http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/blog_rss/neonnurse Irregularly featuring the irreverent, the outrageous, the spritely and the humorous. My current words: I'm still alive. You've all been to those events where you introduce yourself by standing up and saying three words that illustrate why you're there, who you are, and so on, right? I used to point to my hair and say, "Turning Colorado blue!" (And whaddaya know, it worked!) I managed to survive my county wide Voter Reg project, and to be brutally honest I was planning to pretty much coast from October 6 through the election, because I really didn't think there would be much left to do. (I know, clearly I was deranged.) But everyone had caught fire, and new projects kept being proposed, new events kept being set up, and so for the last month my Three Words were a snarly "God, what NOW?!?!" But here we all are. We not only survived, we did a whole lot of winning! Here in Prowers, our voter turnout was 72.61%, and 58 percent of that was Early or Mail-In voting, so NO ONE got disenfranchised this year because the lines were so long they couldn't get in. The county still went roughly 2 to 1 in favor of the GOP, but we can work on that over the next two years. :) I think it may take just a little while to adjust to semi-normal life, but I'll do my best. For now, here is a really great song that helped get me through. It's called "I Approve This Message", although a good alternate title would be "We, The People". Hey, any song that mentions St. Molly of Austin and has lyrics like these: "I am the precinct walker I am the polling place volunteer I am the statistician and 4 out of 5 of me approve this message...." is a good song. (Can't seem to get it to embed, so here's the link) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwCCwg0xcIU http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CQ8s http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CQ8s/commentary#comments Fri, 07 Nov 2008 01:04:19 MST http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CQ8s Susan the Neon Nurse http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/4d9f8366c95149b114_4l1gmvoe1.jpg Susan the Neon Nurse 2 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQ8s/ Les MisObamas! This video was the capper on a really good day. I bought a new t-shirt: I got a lot of organizing done for our local New Voter Reg/Switch to Vote By Mail project, and in the mail I got two BIG packets of voter application forms from the SoS office! I am prepared to be Unstoppable come Monday. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CZjB http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CZjB/commentary#comments Fri, 12 Sep 2008 22:52:53 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CZjB Susan the Neon Nurse http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/4d9f8366c95149b114_4l1gmvoe1.jpg Susan the Neon Nurse 1 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZjB/ Wow, I really need to order some of those special days with the extra hours...I keep falling behind as new deadlines erupt! Here's a bit of cool news I ran across today. A rancher from the endangered Pinon Canyon region, Cathy Mullins, has donated an acre of land on her historic ranch to help raise funds to keep fighting the threatened expansion of the Army's Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site. If you don't recall the details on this horrible plan, no worries. Just click through HERE and browse through the tabs that explain what's at stake. Then go buy your square inch of land, a bargain at only $10! Hey, maybe you will get one near mine! http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CZGm http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CZGm/commentary#comments Wed, 10 Sep 2008 22:28:40 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CZGm Susan the Neon Nurse http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/4d9f8366c95149b114_4l1gmvoe1.jpg Susan the Neon Nurse 41 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZGm/ I'm still working on pics I took in Denver. There is one mental image in particular that has stayed with me from the speech at Mile High Thursday night, but unfortunately it's not a moment I also captured with my camera. You'll probably remember the one I mean, though, because it seems to have caught a lot of people's attention. I've seen it described as 'patio doors', and the clone said it made her think of the stained glass windows at a church. I'm talking about the part where Michelle and the girls join Obama on stage. They were standing outside a frame of panes, which was lit from the inside with a warm, golden glow. I have no way of knowing if that look was part of the design plan or not, but I bet it was, because it worked so superbly well. We all know subconsciously what it would be like, to be inside the place that light is shining from. It would be cozy and warm. It would make us feel secure, happy and welcome. It gives us the feeling that we don't have to worry any more. Everything will be all right now. Daddy's home. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/Cq75 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/Cq75/commentary#comments Sun, 31 Aug 2008 21:00:57 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/Cq75 Susan the Neon Nurse http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/4d9f8366c95149b114_4l1gmvoe1.jpg Susan the Neon Nurse 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq75/ Hop on over to http://CodeNeonBlue.net to see! It's a blast being here in The Big Tent! http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/Cq7C http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/Cq7C/commentary#comments Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:08:34 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/Cq7C Susan the Neon Nurse http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/4d9f8366c95149b114_4l1gmvoe1.jpg Susan the Neon Nurse 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq7C/ I thought I would write a little clarifying post about what exactly I am doing up here in Denver during the DNC. I'm not an actual Delegate -- I don't even play one on TV. I'm not one of the Official Credentialed State Bloggers, either. (For Colorado, that would be Square State , a site really worth your time if you are into Colorado-flavored political stuff.) Where I AM credentialed is as a blogging member of The Big Tent . This is a HUGE two-story tent set up in the parking lot of the Alliance Center in Denver. Hundreds of bloggers from all over are going to use this as a base of operations, from the giant and world famous Daily Kos (also a Big Tent sponsor) to the tiny and unknown (like me). This is also the place I am volunteering. Happily, we have that all straightened out now.... Part of the reason the ProgressNow people decided to make The Big Tent is that they didn't want to see this going on in the streets of Denver: From what I saw on Wednesday, I think they've got that action covered and then some. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/Cq49 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/Cq49/commentary#comments Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:11:08 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/Cq49 Susan the Neon Nurse http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/4d9f8366c95149b114_4l1gmvoe1.jpg Susan the Neon Nurse 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq49/ (Very, very x-posted) Turnout was huge here in Lamar for the "T. Boone Town Hall". The doors were to open at 11:30, but when I arrived at 11:40 I found disappointed townsfolk trudging away. The Elks Lodge was already full! Knowing there is no such thing as no room for the media, I went on up the drive anyway, and attached myself to some other press folks heading in. Success! Part of the reason it was so crowded is that word HAD gotten around, and people traveled in from Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico, as well as all over Colorado. Many of our elected officials showed up: Mark Udall, Wes McKinley, Buffie McFadyen, plus John Stulp (Colorado Ag Sec and a local boy), and a bunch of local politicians and candidates for office. T. Boone Pickens and Mark Udall Mr. Pickens' presentation was well-received by the crowd. Buffie McFadyen joked later that we should mark this day down in history because a crowd in Lamar applauded for Al Gore. It seemed to me that there was a sincere effort towards bipartisanship coming from both the podium and the audience, and for that alone I would give this new Pickens Plan tentative approval. I will post more later tonight. I took a ton of pictures and notes because I want to do a good job recapping the pros and cons of this project. But today is also the last day to register Mike for high school, and later we're having our last meeting to finalize plans for the Sand and Sage Fair parade, which is happening Saturday. So I have to do a fade to black for now.... http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CqPQ http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CqPQ/commentary#comments Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:52:51 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CqPQ Susan the Neon Nurse http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/4d9f8366c95149b114_4l1gmvoe1.jpg Susan the Neon Nurse 41 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqPQ/ I know I am not keeping up well with life in general just now. Being in the part of the year where the overnight low is in the 70s doesn't help. Bear with me and I will try to get back on the ball. Meanwhile, here are some great LOLz from PunditKitchen.com, the same people who run ICanHasCheesburger.com: (Note: I shrunk 'em down and re-hosted them so I wouldn't break the page.) see Obama pictures see Obama pictures see Obama pictures http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/Cq79 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/Cq79/commentary#comments Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:47:48 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/Cq79 Susan the Neon Nurse http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/4d9f8366c95149b114_4l1gmvoe1.jpg Susan the Neon Nurse 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq79/ (Cross-posted copiously, because it's just that good.) I adjusted this Candorville comic to better fit on blog pages so I could share it as widely as it deserves. If you don't get it in your local dead tree news venue, Candorville can be enjoyed online HERE . http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CqyW http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CqyW/commentary#comments Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:39:14 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CqyW Susan the Neon Nurse http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/4d9f8366c95149b114_4l1gmvoe1.jpg Susan the Neon Nurse 2 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqyW/ This weekend, I happened to be looking through a batch of old clippings from the Basement of Doom, part of a lot we bought at an estate auction many years ago. This headline, which my research says is from a January 1953 editorial from the Pueblo Chieftain, said: It's About Time We Awoke To The Oil Industry's Double Talk Opening sentence: "We wholeheartedly endorse the ultimatum given by Governor Thornton and the chairman of the State Legislature's special oil tax committee to the oil industry to come up with a "fair and equitable" plan for its own taxation or take what the Legislature will hand it." A little Googling showed me that Gov. Thornton had gotten tired of waiting for the oil industry to quit whining about how more taxation would kill the industry in Colorado. (Gosh, doesn't THAT sound familiar?) They had promised to come up with a plan everyone could live with, on their own, if the voters would just kindly not vote in an oil severance tax bill on the fall ballot. Well, of course once the election was over the oilies didn't live up to their promise. So Gov. Thornton put his cowboy boot down in January and said they had THREE DAYS to come up with something, or the Lege would do it for them! And that's exactly what happened. I will have to leave it to economists and/or historians to fill in the blanks of what happened between those days and now. Makes you wonder, though. Will someone in 2063 be looking back and marveling at how our elected officials stepped up to do the right thing for the state and the people way back in 2008? We can only hope. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/Cq4x http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/Cq4x/commentary#comments Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:24:34 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/Cq4x Susan the Neon Nurse http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/4d9f8366c95149b114_4l1gmvoe1.jpg Susan the Neon Nurse 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq4x/ Tell 'em to check THIS LISTING on eBay! Sure, Brighton is not exactly right next door to the Pepsi Center, and maybe $299 a night ($1495.00 total) is a TAD steep...but hey, it's the Comfort Inn! AND it's a smoking room! What could be bad? http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/Cqm4 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/Cqm4/commentary#comments Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:33:48 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/Cqm4 Susan the Neon Nurse http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/4d9f8366c95149b114_4l1gmvoe1.jpg Susan the Neon Nurse 2 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cqm4/ As you may know, especially if you happened to read THIS POST by Pat Waak on the Colorado Dems blog, a committee has been formed to examine the problems we experienced at the State Convention and Assembly in Colorado Springs last month. Our goal is to pinpoint causes so that the problems aren't repeated in the future. I say OUR goal because I volunteered to be on this committee, representing the Eastern Plains. Right now we are getting organized, figuring out sub-committees, and collecting input from county officials, delegates, alternates and anyone else who has an opinion on the Democratic Party events in Colorado Springs on May 16 & 17th. Besides the local counties I am to contact, I have volunteered to spread the word about the Ad Hoc committee and the opinion collection process via the blogosphere. If YOU want to make a statement, you can either comment here, direct me to a blog post elsewhere, or email me with what you want to say. If you just want to have your concerns heard, that's fine. Bringing them to my attention will ensure your thoughts become part of the public record and history. What will be even MORE useful, though, is if you add your ideas and suggestions for future improvements and problem prevention. The collection period will end June 27th. I hope to hear from you! Tell your friends! http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/Cqmb http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/Cqmb/commentary#comments Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:33:48 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/Cqmb Susan the Neon Nurse http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/4d9f8366c95149b114_4l1gmvoe1.jpg Susan the Neon Nurse 2 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cqmb/ I wasn't goofing off because it was a holiday weekend, I swear! JUST as I was patting myself on the back last Friday evening for being almost caught up, I noticed I was suddenly awfully congested in my chest. As though it had been booked for a tour by Bronchitis and the Wheezers, the atonal faux-accordion-pop group. So I was mainly in bed from then until noon or so today. Thank goodness for my trusty laptop, which not only let me keep up virtually with the big world, but is warm and comforting to cuddle when you are sore from coughing. Could have been worse, of course. In a funny co-incidence, as I was looking over the blogs I read on Wednesdays I found this article on Damn Interesting.com about The Heroes of SARS. It's an excellent overview of the epidemic from start to finish, showing how some things that are often politicized worked RIGHT for once. There's even a whistle-blower who got listened to! And not stomped on later! By the way, if anyone is interested in ancient history, I did a write-up on my personal experiences and views of the State Assembly and Convention. First part of Friday Second part, Friday Saturday http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CqYp http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CqYp/commentary#comments Wed, 28 May 2008 23:48:37 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CqYp Susan the Neon Nurse http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/4d9f8366c95149b114_4l1gmvoe1.jpg Susan the Neon Nurse 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqYp/ John Edwards to be Obama's VP? Check out the link below and be the first kid on your block to go "Hmmmm...." http://www.kissmybigbluebutt.com/ (Top post in the ones for May 22.) http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CqYx http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CqYx/commentary#comments Fri, 23 May 2008 00:50:58 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CqYx Susan the Neon Nurse http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/4d9f8366c95149b114_4l1gmvoe1.jpg Susan the Neon Nurse 2096 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqYx/ (x-posted extensively because we can all use a smile) My son Sterling snapped this shot of our local Representative Wes McKinley marching in yesterday's Lamar Days parade. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CqsS http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CqsS/commentary#comments Sun, 11 May 2008 14:27:49 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CqsS Susan the Neon Nurse http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/4d9f8366c95149b114_4l1gmvoe1.jpg Susan the Neon Nurse 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqsS/ (x-posted, because I care) I've been at the Mildly Toasted stage of Cheesed Off ever since Thursday, because of Colorado Ethics Watch First Annual "Ethics Roundup" . It's not that I think it's a bad idea, or that it was done by bad/misguided people. Definitely not. But on two of the three sites where I've seen it mentioned, I am not the only one wondering why the heck Wes McKinley got added to the Ten Most Corrupt list. Here's what they got him on: his staff failed to file required campaign reports on time. Twice. Yes, someone should have done it, and yes, it's Wes's responsibility, in the end, to see it got done. But he got fined, so he's paid his debt to society, as it were. Also, it should be noted there were NO irregularities mentioned in the CEW's report, just the naughty, naughty lateness. It has not yet been adequately explained to me how being late with something makes a person corrupt. (If failing to meet deadlines = Evil!, wow, am *I* ever going to Hell!) I'll tell you what this reminds me of -- school. Did you ever have an assignment that you didn't get finished on time? I sure did. Some teachers would dock you a letter grade. OTHERS would refuse to take any late papers at all, ever, and give you an F. I guess if CEW wants to be That Guy, they have a right to make that choice. But it seems to me that being rigid and punitive, equating failures of clerical technicalities with conflicts of interest, alleged bribery and/or physical violence, brings their sense of balance and judgment into question. If their judgment is questionable, why should the public care about who they put on their list? So all in all, I'm afraid I have to give CEW a C- for their report. Next time, please show your work. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CqYr http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CqYr/commentary#comments Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:15:52 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CqYr Susan the Neon Nurse http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/4d9f8366c95149b114_4l1gmvoe1.jpg Susan the Neon Nurse 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqYr/ The common perception about Marilyn Musgrave's intellect is that she's not the sharpest disc on the manure spreader. (That's meant to be an ag joke, but if you prefer to see it as political commentary, fine by me.) Even so, I was flabbergasted by THIS ARTICLE in the online Greeley Tribune, telling about Marilyn explaining the so-called stimulus check procedure to residents at a local retirement community. MM said she was concerned about seniors who live off of Social Security...LIKE HER MOTHER. 0.o I don't know the details of Marilyn's personal finances, of course, but I'm pretty sure there are no poor Republicans holding congressional seats. Which means there are two possibilities here. One, Marilyn was cluelessly trying to bond with her audience by saying they were in the same financial straits as her poor dear old aged mother living month to month on her meager SS checks...even though it was a little fib and her mom has plenty of other assets. OR.... Marilyn's mom lives on or near the poverty line while her daughter jets back and forth from DC and lives the high life like all the other Bushistas. I wonder which it is? http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CqlW http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CqlW/commentary#comments Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:23:13 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CqlW Susan the Neon Nurse http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/4d9f8366c95149b114_4l1gmvoe1.jpg Susan the Neon Nurse 4 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqlW/ I hope you were one of the people who watched Obama's speech, either live or as one of the over a million so far on YouTube. Either way, you can tell your grands someday that you saw history being made. If you aren't offended by The Bad Words, here's a hilarious 'live blogging' commentary on the speech by the infamous Rude Pundit. 10:59: Damn. We're not used to this sort of honesty from a candidate. Can't compute. Cynicism circuit shorting out. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/Cqdj http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/Cqdj/commentary#comments Sat, 22 Mar 2008 14:54:20 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/Cqdj Susan the Neon Nurse http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/4d9f8366c95149b114_4l1gmvoe1.jpg Susan the Neon Nurse 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cqdj/ (x-posted variously) At the end of January our area hospital, Prowers Medical Center in Lamar, Colorado, officially announced they were in trouble. They ended up over a million dollars in the red for 2007, part of a downhill financial slide that has been going on for some time. Like most hospitals, PMC uses a management company, Quorum Health Resources. Quorum helped PMC come up with a '100 day plan', which started with laying off 12 workers (only 2 of whom were not clinicians of some kind). (No one actually asked, but how much do you bet Quorum gets their fee off the top every time a payment period comes around? I'm just sayin'.) Naturally this announcement and action kicked the local rumor machine into high gear. So on Tuesday night an open meeting was held to let the public ask questions and find out what was being done to meet the crisis. The Cultural Events room at the library was packed, with dozens of people lining the walls. Members of the current hospital board gave a presentation of current findings before opening the floor to questions. We were told PMC had to write off approximately $2 million in charity/unpaid charges for 2007. Only about 1/3 of the patients it sees have private insurance. Medicare pays only 1% above cost on the bills charged to it, and Medicaid pays a mere 35% of what is billed to it. The average cost of a patient's hospital treatment has doubled over the past few years to $10K. Therefore the basic problem is that most of the self-paying and Medicaid patients that the hospital treats represent a loss that private insurance payments and current government funding can't cover. Hence the bleeding of red ink. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CqTK http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CqTK/commentary#comments Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:11:12 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CqTK Susan the Neon Nurse http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/4d9f8366c95149b114_4l1gmvoe1.jpg Susan the Neon Nurse 549 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqTK/ I just done got my hair did. Well, a haircut anyway, by Lamar Community College's finest! Now I am making a list of things not to forget. Then pretty soon I will go back to looking in my closet and shaking my head sadly.... Anyway, if you see me, pop over and say Hi! This is what I look like -- in black and white. (and minus 45 years.) In color, and these days, I have bright blue hair. Yeah, you've seen me around.... http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CqfV http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CqfV/commentary#comments Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:41:45 MST http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/neonnurse/CqfV Susan the Neon Nurse http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/4d9f8366c95149b114_4l1gmvoe1.jpg Susan the Neon Nurse 3 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqfV/