Woke up with a cold. All those people coughing on the plane. Slept with the grandkids. Hope I didn’t give it to them. I was supposed to go to my stepchildren’s home for dinner tonight. By that I mean Laura Turner and Rutherford Seydel and two of their three children. I still feel we are part of the same family. Their son, whose birth I filmed, is a major hockey goalie and so went to finish high school in Toronto where hockey rules. I’m so proud of him. He is an amazing human being.
I just took this picture shooting up into the overhead mirror while lying in bed. That is my granddaughter scratching Tulea’s tummy. Sometime I’ll photograph the bed and post it. I’m a fool for unusual beds and this is definitely the most unusual, one of a kind, canopied, mirrored one I’ve ever seen. Richard hasn’t seen it either. My bed at my ranch is pretty unusual as well. (Come to think of it, I have a picture of that one and will post it now). The problem is I got them when I was solo and they’re antique so not very big. If Richard and I are still together in a year I’ve promised to get a king-sized one as he’s 6’3.”
Shucks. I erased the photo of my ranch bed so I’m sending this one, a bed that is outside on the portale. My favorite napping place (and sometimes overnight place) cause I can hear the river close by and see the stars.
———
The fight in the House is over, but the fight in the Senate is just beginning. It’s time to use our strongest weapon: the White House.
Join us. Ask President Obama to live up to his campaign commitment and stand with us to protect women’s health care today and every single day until reform is passed.
Click here for more information and to contact President Obama
Dear Jane,
Yesterday was brutal.
While there are some who are satisfied with the health care reform bill that passed in the House of Representatives late Saturday night, I am not one of them.
When it came down to it, Congress passed a bill that will undercut women’s access to comprehensive health care. Despite hundreds of thousands of voters like you and me who called on members of Congress to include women’s health care in health care reform, the bill that passed Saturday night includes a ban on private abortion coverage for millions of women and would prohibit it in the new “public option.”
At Planned Parenthood, we fought together with you until the bitter end (thank you), and once we lost the vote on women’s health, we started to do what we do best — gear up for our next fight.
http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/hcr09bse_afw?qp_source=hcr09bse_afhp
Opponents of legal abortion and health care for women are emboldened by Saturday night’s vote and ready to bring their ban on abortion to the Senate floor. But now it’s our turn. And this time we are going to use our strongest weapon: the White House.
That’s why, today, we are calling on President Obama
http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/hcr09bse_afw?qp_source=hcr09bse_afhp
to ensure that lawmakers, especially those in his own party, support health care reform that protects women’s access to reproductive care as the next round of debate and voting occurs in the Senate.
Please, join us by asking our president to stand with us to protect women’s health care today and every single day until reform is passed.
http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/hcr09bse_afw?qp_source=hcr09bse_afhp
President Obama campaigned on a promise to put reproductive health care at the center of his reform plan. Supporters of women’s health voted for him and contributed to his campaign in record numbers — and now it’s time for the president to reaffirm his commitment to women’s health, and demand that Congress reject any bill that leaves women worse off under health care reform than they are today. Take a moment right now to tell President Obama that we need him to stand with us — in both his words and in his actions.
http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/hcr09bse_afw?qp_source=hcr09bse_afhp
If there’s anything we learned yesterday, it’s that women’s health is being targeted as expendable in health care reform. We also saw that anti-choice forces are working round-the-clock to roll back women’s health benefits. We will each need to take action many times over the next few weeks, and we need strong and public support from the White House to help us.
I’ve said this before, and it deserves repeating: without access to abortion care, and to comprehensive reproductive health care, there is no choice. Please, take action now http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/hcr09bse_afw?qp_source=hcr09bse_afhp
— and then spread the word on Facebook, among your friends and colleagues, via e-mail — whatever it takes.
Thank you so very much for standing with us and the women, men, and teens who rely on Planned Parenthood.
Sincerely,
Cecile Richards, President
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Jan Bianchi
THe new health bill has a Clause in it also that will allow the Government to dictate how your kids will be raised, elimante home schooling as well. The Huckbee Channel had Chuck Norris on the other night and he spoke about this hidden clause not many people know about. I am not for this current bill in any way, shape or form. It undermines peoples rights of choice, and reduces our personal freedom of choice.
Timothy Dougherty
Well Jane, I hope the cold get better soon,Looks like your out of the fire than into the frying pan.
Health Care is just the start of our nations problmes, our social system has taken a hit in the stomach. What do you give a deer with an upset stomach?Elkaseltzer.
This will change bye the time the Health Care Bill get to Congress , it will be so water downed you wont be able to get help for a upset stomach or headache.
Your bed reminded me of a Joke}
A husband emerged from the bathroom naked and was climbing into bed when his wife complained, as usual,
’I have a headache.’
‘Perfect,’ her husband said.’ I was just in the bathroom powdering my penis with crushed aspirin.’
“You can take it ORALLY, or as a SUPPOSITORY, it’s up to you.”
Jane
HA!! Very good. xx
Silvia
We got to get moving, also make the fact known that NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions Says Insurance Companies OK to Discriminate Against Women. You can read the whole story at
http://dccc.org/blog/archives/nrcc_chairman_pete_sessions_says_insurance_companies_ok_to_discriminate_aga/
Karen
One positive, Jane, at least you have a health care program now, that is something. Look for loopholes and clauses and you might find an angle. Our system isn’t perfect in Australia, but it helps a lot of us out who can’t afford to buy private health insurance. It doesn’t cover everything, but for a country which isn’t as powerful as yours, it’s pretty good and we’ve had it for years. You are right about what you tweeted, often women’s healthcare gets overlooked, it is the way of the world, and it should stop. Perhaps Hil can get them to think about these things. Good Luck.
Edna
Hello Jane:
I certainly do hope that you feel better soon. I had a terrible flu twice in the same season a few years ago and know the awful feel.
Eat lots of chicken soup and drink plenty of fluids. Take care, Edna
Kelsey
This is sad. Why is it that women don’t get what they deserve? We are all such special people. It’s really a shame! I hope in the near future these things change. To some it may not seem as important as the other things that need changing in our world, but to the women who are in these situations now, it is the MOST important thing. It’s wonderful you are such a big supporter for women’s health. It is needed and greatly appreciated.
PS: Feel better! Everyone seems to be getting sick.
Maryann
Ohhh, Jane. Don’t you worry about a snake getting to you in that cute bed when you sleep outside? Yikes!
Jane
I’ve never been afraid of snakes…or bear, for that matter. 7 years ago a bear crashed through my bedroom screen door and I chased it out. You just have to know what to do and I’ve spent so much time in the wild.
frederique dhenein
on your world of beauty,it’s not the reign of emptyness,always figthing for human dignity an world’s environmental protection! and we stand togeher with you!Frederique dhenein
Zanna
This is not what I originally planned to write on this blog….but much more importantly. I agree completely with Cecile Richards. If something is a legal medical procedure how can it be banned from a public health option?? Abortion is legal in this country. This issue should NOT be overlooked in health reform.
memphis9
I am pro choice. I think there should be a constitutional amendment protecting womens reproductive rights. However, forcing people to pay for something they do not believe in is really really wrong. Spiritually speaking, it could not be more wrong. One day it might come back on you. How would you like to know your tax dollars go to pay for eugenics? Some people believe it’s a necessary thing. If you care about this issue, make sure you put aside 7 percent of all your income to give to abortion clinics.
Brian (DocSwill)
A question for Jan Bianchi:
I have the entire bill, all 1,990 pages on my computer and have only read 175 pages so far, and only understanding half of that! I would like to read more about the clause you speak of in your post, so I can determine for myself the concern over raising our children.
You know the news will dramatize and lobbyists hype things up to intentionally sway people to vote their way. Do you know where in the bill the clause is contained? I don’t trust anything I see on TV or what others tell me at this point.
So far, I see it as a very fair bill with room for choice, but it’s not perfect. It still needs work. I would hate to see the entire bill fail if it only needs tweaking. It’s too late to start all over again.
It is so long and does appear to be very complicated, but for a person such as myself, living with cancer and losing almost everything just to pay my medical bills, I find it the most important bill of my lifetime and would hate to see it fail if others did not truly understand it. That’s why I’m “attempting” to understand it, in its entirety.
Read it for yourself before you take the “opinion” of others, please. I am not an advocate of it yet, since I am still reading and learning, but I urge others to do the same before passing judgement. This is too important an issue.
Please read the bill: http://docs.house.gov/rules/health/111_ahcaa.pdf
Peace B
Rain
Hope you are feeling better soon. On the health care reform, I really have lost a lot of faith in our existing congress to do anything meaningful. I hope I am wrong and will keep trying but it seems they care more about lobbyists than American citizens.
Mary Jane Stone
Now your site is attracting wingnuts who quote Chuck Norris on this complex issue. Guess he took a break from selling exercise devices on television to tell tales on Fox News. And what are his qualifications? We love you Jane. You are brave and strong and knowledgeable. You care deeply about women and put your money where your mouth is. Keep a goin’.
Susan K.
Hope you’re feeling better! I know it was fun having time with your grandchildren!
What a fun hobby…collecting unique beds! I really like the one that you show here that is at your ranch with Miss Tulea on it!! Love the different colored fabrics on your pillows! I can understand why you must love sleeping outside with the stars, where you hear the sound of the river, and all the other night sounds of nature! I’m sure it feels almost magical when you do this!
Thank you for the update on the health care bill. I had heard on the news that some major things regarding women’s health care was not in the bill!! I will be letting Obama know I’m not pleased about this!! 🙁
Dan
Hi Jane, Loved Timothy Dougherty’s joke! I think playcating to the right wingers about re-productive rights will just empower them, and they will keep watering it down until there is nothing left. I am going to click on your link and find how to contact Obama. Feel better soon!
memphis9
what pelosi and thugs have proposed is merely an insurance bailout bill. it has nothing to do with “free universal healthcare.” it states that insurance companies will be required to meet certain standards for approval. everyone will be forced to use one of these companies or pay an equivalent tax. if the tax is not paid, they will be fined by the IRS up to 250,000. if they do not pay the fine, they will go to jail. this is tyranny.
the federal reserve act of 1913 was drafted by a group of “competing” bankers. knowing that most americans would never read or understand the bill and that most americans would jump at the opportunity to make bankers suffer, they created a false campaign of publicizing on one hand and on the other hand protesting the very bill they drafted. the healthcare bills are this exact same scenario being played out. the only people who will benefit are insurance companies and bankers. wall street gets one over on the people again. the nazis did the same thing when they promised everyone jobs and cars. the middle class will become smaller, the rich will get richer and the poor will stay poor. you see people, nothing is free. everything comes at a price. in the case of the government handouts, it happens to be your soul. once we undo the 100 years of brainwashing and re-learn how to trust one another and ourselves, we can bring about any kind of community we want. putting this in the hands of robber barons and petty politicians is like giving your executioner the weapon of their choice.
“are men the property of the state or are they free souls under God?” -Cecil B. Demille
Tim C.
I signed, sealed, and delivered my signature! I just wish that women weren’t considered expendable to a bill as important as this is. Even if it is for the sake of partisan compromising, a woman’s reproductive choice should never be compromised. Feel better soon!
Sally
Hi Jane,
Hope you are feeling better being sick sucks!
I am not in favor of this health bill at all in anyway. I believe that President Obama is not really interested in our healthcare as much as he is interested in protecting his legacy. I think he is wanting to do what the Clintons could not get done. He wants to be known as the President who historicaly changed healthcare.
I did not vote for President Obama and it did not have anything to do with his race it had to do with his beliefs and lack of experience. I do not consider myself on the left or right. I am just like the average American tired of being lied to and seeing promises broken.
For the first time in my 55 years, I am afraid. I am afraid we are losing our basic constitutional rights faster than we can even comphrehend starting with womens rights to have a abortion.
Where is it going stop? I live in Virginia and I voted straight republican in this latest election. It was my small way of sending a message to Washington but I don’t think anyone listens or cares.
Everyone has their own agenda and I don’t know anyone (a politician) that I could write to or that I trust to do anything.
What is the answer? I don’t know. I don’t consider myself a particulary religios person but I am doing a lot of praying these days.
I enjoy your blog and admire your passion to stand up for what you believe in even if I don’t always agree because that’s ok if we all don’t agree. That is what is so great about OUR country.
Thanks for giving me this forum to voice my views
Feel better soon!
Connie Troupe
You are my hero, I had no idea you had a blog thing going. This is so cool girl!
XOX
Connie
Roberta
Jane, you are are a rare specimen and I enjoy every word of what you say!
Sherry
Had to smile at the hockey comment..Laura and Rutherford’s son playing high school hockey in Toronto — oh yes, our hockey is our life! Both my sons did the high school hockey (one still does) and the oldest was a goalie..don’t know if this boy played in the GTHL at all…nice to see you mention Toronto from time to time.
Loved “Stanley and Iris” and the joy of seeing Toronto as the backdrop.
Ken
Happy Birthday Jane!
You and I have the same birthday.
Ken