The Passing of an Icon

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Senator Dianne Feinstein, a true champion for justice, equality, and progress. Her long and storied career in politics was marked by a deep commitment to these values, and she was devoted to serving her constituents, her state, and her country with energy, enthusiasm, and integrity. 

A native of San Francisco, Senator Feinstein was born in 1933 and went on to attend Stanford University, where she earned her undergraduate and law degrees. During her time at Stanford, she first developed her passion for politics and went on to become the first woman elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1969. 

In 1978, Senator Feinstein made history again when she became the first female mayor of San Francisco and served two terms in that role. In 1992, she was elected to the United States Senate, serving until her death. During her nearly thirty years in the Senate, Senator Feinstein was a powerful advocate for various causes, including human rights, civil rights, the environment, and gun control. 

Senator Feinstein was a trailblazer for women in politics and a strong voice for progressive causes, but she also had a pragmatic streak. She was known for her ability to find common ground and forge compromises. This approach served her well, and she could strike deals and pass legislation that other politicians had been unable to do. For example, during her time in the Senate, Senator Feinstein passed several gun control bills, often with the support of Republicans. 

Senator Feinstein was also a leader in immigration reform. She was a longtime advocate for the Dream Act, which would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children. She also worked to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill in 2013. 

In addition to her work in the Senate, Senator Feinstein advocated for civil and human rights. She was a staunch defender of the rights of LGBTQ people and an early supporter of same-sex marriage. She also worked to pass the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act in 2009, which expanded federal hate crime protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity. 

In her long career, Senator Feinstein had her share of controversies. For example, she was criticized by some for her handling of the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Additionally, her support for the Iraq War and her stance on the Patriot Act drew criticism from progressive activists. 

Despite her controversies, Senator Feinstein’s legacy will be remembered for her extraordinary leadership and her commitment to justice, equality, and progress. She was a trailblazer for women in politics, and her decades-long career was marked by a deep commitment to serving her constituents, her state, and her country. She was a powerful advocate for various causes, and her ability to find common ground and forge compromise was remarkable. 

The passing of Senator Dianne Feinstein is a tremendous loss for her constituents, her state, and her country. We will remember her for her passion, tenacity, and unwavering commitment to progress. She will be deeply missed, but her legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of all those she inspired, and her voice will echo in the halls of Congress for generations to come.

Journey well, Ms. Feinstein. Rest in Power.

Whoa! You Gotta Hate That, Minnesota!

For the last couple of years, I’ve been living with a nasty case of avascular necrosis. In English, that means that my hip joints are disintegrating, more on the right than on the left, to the point where I can’t walk without going go snap, crackle, and pop, like a bowl of Rice Krispies™. When I stand upright (which takes great effort and I have to hold onto something) it’s evident that my right leg is about an inch shorter than the left. It sucks, but I’m adapting: I use a walker around the house, and when I go out in the world I have my trusty electric wheelchair. I can get myself downstairs from my upstairs unit using upper body strength, and with a little help from my friends, I’m getting by.

The biggest challenge I have now is maintaining hygiene. I have a shower stool to sit on, but I can’t raise my leg to step over the side of the bathtub without excruciating pain. So we decided to rip out the tub and replace it with a step-in shower.

In retrospect, this was a mistake.

Installation was delayed at first when the installer had a personal emergency. It was disappointing but we understood. The installer came back and started the work, beginning with ripping out the old tub. That’s when the problems started.

One of the nicest thing about that old bathtub was that it was always warm in winter, which I always figured was because there were heating pipes running under the tub. But no—the heater was built into the side of the tub, and couldn’t be removed because it was part of our building’s heating system. So now we have to get building maintenance involved. They’re back there behind closed doors, making scary noises with power tools, and we’re trying to re-schedule the install for when they’re done. In hindsight, we should have had them come first, or scheduled them to work in concert with the installers.

So how am I bathing during this time? I’m not. Thankfully, I’m retired. But I do have some social obligations I’m missing out on because I won’t present myself in public smelling like this. (You’re welcome.) A sink bath is hard since I can’t stand up, though I’m trying.

Right now the bathroom looks like this:

So whose fault is this? It’s our fault. I can’t fault the contractor, because we should have done the research and due diligence to make sure the project is even feasible looked before we signed up for this. I can’t even fault the building management, because the place is fifty years old and the builders are probably long gone from this world. We looked before we leapt, and now we’re stuck mid-job with no working shower, and I smell like a locker room.

So, next time you see one of those one-day bath or shower packages advertised on television, make sure you know exactly what you’re getting yourself into. Get a home inspection before you even think about the remodel. Find the builder if you can, or at least the blueprints. Trust me, it’s not nearly as easy as they make it look on television.

Sorry, Casey.