I just finished reading a most illuminating article about marijuana and its various issues in the February 20, 2014 issue of The New York Review of Books.

The author is reviewing the book A New Leaf: The End of Cannabis Prohibition which was written by Alyson Martin and Nushin Rashidian, and is published by New Press.

The article is a calm and clear discussion about the plant.

Among many other facts, I learned that Queen Victoria used it for "...relief of menstrual discomfort."

The article is well worth reading! Here's a link: http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2014/feb/20/marijuana-high-and-low/?insrc=whc

From his wife:



Here is my darling man smiling for me. This was last night and he had breathed on his own for a good part of the day. The tube in his nose goes to his stomach and some meds are dispensed through it. The blue tube and white bandage are his trach. The tube coming down on the right is probably one of the intervenous meds or method of feeding. Chris has the hardest time with tube-feeding. Today, they are operating to insert a tube to alleviate the gas in his belly. They are also inserting a feeding tube in his small intestine; it delivers nutrients in a much more efficient manner.

About 20-30 people came together to have lunch with Senator Sherrod Brown in LA today. Here's a few pictures:

With the chef:


The venue:


Talking to his supporters:


Yours truly:

From his wife:

Some great strides have been made: Chris was breathing on his own with the trach collar, but no help from the respirator! And today, they did something that I call giving him the "talking stick" and he talked! I'm too bummed I missed it! He still has a long, long way to go, though.

I am in the process of becoming a special education substitute! Yeah!

By Doyle McManus

Full story at link:

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/commentary/la-oe-mcmanus-column-midterm-elections-20140316,0,6376422.column#axzz2w9gkelKM



March 16, 2014

This year was always going to be a difficult one for Democrats, as they battle to keep their five-seat majority in the Senate. But in recent months, the political landscape has grown bleaker.

Let's start with the basics: Democrats have more seats at risk this year than Republicans do. Of the 36 Senate seats up for election (including three midterm vacancies), 21 are held by Democrats. And seven of those Democratic seats are in Republican-leaning "red states" that Mitt Romney won in 2012: Alaska, Arkansas, Louisiana, Montana, North Carolina, South Dakota and West Virginia.

The stakes are enormous. If Republicans take control of the Senate and keep the House of Representatives, they'll be able to pass parts of their conservative agenda that have been blocked until now. President Obama will still have veto power, but he'll have to spend his last two years in office stuck on defense.

Since the presidential election of 2012, the country's mood has remained sour. The sluggish economic recovery has convinced most Americans that we're still stuck in a recession, no matter what the economists say. Obama's job approval has slumped to record lows, thanks largely to the disastrous launch of his healthcare plan. That makes 2014 a bad year to be an incumbent — especially a Democratic incumbent.

Compounding Democrats' worries, Republicans are having a good year recruiting top-tier Senate candidates in both blue and red states. In Colorado, GOP Rep. Cory Gardner has turned Democratic Sen. Mark Udall's once-expected reelection into a race to watch. In New Hampshire, former Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) moved north last week and announced his desire to become Sen. Scott Brown (R-N.H.).

Charlie Cook, dean of Washington's congressional election forecasters, pronounced the Democrats' challenges "grisly."

From his wife:

His lung biopsy showed his new lungs are still healthy. Wonderful!

He still is confused, but can show the hospital staff that he is more with it. Of course, it doesn't help he can't talk because of the trach. This can be problematic. They may ask him a question, he doesn't really answer, and then he is not attended to when it is necessary.

If anyone knows of a job, I'm in dire need of one. Thanks.


To clarify the bit about the trach: He still needs support from the ventilator. He IS breathing on his own, but not enough, so the vent is still in use, just not 100% of the time.

https://www.facebook.com/TarSandsBlockade/photos/a.468988593129542.119781.424053540956381/808520975842967/?type=1

I'm going twice a week now, and wow. Who knew the shoulder could regress as much as mine did during the three weeks I was immobilized after my surgery?

I am weak.

I am not flexible. (the joint, ya know?)

I have much work to do.

I knew it wouldn't be any fun, and it isn't. Still, I must DO IT. I want to be able to use my arm to its full capacity, and that means Physical Therapy.




I AM feeling stronger every week...it's worth it!

From his wife:

I saw Christopher Green for another date to see the Ohio State Buckeyes unfortunately lose by a hair.
I am very upset, because I have seen he has posted things in here. What in the world is going on? It is hurtful to see that - I think you all know how much I would love if he could post in Facebook or anything. But how?

I am going for the Oscars, because we love to watch it, me more than Chris. I asked him if he wanted me to come for it and he did. Another date!
He had a bronchoscopy and they also took a biopsy of his new lungs on Friday. He has had a high temp last weekend and they haven't been able to find out why.


From me, CaliforniaPeggy: I think she's upset because she knows he used to post on Facebook and now he can't. His fingers just aren't working well enough.