What July 4 Means to Me

Today is Independence Day and I believe many of us have forgotten just what that means, it was when we as a new country declared our independence from British rule because we didn't agree with their rules and taxes, but look where we are now. We have a government that is run by Big Corporations that have paid excuse me given donations to politicians that are supposed to work for us. The rights that were given to us by our forefathers have been systematically been taken away by our government and they have done everything to instill fear in to the population. I believe we need to stand up for those rights now more so than we have because if not those rights will disappear if left to those politicians in office, they have forgotten their job and are more interested in giving support to business over the welfare of the people.
Our Preamble states " We the People of the United States in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice and insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense & promote general welfare and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the United States of America. It seems to me that we have done just the opposite in the last 50 years laws are changed to benefit big business but the people get left out and it's time to say enough. We are the wealthiest country and yet we have more people without proper medical coverage again because politicians are owned by the Insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, defense contractors none of which benefit the people of this country. In the 60's we protested the war in Viet Nam and when we saw things that were wrong to let the government know we were not satisfied with what was happening and change happened but now we have become complacent while more people are suffering.
I've come to realize that if I don't speak up I have no right to complain because I am responsible for myself and holding those politicians responsible. I've written letters to Doc Hastings and have never spoken to such a close minded individual especially when presented with medical facts and studies concerning medical cannabis and will do everything in my power to see that he and many like him are removed from those positions of trust. We have to take back our government, when politicians give themselves raises before tackling anything else something is wrong with that. They should be paid on what they do for the whole not just those that can buy them. This is what today means to me not just fireworks, picnics and baseball, but to make our politicians accountable, to see that everyone has medical care, that those finding help with medical cannabis are no longer arrested and convicted just because they were following a Dr's recommendation because our government has their War on Patients going on and fear is the motivator. If we ran our households like the government is run we would all be in jail yet they get raises and lifetime benefits just because they were in Washington DC, what is wrong with that picture.
Take a stand with action continue to be bullied the choice is yours.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

Just Saw Sicko

I just watched "Sicko" a Michael Moore film and if you haven't seen it yet I highly recommend it. If this doesn't open your eyes check your heart. Get in touch with your congressman to support HR 676 remind them they work for you and if they want to keep that job they need to listen or we can put someone in that will. It is time for empty words to be replaced with action, and caring & compassion to extreme profits.
When I hurt my knee in '99 I went to the VA one of the benefits of serving in the Navy or that is what we are told, I have never experienced treatment like that but I did learn a valuable lesson and that is if you don't speak up it won't change. I was a guinea pig for their medical trials with negative results and suffering unbearable pain. Drugs like Vioxx & Celebrex that didn't help but messed up my stomach and with pain so intense making it hard to do anything. I left the VA when I couldn't get proper care and instead of them caring about the patients welfare they were there for a paycheck and retirement once hired it was almost impossible to get fired, li.ke most government jobs, they take care of themselves first , we were an after thought. So you think you have medical insurance, and trust them to do what they say, think again. A change has to happen and it starts with me. Find out what is being done in Washington and get involved, don't let this madness continue. I realize this is a change from what I normally write but I'm fed up with the lack of positive action concerning health care and access to medical cannabis without concern of going to jail even though it is legal with a Dr's recommendation and because of it I have a life not wasted with narcotics that were prescribed for pain because I wasn't old enough to have my knees replaced because they only wanted to replace them more than once, more concerned about feeding narcotics for pain instead of giving quality of life by doing the knee replacement 8 years ago. Become aware stand up and be counted tell our government to get out of the war and into caring and to truly be one nation, that cares follow the examples that are working because it is broke and needs to be fixed.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

Freemont Fair & Soltice Parade

Last weekend we went to Marysville to stay with Bob & Peggy just to visit and go to the "1" event I really enjoy going to on the westside, that is the Freemont Fair & Soltice Parade to welcome Summer. It is the one day where anyting goes in Freemont (the Center of the Known Universe), at noon there is a parade welcoming Summer and the unofficial start of the parade this year were around 350 nude & bodypainted bicycle riders which is a very fun part of the parade. There were dancers, clowns, belly dancers, a group giving hugs to anyone that wanted it, bands on trailers and marching bands, each with their own theme, many colors and just a great celebration. At the fair there were booths with anything you can imagine, everything you wanted to know about eating and living healthy, a nudist group looking for new members, lots of great music, several beer gardens and people having a good time. When we got to Bob & Peggy's I called a few friends and made plans to meet them at Freemont as you can see from the photos we got together. The top 2 photos are of Misha & July a couple of friends I met early on in Seattle.
The 2 bottom photos are of new friends I just met that day they are Fari & Mark (Wickeddread) with Culture Yard.
After the parade I & Peace, Bear & Lillie walked around checking out the music and booths but was really looking for my friend Erik an artist who was the first person I met in Seattle when I moved here from Texas I hadn't been here 24 hours at that time and we've continued to have a reat friendship since and he had told me that he was taking some of his artwork and just setting up on the street but when we couldn't find him I called him and he told me where he was and we made arrangements to meet on 35th & 1st ave street sign. He said he was a friends house and it was the only house in the area surrounded by businesses and warehouses in the area with music blasting in the yard and jerk chicken on the grill we were introduced to Pappy, Mark, Kevin & Fari and treated to great hospitality. they have Culture Yard, great reggae music production and anything reggae related. Jah is good as he provided a wonderful place to hang out and take a break from walking around the fair and wonderful music, it was an answer to prayer as on the way there Bob & I talked about wanting to have a place to go hang, which we had had for a couple of years before but it was still a good 8 block walk to get there, this was right in the middle of everything so it was much better than I thought it would be.


Mark was the cook for the day and kept the jerk chicken and roasted corn coming and throughout the day we were constantly meeting new people as they came and went and then the main group started arriving around 7-8pm. This was the place to be for sure, the wonderful sweet fragrance of food , herb was wonderful and it was like being on the island, can't wait until next year. This is the way the world should be everyday with Love & Peace as the main ingredients and everyone getting along, so I take it with me everywhere I go it makes life Great. Much Love & Respect to Mark, Fari, & Pappy for welcoming us.
We've found our Paradise, hope you find your's too. Namaste'