminders (oil changes, HVAC checks, filter replacements).
3. Build a support & social network
  • Keep in contact with family and friends, even if its just for a quick call.
  • Join a couple local groups (library, garden, hobby clubs) to facilitate meeting new people.
  • Adopt a pet for that constant, non-judgmental companionship.
  • Explore support groups or see a therapist/doctor if needed.

4. Find new purpose while honoring your loved one’s memory

  • Keep photos displayed or continue a meaningful tradition.
  • To shift focus and find purpose try volunteering for something you support (animal rescue, food banks).
5. Be kind to yourself
  • Mourning is a process; a confusing mix of emotions (confusion, anger, relief, pain) give yourself permission to grieve in your own way. Grieving often begins during the loved one’s illness often long before their death.
  • Avoid using alcohol or drugs as coping mechanisms; talk to a doctor if you’re struggling with the diagnosis and its effect on you.
  • Go at your own pace and don’t rush into social situations before you’re ready. 
  • Lastly, do not make any major decisions, such as selling your home or moving to Nebraska without giving yourself at least one year to grow familiar with being alone.

 

 

Let’s Get Up and Get Moving

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Let’s Get Up and Get Moving

Let’s Get Up and Get Moving

Editor: A version of this article was published on 10/17/2017

D. S. Mitchell

 

No News

It’s no news that our society is becoming more sedentary and overweight. Many of us spend hours behind a desk at our jobs and then go home where we spend more hours watching TV and perusing the internet before falling into bed exhausted.  We drive our cars to the McDonald’s drive thru, order  our food and never even get out of our cars.  We use our computers to shop, without ever leaving the house.  With decreased activity people are increasingly complaining of posture related aches and pains, weight gain, depression, joint pain, anxiety, and low self-esteem.

Too Much

Just like we enjoy eating and drinking too much, we enjoy sitting and doing nothing too much. We are surrounded by cars, salty snacks, elevators and escalators, sugary drinks and fast foods. The problem has become serious enough that the World Health Organization has an agenda focused on encouraging physical activity. In other words folks, the world is experiencing a crisis in health, created by being inactive and being too fat for our own good.

Try Vigorous Movement

A “Black Dog Institute” of Australia, in a decades old study, found that 1-2 hours of exercise per week can prevent depression and suicide. In addition to improved mental health multiple world-wide studies have shown that vigorous movement can stave off heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, fatigue, diabetes, and even cancer.

“Sitting Disease”

Our country, and most of the industrialized economies are suffering from chronic “sitting”.  Physical inactivity is one of  the top 10 causes of disease and disability according to a recent UK government study, they in fact have diagnosed 1 in 6 deaths to “sitting disease” which is equal to the number of deaths related to smoking in the UK.

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Shredding Documents

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Shredding Documents

Does It Really Matter?

Does It Really Matter? 

D. S. Mitchell

 

I was sitting in the doctor’s office reading an old Reader’s Digest article that offered advice on when and what to shred.  According to the 6 year old article our greatest danger is through ‘mass hackings’ of our credit information. No matter how cautious we are our greatest danger is as victims of other people’s carelessness, or bad intent.  Despite that, supposedly we should still take every precaution when dealing with the disposal of sensitive documents in an effort to keep our private information private.

Does any of this really make a difference? I don’t know. I feel like my entire life has already been reduced to 0’s and 1’s; especially since DOGE scoured the federal computers for every snippet of my life story. I think I’m like a lot of Americans. Not only am I feeling vulnerable, but I feel totally betrayed by Elon Musk, Donald Trump, the Supreme Court, in other words, by own government. Will the results of such personal intrusions just mean my spam increases or will it be more serious, leading to fraudulent bank loans and other nefarious activities.

With those opposing thoughts in mind here are the suggestions from the Reader’s Digest article:

Receipts: If you aren’t saving the receipt for taxes or other purposes and you made your purchase with a credit or debit card shred it. The receipt shows the last 4 digits of the card number and possibly your signature. Those clever crooks can use receipts for fraudulent returns and benefit from your store credit.

Prescription Labels: Sometimes they are stapled to the prescription bag or on the bottle. Labels frequently list your name, date of dispensing, name and strength of the drug and dispensing pharmacy.  Crooks can use the information to refill prescriptions or steal your identity.

Pet Medical Documents: Keep records of major events for the pets health history, but shred the rest.  The paperwork will show your name, address, phone and the pet’s name, which according to many studies to be the most common computer password choices.

Airline Boarding Passes: Shred after landing. The boarding pass will show your name, your itinerary, and a bar code that in some cases will show your frequent flier number, which would allow thieves to “log in to airline accounts to view upcoming travel plans, check in to flights, and even cancel trips.”

Return Labels: Shred free return labels that come in the mail and any envelopes showing your name and address. When writing a return address on an envelope omit your name. Identity thieves will use that information to collect more information from social media and piece together your identity.

 

Should I Get a Dog?

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I Want a Dog, But Should I Get a Dog?

 I Want a Dog, But Should I Get a Dog?

 

By D. S. Mitchell

 

That Damn Lily

My last dog was named Lily, she was a rescued dog. She came to my home when she was about two years old and full of personality.  She had a habit of arguing with me when I would give commands,  “Sit, Lily” would be followed by a straight on eye ball to eye ball period of audible grumbling before following the order. “To your house, Lily,” garnered the same stare me down look and grumbling response, before heading to her bed.   But she was the first to notice when I was sad or depressed, and would hurry to comfort me.  She was the first to notice when something was amiss and would quickly draw my attention to her concern. She never got on the furniture, she apparently was smarter than that; I don’t even sit on the furniture. She was always ready for a walk or any kind of activity, especially a car ride. Yippee!

Memorable Events

Her most memorable nonsense was the day she wrapped her leash around both my legs and brought me down hard on a sand dune at Sunset Beach, Oregon, just out front of my house. Turns out that little stunt fractured my pelvis, causing me to spend the next 2 months hobbling around like a 90 year old with a borrowed walker; you know the kind with the tennis balls on the two back struts.

Her second most memorable stunt was when she ( we were living in Astoria, Oregon at the time) jumped out the second story window of my three story Victorian house on Flavel Street, and took off. WTF. I mean this dog jumped from the second floor window; why? because the damn window was open?  Holy moly. I was at a total loss. Screaming and literally pulling at my hair. Why would she pull such a bull shit stunt. After she bailed out the window, landing quite athletically on the street below,  I watched her head up the hill as if she had a destination in mind. So, I of course, called the Astoria Police Department and told them my dog was missing. I gave the nice lady taking the report Lily’s description. The woman told me she would call me if Lily turned up. Well….less than five minutes later that nice police lady called back and said she thought she had found my dog.

Thank God

‘Thank God,” my response.

The sweet lady laughed and said, “You better get over to Astoria High School. Apparently, your brindle boxer just broke up the first band concert of the year.”

“Broke up the first band concert of the year?” I painfully repeated.

“According to the report, your pooch interrupted the concert, sending both audience and band members scurrying.”

“Oh, God,” I moaned.

Loving Kids

I grabbed my side kick, Dave, who was hanging out at the house, and we headed over the hill to Astoria High School. The rig had barely come to a stop when the two of us hit the ground running.  Dave was about 20  feet out front of me when we found the center of chaos and Lily was right in the middle of it. Several of the students were joyfully pursuing Lily, but she was quick and was darting in and out from behind one obstacle after another.  It was obvious she was having a hell of a good time with the kids. She loved kids.

I shouted, “Halt!” and to everyone’s surprise she did just that. She of course, grumbled and disputed my dominance, but she stopped and held her position.

I pulled out a  piece of chicken I had stashed in my pocket, for just such a situation, and promised Lily it was all hers if she’d just let me attach the leash to her ‘effin collar.  Once the agreement was struck, I hooked up the leash to the collar and Lily and I headed down the hall to the main entrance with Lily munching on last night’s chicken breast and me leading the crazy bitch to the SUV. Dave, followed close behind and hopped in the car and the three of us headed home. The next day there was a front page story in the Daily Astorian, with pictures of  Lily’s night of disruption at Astoria High School.  In the end, it was a good laugh for all.

So Why Do I Want a Dog?

Sometimes we, are not in the right place, time-wise, geographically, or emotionally to bring a new friend laden with responsibilities into our lives. It broke my heart when I had to euthanize Lily at around 12 years of age. She had thyroid cancer and was miserable with pain and I couldn’t watch her suffering any longer. It’s been five years since her death and I’m feeling the pain of being dog-less. I definitely do not want a puppy. I’m thinking elder dog for elder owner.

The time commitment required for a new puppy is more than I can take on. Before I start looking for my new companion I know I need to make sure that I have the time and the energy required to make the daily commitment to my new best buddy. Puppies will need to go out every hour until they are house trained. That means a commitment of no less than two hours daily for play, exercise, socialization and stimulation. Additionally, puppies because they are rapidly growing, need to be fed and watered three times a day. I know I can’t do that. Continue reading

Street View, NO Kings Protest

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Street View, NO Kings Protest

Street View, NO Kings Protest

By David L. Shadrick

Darlene, John, Vajra, and I arrived at the NO Kings protest at 9:55 for the 10 o’clock start. There was already a huge crowd of loud and noisy citizens. John was pushing my wheelchair, while Darlene, Vajra, and I, carried our signs, musical instruments and water.

The Josephine County Courthouse, just happens to be directly across 6th Street from the Republican Party headquarters. During the three previous protests, the Trumpers could only marshal 3 or 4 pro Trumpers to yell insults in our direction. Today, however, the Trump supporters, numbered as many as a dozen, carrying American flags and Trump Won Signs.

There wasn’t an inch of sidewalk space to be had on either side of the street due to NO Kings protesters crowding even the area in front of the Republican Headquarters. As we thought through  our options Darlene noticed a shady spot with an unoccupied bench a block down 6th Street on the Republican side of the street, not exactly in the middle of the action but the location made us a visible commodity, quite visible in fact.

I grabbed my trusty 8647 sign, my goat horn, and then rolled out onto the sidewalk where my sign could be easily seen by the slow moving and horn honking traffic. I could hear John and Vajra drumming while  Darlene rang her cow bell. We were basically a block down the street from the biggest part of the crowd when a dour looking Trumper made his way through the densest part of the crowd, heading in my direction. When he got close he said with a sneer, “Your sign is disgusting.”

I replied, “What’s disgusting are cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and Veteran’s benefits.”

After several minutes of harassing a disabled veteran  in a wheelchair he bent down close to my face and repeated, “your sign is still disgusting,” before retreating south toward the Wunder Bar.

The next Trumpers came in a gang of three, walking through the same crowd of protesters, without saying a word, making a bee line straight for me, apparently my 8647 sign really ticked them off. The first man, suggested quite irritably, that I “should go back to (my) pathetic life.” Before I could answer, I was interrupted by the second Trumper in the group, who was seemingly a decent person. He asked me why I was protesting and I told him that the cuts to all the safety net programs were going to force me to sleep in the street or on his couch. “Ok, well, I can understand that might be a problem,” he said, before he walked on. The third person in the group was a nicely dressed woman who suggested she liked “ice in (her) soda,” to Darlene who was waving a sign that said, “I.C.E. is best C-R-U-S-H-E-D.  After their interaction with us, the three simply got in a car and drove away.

While I was eagerly blowing my goat horn, another Trumper ran up in front of me and whipped out a megaphone from behind his back, and began chanting, “GO TRUMP, GO TRUMP, GO TRUMP” to which I yelled, “and you go with him.” From behind me I heard a chorus of voices, led by Darlene, chanting, “8647, 8647, 8647.” The volume of the chant grew and the increasing furor sent the megaphone master retreating back to the safety of the six remaining Trumpers securing the Republican headquarters.

An old white guy, in a battered pickup slowed down to yell “fuck you,” as he passed.

“Is that the only word you know?” I demanded at the top of my lungs.

He again repeated the “fuck you” insult.

And I repeated, “is that the only word you know?”

The third time he said, “fuck you,” I again repeated my question, “is that the only word you know?”

The frustrated old fart, gunned his truck engine, and headed down the street, after tossing, “asshole,” in my direction; at last proving, even Trumpers know more than two words.

Another Trump friendly driver, waved his two middle fingers in my direction before causing his rig to belch a huge cloud of black diesel smoke, leading protestors close by to cough, sputter, and spit. I ignored him.

The middle finger salutes, the cursing, the belching trucks, the negativity, the insults, all came from the MAGA crowd. Not one person on the No Kings protestors side was rude or insulting to anyone, certainly not to the first wheelchair bound person they could find.

 

NO KINGS PROTEST

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NO KINGS PROTEST

NO KINGS Protest

“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”

                                                                                                                              Steve Jobs

Letting Go

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LETTING GO

Letting Go

By David L. Shadrick

 

My mother has been in my closet since last August.

I think that’s disrespectful.  But, letting go isn’t easy. First, we have the problem of where to spread her ashes. All she told me was that she wanted to be spread ‘among the wildflowers’. Unfortunately most wildflower fields are in parks or other places that have restrictions against spreading human remains. This leaves private property, unfortunately the only property available to me is our gold mine in Railroad Flats, California. The gold mine is owned by the Shadrick side of the family not the Staggs; and quite honestly Dad may not have wanted her there. He and mom had a very contentious divorce, and I don’t think either of them are interested in spending eternity together.

After months of anxiety I think my brother and I have settled on a place to disperse mom’s remains. While it may be illegal, we’ve decided to take the risk and release her ashes into the Rogue River wilderness of Southern Oregon.

Quite honestly I can hardly wait for this to all be over. I need this to happen, because the responsibility of this task feels like an anvil on my chest.

“Goodbye Mom.”

 

RIP, Carlie (Staggs) Clayborn

 

OBITUARY

Mom’s accomplishments include: the first woman stockbroker at Kidder, Peabody, Portland, OR. Chairwoman for National Cerebral Palsy Association, Member of the Million Dollar Club in Real Estate Sales, Santa Rosa, CA. BA in Business, SSU. These outstanding accomplishments took place in the 1970’s, when thanks to the Women’s Movement, women were beginning to break into those coveted ‘men’s jobs’. Carlie was a pioneer in life and myself, my brother Randy, and my sister Sheila know that mom will shine bright in her new home.