Here's a few pictures for you:

By Brian O'Leary Bennett

For the first time in 24 years there's an open U.S. Senate seat in the state, and there's no viable GOP candid
California Republicans under Reagan led a national revolution. Now they must lead their own evolution.

Delegates to the California Republican Party state convention that begins Friday in Sacramento should be asking themselves just two questions: Why can't they find an electable U.S. Senate candidate and how do they revive a state party that's become irrelevant?

This state went from red to blue because the California GOP lost its Reaganesque compass and, alarmingly, a willingness to discern between moral absolutes and generational evolution. Ronald Reagan brilliantly never let himself be the captive or defender of the status quo or party orthodoxy. He embraced broad principles and found ways to solve problems without selling out.

Voters, popes, presidents and even some elders have evolved. The state party has not and seems to be perversely proud of it. Political parties are meant to win elections, not be martyrs to lost causes of bygone eras. Republicans need their own rhetoric of reliance


For the first time in 24 years there's an open U.S. Senate seat in California, and the party should be ashamed it has no viable candidates. The problem is “us” not “them.” What are some of the changes the state party needs to make to return California to a truly two-party state?

The brand: The California party would be smart to develop a playbook from many accomplished conservative governors. Four full months after a stunning rejection of the president's policies, the GOP as a whole has no defining principles or programs. A work in progress, they tell us. Many GOP governors are having remarkable success in blue states. But here in California, sections of the party platform read from the Dark Ages. The state GOP is squandering a historic opportunity to rebrand with voters who don't trust any party, most of all a GOP held hostage to itself.

The entire article at the link:
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-0226-bennett-how-to-revive-calif-gop-20150226-story.html

From his wife:

A Christopher Green update.

Chris has moved to room 222 at Kindred. 11900 Fairhill Rd. Cleveland, OH 44120.

I am worried that he may be getting discouraged. He has been on the vent for some time; hasn't painted or played guitar. If you could send him a funny card, it may help. Humor is a wonderful balm. Thank you.

I've been hearing about this book around DU, and it sounded intriguing, so I bought a copy, and WOW.

For starters, here is the first sentence: "For the record, if there ever is one, the body in my basement with the pitchfork sticking out of its back isn't mine."

Well. That's all it took. I started reading it around 9:30 p.m. one night recently, and I didn't (rather, I couldn't) put it down till I was finished at around 1:00 a.m.

The plot is beautifully done, the characters are believable, and the story flows like, well, wine! Wine is one of the central themes and even if you don't know anything about it, it doesn't matter. The story is completely compelling. There is also time travel which is fantastic and takes you off to some very interesting places and people. There is also suspense and romance. It's wonderful!

I strongly recommend this wonderful book.

I hope DFW will sell many many copies, along with a screenplay.

From his wife:

A Christopher Green update: I was given the task of finding a skilled nursing facility for Chris when he is ready to move on. It is quite daunting as he needs both ventilator and dialysis services. There is one and only one in our county and the surrounding counties that provides vents. It will not work for Chris. It just makes sense that Chris is on the ventilator during dialysis so his new lungs get a break while his heart and kidneys are given a doozie of a workout. This nearby facility (about 1/2 hour away from our house) has a dialysis center just over a mile away, and they require a respiratory therapist to accompany him if he is on the vent. (He has dialysis 3x/week for 4 hours each). They will not pay for that to happen. It also has double rooms, and iffy WI-fi.

There is a fantastic place: Andover Village. They have single rooms, WI-fi, and tunnels to dialysis and an ER. The beauty of this is that Chris will not have to go outside - we have been flirting with record cold temps, snow and blowing snow. Of course there is a downside and that is location. It is in Ashtabula County - it sets records for amount of snow fallen and is very close to Pennsylvania - 1 and 1/2 hours from our home.

I have one more place to see. It takes about the same time to get there, but snow should not be a big a problem there.
For some reason, he is on the vent a lot. His computer also needs protection from the nasties coming through public WI-fi.

The pictures are of his new watercolor painting. The three were the first. I love all the color! The last two are promo pics from the band IIFF (IN IT FOR Fun). Thanks Tom for the pics! The band included Tom Carey (Lead Guitar), Marianne (vocals), Shelley Waters (RIP) (Bass Guitar) and four different drummers from 1988. Chris played guitar, keyboards and sang. My husband is so cool!

and you probably don't believe spring will ever arrive...

Here's some proof that it will!

Peach flower:


Blackberry flower:


Plum flower:

> > > I want to let you know my brother Bobby passed away and received Military Funeral Honors. He was a Vietnam Veteran and my hero. He fought cancer for 10 whole years...only for it to move around and show it's ugly head at every turn. He died shortly after his second treatment of that heavy chemo...fighting right up to the end. I miss him terribly but I know he's in much better place and he suffers no more.
> > >
> > > I hope all is well with you my friend and give everyone my message. I do so appreciate your support.
> > >
> > > I'll return soon but I need some time ....love to all of you. Toni

Please excuse me if this has already been posted...