Election 2012 - Not my choice...

Count me as one who really wanted Obama to lose and Romney to win despite the appearances of a physically disabled person voting for the Republican candidate – and I have dealings with may a disabled person who voted (and feel) far differently. Some background to explain:

• I have Muscular Dystrophy and use a power wheelchair to get around due to progressing physical issues
• I receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). I've been hesitant to disclose this as it seems counterintuitive for someone with my condition to ‘vote against my own self-interest’ as many a liberal blog commenter may suggest
• Obviously, Medicare is my only medical insurance
•  I want desperately to make enough income to ditch the SSDI and the part-time income of $1000/mo I am allowed before I am 62 (57 now) to avoid being moved to the minimal and lower SSA retirement benefits
• I do not like relying on the SSDI as it goes against my grain of preferring to earn my income…not accept benefits

It appears a contradiction to want to ditch the SSDI and with our new attempt to grow from our new and small Alcam Writing LLC business. So why the republican candidate then? It has to do with unintended consequences of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), aka Obamacare, in this one of several areas...

As a disabled consumer utilizing Medicare, I am concerned is the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB).  PL 111–148, P.189:

“This advisory board under this paragraph shall consist of 15 members appointed by the Comptroller General of the United States…”, a political appointee and in the not elected, so there can be no minimal recourse available to myself...like a vote against.

Further, how will this group of 15 choose what medical procedures will this board allow or deny in my case…will so-called quality of life issues (such as my MD) be an important parameter? What about political affiliation? Can questions like this along with the probable exploding PPACA costs start to become items that may minimize or deny me care?  

(there are more reasons for not chosing to vote for the president...will post later)

Tina's Pic Story - 'K' is for kids

Tina nicely hosts the fun foto meme, Pic Story where we add pictures to match the weekly theme she kindly provides. This week is the letter 'K', and for me the obvious selection is for kids. Hard to believe, but I was the second of seven children of our family in East Hartford Connecticut - here in 1968 with all in school dress, some in uniforms (like me in the maroon blazer). Plenty of kids here (clockwise from left, me. Michele, Claudia, Sharon, Chris, Vicki, Sue)

Our brood these days is smaller though, with son Cameron and daughter Allegra - here on the first day of school about 28 August 1996. He was in first grade, she in third grade. Time fies as she graduated college in 2010, and he next month - but like my family growing up then ours still grow now...

Ruby Tuesday - Embers

For Ruby Tuesday 2, my rubies are simple - showing the embers in one of the fireplaces at the historic David Humphreys House in Ansonia CT, built in 1698. Of course, today we are spoiled by having triple-paned windows, fiberglass insulation real central heating systems - here, the entire heat on cold winter days was provided by the three central fireplaces, with uneven heat to say the least.

The Derby Historical Society opens the home in November for a thanksgiving meal, the docents and junior docents dress up in period to cook and serve the fare. In these pictures, the pumpkins are hollowed out and vegetables are cooked inside them...below the gourds in the cast iron pot sits a butternut squash pie baked inside...and the silver device is a replica of a manual turkey rotisserie. 

Food is cooked around and near the ruby embers, and so on Saturday, I am bringing my appetite - and another layer for warmth...

Whimsical Windows - Long ago and far away

Toby hosts the fun meme Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors. Our task is to find interesting architectural gems. As many know, I have posted this before and still like the old scanned pics from distant eras.

The time is 1956,  the place is the New Jersey shore, the pre-superstorm Sandy and pre-casino Atlantic City. The hotels built long ago have an architectural charm, such as opening windows and no air-conditioning in the rooms no longer seen. And the names, such as Brighton and Traymore seem a throwback to a simpler time, and both long gone. The gentleman is my grandfather who trekked often from Ohio for a family visit to the briny paradise. Casinos seem more a draw than the wavy Atlantic...

Shadow Shot Sunday - Pre Sandy Shoreline

Shadow Shot Sunday is back after the super storm Sandy wreaked its way onto the northeast earlier this week. 

As we live about 8 miles inland (13 km) from Long island Sound, we never lost electricity and damage in this area was minimal, although New Jersey, Long Island, New York City and much of the Connecticut shore are devastated - the thing about water is its beauty when calm yet ugly in its fury during a storm...





I chose early autumn pictures of the water in West Haven CT on a beautiful day - as a contrast to this week's destruction. The day was beautiful, the water calm and sky blue.

The first video shows erosion of the beach but not as much as other parts of the shore and at about 2:57 (at the 12:00 position), the gazebo may still be there as it sits above a sea wall. We cannot understate the force of this massive tidal surge - but can marvel at it on a nice day..