Craig Has Accepted a New Job in Sacramento!

Craig traveling in Paris

This came from Craig's boss telling about his achievements while working at APLA Health since 2014.  Congratulations to Craig!! 

It’s with a very heavy heart that I have to tell you that Government Affairs Associate Director Craig Pulsipher will be leaving APLA Health at the end of the month.  Craig has accepted a position as Legislative Director for Equality California and will be relocating to Sacramento.

 

For those of you who do not know, Craig has been with Government Affairs since 2014 and in that time has established an unparalleled leadership role for himself – and for APLA Health – in political and policy circles at the local, state and national level. 

 

I went through all of Craig’s annual performance reviews since he started in Government Affairs and realized I couldn’t begin to cover all of Craig’s accomplishments and successes while he has been with APLA Health.  But let me use his work on PrEP accessibility and affordability as an example. 

 

Craig took on PrEP when he first started at APLA Health and the result in large part because of his leadership has been a series of programs, budget initiatives, regulatory improvements, research papers and state bills that have substantially altered the PrEP environment in California.  This included spearheading the effort to secure Board of Supervisors support for Los Angeles County’s PrEP Centers of Excellence; a research effort funded by the University of California’s AIDS Research Program examining PrEP acceptance and uptake among gay men of color in California; advancing state budget requests to support PrEP navigation programs across the state; ensuring the state Office of AIDS implemented comprehensive PrEP assistance and co-pay coverage programs for insured, underinsured and uninsured patients, as well confidential PrEP access for underage individuals on their parents insurance plans; working with the state’s insurance commissioner to ensure most private insurers covered PrEP at no cost to beneficiaries; participation in shaping the nation’s PrEP utilization guidelines; successfully advancing two innovative PrEP bills through the state legislature, the first mandating that people who test negative for HIV are given information on PrEP, the second SB 159 -- providing pharmacy access to PrEP starter kits and prohibiting prior authorization for PrEP – the first bill of its kind in the nation. 

 

I think it is safe to say that to a stunning degree, the landscape on PrEP acceptance, affordability and accessibility in California (and beyond) has been shaped and advanced by efforts initiated or led by Craig Pulsipher.

 

In his first year in Government Affairs, Craig carved out a leadership role for himself in a statewide effort to reform California’s criminal HIV laws, an effort that had been percolating for years but achieved major successes with his participation.  He established a leadership role for himself first with the California HIV Alliance, advocating for programs, funding and legislation at the state level.  He then helped create and has led the California End the Epidemics Coalition, a group of statewide organizations that advocates to end HIV, hepatitis, STD and drug overdose epidemics.  With his leadership, the organization morphed from a handful of organizations to over 180 members from various communities, and has to date successfully conducted in person advocacy events in Sacramento and worked with legislative health and budget staff to bring in nearly $110 million to support these syndemic efforts.  This funding has included PrEP assistance and navigation programs, pilots for HIV and Aging, support for hep C and harm reduction efforts, and in the last legislative season, some $30 million for syphilis control, the largest increase in state funding to fight STDs in living memory.

 

Craig also focused on policy, programs and funding directly supporting FQHCs and is recognized as a leader locally at the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County and in Sacramento through the California Primary Care Association.  His participation in part resulted in successful budget allocations for supplemental payments to clinics when the state removed 340B from Medi-Cal Managed Care.  And in 2021 Craig was one of two community advocates who led CPCA’s legislative effort to regulate pharmacy benefit managers and prohibit manufacturers from restricting 340B transactions at contract pharmacies.

 

I could go on and on.  Did I even mention monkeypox?  No, but I also have to mention his skills as one of the best writers and editors I’ve ever worked with.  Many of the policy analyses, news releases, and public statements posted to APLA Health and circulated to our mailing lists over the past several years have come from Craig’s desk. 

 

Craig has always been mission driven, committed to LGBTQ+ and HIV healthcare and civil rights, as well as to addressing and eliminating disparities impacting communities of color, and especially gay men of color, across multiple sectors.  

 

Working with Craig has been one of the greatest pleasures in my 30+ years at APLA Health.  He’s been the best of collaborators, and engaging thinker, a wise and insightful counselor, a great drinking buddy, a lot of fun and someone I am so fortunate to call a friend. 

 

No one is indispensable.  But some people are irreplaceable.    Craig is one of them.

 

Please join me in thanking him for all of his astonishing work at APLA Health and in wishing him a fond farewell . . . and huge success in his next venture with Equality California.  

 

He’s going to be missed . . .

 

Finally, a Haircut

I finally got the haircut that was so way over due.  I went to Shannon at California Cuts who a lady in Rite Aid had told me about.  She has cut hair for 35 years and really seems to understand exactly what you want.  I think I will enjoy going to her.  

 

Rowan is Here in Carlsbad

 I was trying very hard to get Rowan to smile so took lots of pictures!  If I would get my face close enough he would put his hands all over my face and hair and feel it.  Such a doll.

Dick Carney Obituary

 Dick Carney from high school days died this week.  He was the water boy in Jr Hi and then in High School he served with the Dawson football team.

He is in the back row, first one on the left.  This was the 1950 State Champions and the year he graduated. #89 was Harry, my boyfriend, and Dick was a special friend of his.

He was called "Pockets" or "Money Pockets" because he had such a flair for making and keeping money.

At the Class Reunion in 2000 Dick came up to me and asked if I had talked to Harry yet.  And I said , "No."

"He is the only one of us that owns a Rolex watch he said.  He has really done well in the oil business. " "Well, good for him", I said.  "I am very happy for him."

Later I did get to talk to Harry and he said his wife gave him 10 minutes to talk to me.  This is 50 years after high school...  We have talked on the phone a couple of times.  He lived his nice Catholic life and I lived my nice Latter-day Saint life.

Harry 

Obituary for Richard "Dick" Patrick Carney

Richard P. “Dick” Carney, age 90 of Glendive, Montana, passed away on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 in Glendive. Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Monday, January 9, 2023 at the Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. Funeral services will be held privately. Interment will be in the Dawson County Cemetery in Glendive. Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Dick was born on November 23, 1932 in Hettinger, North Dakota, the son of Robert P. and Elsie A. (Funk) Carney. Dick moved with his family to Bismarck, North Dakota, and Glasgow, Montana, before arriving in Glendive in the fall of 1946. Dick received his education at Dawson County High School in Glendive, graduating with the class of 1950. He attended Dawson Community College in Glendive graduating in 1952. In 1953, Dick attended the Hartford Insurance Training Center in Hartford, Connecticut and graduated with honors. Thereafter, he joined his father in business which at that time was known at the Montana Loan and Title Company. Subsequently, he became a Registered Abstractor for the State of Montana. Montana Loan and Title Company owned a small insurance agency and Dick decided to devote himself full time to the insurance business. During the next five years they purchased several other agencies and eventually became one of the largest insurance agencies in Eastern Montana, with offices in Glendive, Circle, Montana, Terry, Montana, Sidney, Montana, and Wibaux, Montana.
On May 13, 1961, Dick married Jean Dalsasso and to this union, three children were born, Robert, Terri and Pat.
In 1966, Dick served as the Secretary of the board of the newly formed Glendive Community Hospital. The hospital board embarked on a $500,000.00 fund raising drive to purchase the Northern Pacific-Burlington Northern Hospital and build a new hospital and nursing home. It was the first major fund-raising effort in Glendive and although it took several months, the community responded and they were able to obtain a Hill-Burton grant to aid in the construction of the new facility.
In 1970, Dick joined Curt Meeds and Tom Hagan and they purchased the Jordan Hotel. After extensive remodeling of the hotel, they undertook to build a forty-unit motel which they operated as a Best Western Motel for over 20 years.
In 1979, Dick and a group of businessmen formed a new bank named First Fidelity Bank of Glendive (now known as Bravera Bank) which they sold in 1985.
One of Dick’s favorite endeavors was working with Home on The Range in Beach, North Dakota, to open a branch facility in Glendive for six to eight troubled youth. This was accomplished, but unfortunately, several years later the State of Montana changed the manner of treatment and the home was forced to close.
Dick was active in many business and community endeavors. He served as President of the Association of Independent Insurance Agents of Montana, and also as President of the Insurance Education Foundation and Public Risk Management. He was a member of Glendive Elks Lodge #1324 and had served as Exalted Ruler. He was a member of the Advisory Board for the Montana State University Business School and served on the Presidents Council for Carroll College. Dick also served on the Montana Chamber of Commerce board for a period of two years.
Dick and Curt Meeds were founders of the Glendive Forward Organization which was instrumental in helping Glendive be selected as the site for the Eastern Montana Veterans Home and the following year the site for the Montana State Regional Prison.
Dick was preceded in death by his wife Jean Carney in 2019, his parents, and his sister Delores (Carney) Coleman in 1958.
Dick is survived by his children, Bob and his children, Esther, Sylvia, Monica, Natalia, Christopher, Michael, and Joey, Terri (Mark) and their children, Leilani, Stephanie, Katrielle, Ethan, Tiana, and Ryan, and Pat (Heidi) Carney, all of Glendive.
In an effort to help with getting the ongoing project of fully lighting the Bell Street Bridge, memorials are suggested to the Justice Foundation, 200 S Merrill, Glendive. Remembrances and condolences can be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.

Bookshelf+ Makes a Difference in My Life

 So since I have more time in Carlsbad I started a subscription to Bookshelf+ and have really been enjoying a lot of listening to good books.

1-Third book of Saints, which is church history and this one "Boldly, Nobly, and Independently" was my favorite of the 3

2-The Divine Center by Stephen Covey, read it before, love it

3-The Spirit of Revelation by David Bednar, excellent

4-Jesus of Nazareth by Truman Madsen, my college history teacher , so very good

5- His Mighty Miracles by Susan Easton Black, also has miracles mere mortals have had, so good

6-Faith is Not Blind by Bruce and Marie Hafen...learned so much.

7-The Divine Gift of Forgiveness by Neil Anderson...excellentI!

I don't know when I have had such an outpouring of knowledge in such a brief period but I have thoroughly enjoyed and I also color on Happy Color at the same time, very relaxing.

I have am making some changes in my life also which is the best part of all!!!

For instance in this near to death time in my life with lots of time, get as much learning and understanding as you can!!!

From Neal Maxwell, don't waste this precious time on the macros in your life which you can do nothing about but worry such as government, politics, etc spend the time on the micros in your life, family, spirituality, peace, love, gospel truths, joy, light to the family, not a burden

Simplify, Appreciate, Forgive and have Gratitude and Recognition of and for blessings and miracles in my life, others needs I can help with, relationships I need to make better, taking care of myself physically and mentally and not being a problem or burden for others.  Follow well the health rules I know and need in my life...do not forget.  Take the needed time to follow well.

Think correctly, pray often, have peace and joy.  So much.....

 

Kelly and Rowan in Las Vegas

Hey, Rowan, where is the big smile and what are you thinking?

 

A Very Bad Night

Last night I had a very bad night.  I woke around 1:30 am to go to the bathroom

 but I could not pass my stool and it was so painful.  

In 2018 I had had a tumor removed from my tail and it is not exactly normal but

 it has been five years 

and I had not had such a problem.  Later I decided it was calcium my new 

doctor started me on recently and I remember I had a problem with 

calcium before.  It can be constipating.

At any rate I spent about 5 hours drinking water, walking in my room,

 in the bathroom (actually had my best score of Solitaire ever (7710!) but in

 pain most of the time.  Finally after praying, and all of the above I was relieved 

and went to sleep again.

James texted me at around 8 and told me he was walking Bear, 

I could see him across the street in the park.  I texted him I had had a 

very bad night, etc and would not be able to come over and not go to church

 with him.  He came and got Sadie and took her for a walk. 

  I went back to sleep and slept until 10 or 11.  

Growing old is one challenge after another.

A Brief on Richard and my Courtship, Wedding, Marriage, Children and Death

Linda asked me if we had any wedding pictures.  And technically, no we didn't.   My story is told elsewhere but technically Bill, the helicopter pilot and boyfriend,  and I had set a date for a summer wedding.  He was a Christian Scientist and I was a Mormon but we finally decided to go for it anyway.  But someone up there had different plans for me! My parents who were in Utah and on their way down for my wedding came on down anyway to sympathize with me after we called off the wedding.

So I have these pictures at the beginning of the summer of 1959 .  Incidentally I did not see these pictures until just a few years ago when my nephew printed all of my Dad's movies online and I was able to take some individual pictures off of the film, that is why they are not really clear.

Anyway somewhere else is all the drama of this visit.

And then Richard came into my life just before Labor Day 1959 when I returned from BYU Summer School.  My friend had called me and said she had someone she wanted me to meet who had just moved in.  I said, "No way, not interested."

But that Sunday after Sacrament Meeting Richard came charging up and introduced himself and asked if I would go to the Fireside with him, I was going with Danny, he asked for a date Wednesday night, I had one with Bob, he asked for one Saturday and I had one with Clinton and so he asked what about tomorrow Labor Day to Balboa Park and I said OK.

Since I had broken up with Bill, who I had gone with almost since I moved to San Diego, these guys from the ward thought they would date me now.  And Richard was blown away by my popularity, but it was just a one week thing.  There is more to that story but anyway he began spending most of his time at my place and then took me to meet his mother in Las Vegas and decided we had should get married but we did not have any time off till Christmas and we were together all the time and fully committed to each other by then.  We had known each other only six weeks and had both broken engagements behind us.  Richard wrote a lovely letter to my parents explaining we would marry in the Temple later and thanked them for shooshing all the other guys away.  I found later that his parents did the same thing, elope when their parents were traveling and then marry in the Temple later!!!!

So we planned to elope one weekend, get married by the Bishop and then go to LA for a fast honeymoon and back to my teaching school and his appraising job on Monday.  All plans went well until Scott, his brother, found out and those details are somewhere else about the "wedding" he planned and cake he bought, etc and all his family and Vida  came to San Diego for a early Friday evening wedding.

 But no one took any pictures.   I had a on a lovely dress (I wish I had a picture) and the principal over my class for me and I had lots of time to dress.  It was early evening in a big hotel room with family and Cake and the Bishop and did we eat anything?  Cannot remember.  We had taken earlier pictures for the announcement or whatever we might need but no one was prepared with a camera that night I guess.

And then soon after we married on October 23 Mom and Dad came to San Diego again and we took pictures with them that were almost like wedding or honeymoon pictures.  Here again, these pictures are taken off the movie film.

 So we met the Sunday before Labor Day 1959, were married on October 23, 1959 and baby John was born August 19, 1960 and we went to the Temple on November 4, 1960 and Linda was born June 28th, 1962, Maria was born November 15, 1963 and James was born June 27th, 1966.  Richard died on November 27th, 1996.  John died on April 5th, 2004 and it is now 2023 so I have had lots of time alone to gather memories and records and put this all online and what is most important is in Family Search as well.  Our life is an open book online!

More Cohen Birthday Celebration

 Linda and Gary went to Vegas this weekend to help celebrate the big #1 Birthday and sent video sliding  of Cohen  sliding down a new red slide!  

Happy family with pictures of Cohen for every month of his life behind them.

The Cake!

Is Cohen smart or what, no putting his finger or hand in the cake, he eats the raspberries!!!

Cohen receives Birthday Card

I sent an Ecard to Cohen but I had misspelled the email address so he never got it on his birthday which was January 3rd.  So I resent it on the 5th and it was a talking giant cheeseburger who would say his name.

 

Cohen is 1 Year old today!

 Born January 3, 2022.

Janice Sent a Happy New Year

 My friend Janice from back in the 7th Ward days and the mother of one of John's best friends sent a Happy New Year with pictures of her children and grandchildren.

When she is visiting and I am at Linda's we get together.  So fun to keep updated on old friends!!!

Her children bought her a ticket to the Rose Bowl where U of U will be playing this year and a new red Utes jacket to wear.  Janice is a widow and visits lives in Scottsdale but visits her children in various places.

Update on Matt

I sent Matt a text Merry Christmas and he called me back and we talked for quite a long time and then he also sent me these pictures on Christmas.  He really appreciated my reaching out and we plan to stay in touch.  

Marnie, the sister of his Dad Mark (behind Matt in pix) reached out to Matt and asked him to come and help  them in Wixom, Michigan where she lives with her husband, son Austin (in lower picture) and now she is also caring for Matt's grandfather.  The grandmother died this past year and they are readying his house to sell and he will be living at her home.  Thus she needs Matt's help.

Also Matt and then Mark came also to get the house all ready for selling and now Matt will also be selling the furniture etc.

It is a good place for Matt to be as he furthers himself from the drug scene and all the toxic involvements.  He feels secure and has work to do and he is also trying to straighten out some things so he can get licensed as a "line man".  These are the guys who do the electrical etc work on the overhead wires and such.  Matt has amazing skills and a great work ethic and he is determined to get his life under control.  I think it is a miracle he is still alive and feel he has something special to share with the world.

Matt is the grandchild who worked on my lot so much to make the individual rock gardens, keep it cleaned up, prepared the area for the river rock patio, etc.  So we spent a lot of time together and I always appreciated his caring so much to help me.

Mark and his wife have five acres in Arkansas and have a life away from California also.  They like it.

Interesting they all have the beards but the dog.

Marnie trains or raises dogs for something (forgot what) and has several other businesses going.  Very busy lady

 Austen is taking his tests to become a CPA!

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2022

We had Christmas Eve dinner at James' house and Meagan and Matt's family were there which made us all happy.

James did the turkey and between us we somehow got the stuffing and mashed

potatoes done and James had gotten some frozen rolls which were very good.

Meagan brought a huge pumpkin and apple pie and whipped cream.

I had made the Romney version of pistachio salad and Christmas Cookies and frosting.

Unfortunately I get too tired as is evidenced by this picture but everyone else looks good!!!

We had fun with white elephant gifts and James read us a little story and the children dressed up in the costumes that Camber has collected.  So Christmas 2002 was with family, yea, not alone!!!

Jacob was back from Hawaii and Lea was back from Bali and Kelsi was here but Jimmy had to work at the restaurant Jake's.

 I was late getting up but went over at 1:20 Christmas Day and had leftovers and we opened the presents under the tree.  I was too exhausted to go to Church even but I enjoyed the Tabernacle Choir and Treeo Christmas Ward Meeting on You Tube.

The Hardys were invited to a Christmas party at one of Camber's and Kelsi's friends home in Rancho Santa Fe so I went home to nap and they had more.

 Christmas.  I can only do so much partying!!!   

Christmas Sunday with the Hardys at Poinsettia Ward

Christmas Sunday with all the Pulsiphers in Las Vegas

The Three Boys of 2022 from the Pulsipher Clan

 Cohen, born in January (Tanner and Marissa's), Calvin, born in August (Amy and Joe's) and Rowan, born in May (Kelly and Collin's)

Linda said it took them all day to get this one shot because of different baby schedules, moods and etc!!!

Kelsi and I

Kelsi sent over this picture taken earlier this month.  Wow, do I look old or what--90 next month and it shows...need that lipstick!

 

Calvin

Calvin Travis born on August 8 to Amy and Joe and he loves to stand up!!  They are all currently in Las Vegas for Christmas and it is Kristi's birthday so celebrating at her house.

 

Easter 1937 and Christmas 1937 and 1940 in Glendive, Montana

Pictures from David's Book of Remembrance 

1--These are pictures I do not remember seeing before in my books but the first picture is Easter

on the South Side at the white house on the corner.  This was the third house we lived in in Glendive

and I was probably 4 in spring 1937.

 

Those are huge buttons on our coats.  I assume they came from the Karl Johnson store Dad was 

managing.  But I know I wore a lot of hand me downs.  I wonder if Mom got things from rummage

sales, too.  We all look very nice though you can see scuffed shoes and David's pants are not new.

We did not have a lot of money, that I know.  When I eventually get to go to school, I remember

wearing clothes more than one day in a row and changing after school and hanging up my dress or

blouse and skirt with straps.  Actually those are the only school clothes I remember in first grade. 

 Luckily the store clothes will become a great blessing in our life, especially in high school and college.

These look like small Easter baskets by today's standards.  We would have had our hair rolled up in

rags the night before to make it curl on the end.  We would have been going to the Congregational

Sunday School where Dad sang in the choir.

2-It is winter and we are wearing anklets which is interesting.  I have on a different coat and David just 

has on a sweater.  This is also on the South Side and was probably 1937 because Carole has 

evidently not been born yet and we have our Christmas dolls.  This was the Christmas where Mom 

had us follow strings to find our dolls and David got the Kayo doll.  

I am not sure if it is the same Christmas Marilyn got a tricycle and it seemed the whole living room floor

was full of things.  That Christmas must have been a very good year at the store!  So the bountiful year

with an electric mixing bowl for Mom  and a tricycle may have been 1938 or 39.

We moved to a this house on the North Side Heights the summer of 1940 and we have our Christmas 

dolls so Carole would be 2 and I would be in second grade.   She was born in November of 1938 and I 

turned 6 in January 1939 and went to first grade on the south side at Lincoln School in September.

Dad was able to purchase this house and we had lived in 4 other houses since moving there in 1934.

This house was about a hundred years old I think.   It was remodeled when I was at college.  The man

looks familiar but can't think who he is, salesman or?  We often had missionaries eat with us but why a 

single man?  I usually wore pigtails.

Update on Health Care

I was having all these thigh muscle aches and so Dr. Pham suggested an x-ray of the lower back and then physical therapy.

So I went to the first appointment at Coastal Pain and he ordered an MRI.

However, in the meantime my prescription for rosuvastatin was refilled and Dr Pham said to take it at night.  So I started doing that and lo and behold I have not had the pain so on Dec 19 I called into my Doctor's office and told them to cancel it all!! 

I was talking to Jean from Clear Creek Ward and she said they have had her doing physical therapy for pains in her legs and it has not helped at all.  And Stephanie said she was thinking of giving up her physical therapy.

In February 2011 they did the lumbar laminectomy at Scripps because arthritic calcium was pressing on the nerves and causing the thigh aches.  It took a long recovery but really worked but I do not want anymore surgery.+

I think I will just keep walking and start using the jacuzzi and see if it continues not to hurt!!!

I need to up my Calcium, do some weight bearing exercises (have not started yet) and keep walking!  

At Home and at Park City this Week

Linda invited Kelsi and James to dinner the night before they went to Utah and thought it was cute that they were both doing the same thing.

A Few Days Later at Park City, Snowboarding

Sarah and Ethan are with the Pulsiphers at Sweetwater in Park City for the day.

Tanner snowboards and Marissa and Cohen enjoy the snow.