Happy 2022. Let's hope that 2022 returns us to some kind of the normalcy that we last experienced in 2019.

After last year's medical issues, I feel really good now. I've lost 60 pounds and I can walk 2-3 miles again every day without any shortness of breath. And I have (as has Bonnie) received the two original doses of the Moderna vaccine,a booster in late October, and a second booster in April. We both feel pretty good about going out in public and essentially returning to normal.

One of our big plans this year is to finish supervision of a major sewer project that is taking place in our neighborhood. Currently our sewer line runs under Oyster Bay to a collection and pumping station about a half mile from here. As you might imagine a aging city main sewer line below the salt-water bay could easily become an environmental nightmare. About 50 homes in our area attach to this line and all are being changed to below street sewer lines. It will cost the city about $6 million dollars for this project which if you do the math is about $100 000 per home. We aren't being charged for the project except for a small increase in our water and sewer utility bills. The project started in July 2021 and is and will continue to be a mess.

Early in December contractors dug up our yard and installed a small sewer line that will feed the new system. The city will be installing a new 200 amp electrical service panel in our basement, a grinder pump with a small holding tank underground in our back yard (under where our picnic table is). The new sewer line will run up the hill to a multi-home collection and pumping station which will be installed below the street (by our mailbox). All of the homes on our street will utilize this collection and pumping station. Some of the homes are above the level of the station and will not require pumps. This pumping station will pump sewage up to the city main sewer line underneath Kitsap Way which is a linear run of about 400 feet and an elevation change of about 60 feet. If you haven't been on our street it is a very steep slope down from Kitsap Way to our house. Did I mention that this is going to be a mess?

Other than that there is not much going on with us. Bonnie is working on her book art projects and attending Zoom workshops several times a month. Howard is busy with Rotary (back via Zoom )and has been participating quite successfully in art fairs and events on Bainbridge Island

Lauren and her family are doing well in Port Orchard. She is able to work remotely and feels that the pandemic has made her work and life better. Ben is in the seventh grade at Cedar Heights Middle School after attending the on-line Connections Academy during the Pandemic. Ethan is three and attending pre-school twice a week. Bonnie takes care of him on Wednesdays to give Corey a break.

Kevin still lives in Medford and recently married Selina. Theo is fourteen, Megan is ten and they live with their Mom in Eugene. Anna is out on her own in Corvallis and is working at McDonald's and hoping to get back to school at the community college.

	Howard and Bonnie Julien
Howard and Bonnie Hunkered Down in Bremerton
Howard's Blog - April 30, 2022 My take on what is going on this week. The End of Roe vs Wade It appears as if the United States Supreme Court will overturn the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision. That decision basically said that individual states could not make abortions illegal. The overturn will not make abortions illegal, it will only return to the states their rights to make them illegal. Serveral states have already passed contingent legislation. Rightly or wrongly the decision will be made and announced. The state based bans will go into effect, requests for injunctions will be filed. In some states injunctions will be granted. Some states will become sanctuaries for women seeking abortions. Some states will try to go after women who have abortions performed in other states. What a mess it will be. First off what is an abortion? Most of the definitions that I find say that it is a deliberate action to terminate a pregnancy which results in death of the embryo or fetus. A typical Ceasarian or surgical delivery of a baby is certainly a deliberate action to terminate a pregnancy but without the accompanying death. To me the clear difference is that the intention of an abortion is death to the fetus. So the question is ... Do laws intended to prevent abortions also prevent surgical deliveries. Probably not, unless the intent is death to fetus/baby. If a women opts for a fetus/baby to be delivered surgically with the intent to relinquish custody to the state... is that an abortion? Clearly if the fetus/baby is full term it is an accepted practice in all 50 states. If the fetus/baby is sufficiently developed for a heart beat to be detected can a surgical procedure be performed to deliver the fetur/baby for parental custody relinquishment? The question hasn't come up yet. I'll bet it will and very soon after any overturn of Roe by the Supreme Courts. The first tests will be for viable fetuses/babies- "premies". As wards of the state, the states of Mississippi, Arkansas etc will be on the hook for the Neonatal Intensive Care for these "premies". The earlier in the pregnancy, the longer the stay in the NICU and the more intensive the care needed. The American Medical Associations "Journal of Ethics" estimates that NICU stays cost an average of $3500 per day and it is not unusual for costs to top $1 million for a prolonged stay. This will mean bankruptcy for poor, red states or huge tax increases. Mississippi and Arkansas each reported around 3000 abortions in 2019. At an average cost to the state of $1 million, the average person would be on the hook for over $1000 per year in additional taxes or the states will face bankruptcy. For a familty of 4 that would be $4000 in additional taxes where the per family income averages just over $40000 per year. Perhaps I meant poor, red, stupid states. States that ban abortion will face huge unexpected consequences. Previous Blog Postings
2022 at the Juliens Happy 2022. Let's hope that 2022 returns us to some kind of the normalcy that we last experienced in 2019. After last year's medical issues, I feel really good now. I've lost 60 pounds and I can walk 2-3 miles again every day without any shortness of breath. And I have (as has Bonnie) received the two original doses of the Moderna vaccine,a booster in late October, and a second booster in April. We both feel pretty good about going out in public and essentially returning to normal. One of our big plans this year is to finish supervision of a major sewer project that is taking place in our neighborhood. Currently our sewer line runs under Oyster Bay to a collection and pumping station about a half mile from here. As you might imagine a aging city main sewer line below the salt-water bay could easily become an environmental nightmare. About 50 homes in our area attach to this line and all are being changed to below street sewer lines. It will cost the city about $6 million dollars for this project which if you do the math is about $100 000 per home. We aren't being charged for the project except for a small increase in our water and sewer utility bills. The project started in July 2021 and is and will continue to be a mess. Early in December contractors dug up our yard and installed a small sewer line that will feed the new system. The city will be installing a new 200 amp electrical service panel in our basement, a grinder pump with a small holding tank underground in our back yard (under where our picnic table is). The new sewer line will run up the hill to a multi-home collection and pumping station which will be installed below the street (by our mailbox). All of the homes on our street will utilize this collection and pumping station. Some of the homes are above the level of the station and will not require pumps. This pumping station will pump sewage up to the city main sewer line underneath Kitsap Way which is a linear run of about 400 feet and an elevation change of about 60 feet. If you haven't been on our street it is a very steep slope down from Kitsap Way to our house. Did I mention that this is going to be a mess? Other than that there is not much going on with us. Bonnie is working on her book art projects and attending Zoom workshops several times a month. Howard is busy with Rotary (back via Zoom )and has been participating quite successfully in art fairs and events on Bainbridge Island Lauren and her family are doing well in Port Orchard. She is able to work remotely and feels that the pandemic has made her work and life better. Ben is in the seventh grade at Cedar Heights Middle School after attending the on-line Connections Academy during the Pandemic. Ethan is three and attending pre-school twice a week. Bonnie takes care of him on Wednesdays to give Corey a break. Kevin still lives in Medford and recently married Selina. Theo is fourteen, Megan is ten and they live with their Mom in Eugene. Anna is out on her own in Corvallis and is working at McDonald's and hoping to get back to school at the community college.