July 30, 2010
QVC Super Saturday Live Designer Sale
Super Saturday Live is this Saturday, July 31, 2010 from 11:00am – 1:00pm West Coast time.
QVC presents Super Saturday Live, a nationally televised sales event featuring designer products in support of the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF). The net proceeds from this event will be donated to OCRF to advance ovarian cancer research, raise awareness of the disease, and eventually find a cure.
Designer Sponsors
In support of the fight against ovarian cancer, QVC has invited top brand names and companies to donate high-quality accessories, beauty, jewelry, and home goods at wholesale cost. This merchandise will be sold during the Super Saturday Live event both on QVC’s broadcast and QVC.com with all net proceeds benefiting OCRF. Check out the brands that have partnered with QVC and OCRF this year to make this event a success:
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| Amrita Singh | Bare Escentuals | Dalton Cosmetics | DHC |
| Dr. Denese Skinscience® | Dr. Michelle Copeland Skin Care | Honora | It Figures!® |
| Joan Rivers Classics Collection® | Judith Ripka | Laura Geller | Lierac Paris Skincare |
| Lucky Brand | Mally Beauty | NARS | Perricone MD |
| philosophy | Slatkin & Co. | Supersmile | Smashbox Cosmetics |
| Talbots | tarte: high performance naturals™ | Votre Vu | WEN by Chaz Dean |
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| Jacqueline Kennedy Collection | Juicy Couture | kate spade new york | LORAC |
| Poppy King’s Lipstick Queen | Rivka Friedman Jewelry Collection | Theory |  |
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This is just a partial list, for more information, go to : http://www.qvc.com/cgen/render.aspx?qp=promo|supersaturday_2010&rewrite=no#
July 29, 2010
An Airport Greeting
Two weeks ago, while trying to return home to Portland, all of the flights were full. Since Portland Firefly travels on standby status, this meant that I did not get on several flights.
When that happens, you just go to the gate where the next flight to Portland is leaving and you sit and wait there to see if you can get on that flight. Well, while doing just that, I started to visit with the people across the aisle from me as they were in the same situation. During our conversation, I heard someone say my name. I was perplexed because I had not yet shared my name with these people and I couldn’t imagine who would know my name. So I turned toward the voice.
There was a thin grey-haired woman looking at me and wearing a striped two-toned teal tee-shirt with a teal blue jacket. Well, since I was just returning from my Ovarian Cancer Convention where everyone wore teal, I immediately thought that she was one of the convention attendees. By the way, Teal is the color of the Ovarian Cancer Ribbon (now you know), wear teal!
Seeing only the teal top she was wearing, I asked her, ”Were you at the convention?” Her puzzled expression caused me to desperately try to place this face standing above me. She then said “I’m Eleanor.” It took me just a second looking at her face, seeing my own blue eyes looking back at me, when I realized that it was my cousin whom I have not seen in 8 years.
I rose and hugged her immediately – astounded by the coincidence that God had afforded us. I quickly explained to my neighbor travelers that she was my cousin and neither one of us knew that the other would be here at the airport today! Writing this, I am still amazed at the coincidence. The Dallas Fort Worth Airport is HUGE with four different terminals and hundreds of gates. This airport is so big that there is a monorail system (yes, like Disneyland) to take you from terminal to terminal! She was leaving from a nearby gate and for some reason, she recognized me from a distance! That amazes me also, but she explained that even though I was wearing a turban, my facial features were still recognizable (even after 8 years) to her.
She had taken Amtrak from her hometown to the airport and was on her way to attend a music workshop with her sister, who is also my cousin. All three of these sisters were/are accomplished musicians and Eleanor plays numerous instruments at church as well as for weddings and other events. My two cousins will be attending a string (violin) workshop near where her sister lives in California.
Well, we sat and visited for the few minutes before she had to board her flight and it was a wonderful serendipity. We both stood up as her boarding group was called and hugged again. Then, the solid Christian woman that she is, she grabbed both of my hands in hers and said that she wanted to pray for me before she left. She reads my blog and has been praying for me all along, but we were not going to miss this personal opportunity to pray together. We just stood there holding hands as she prayed a potent prayer for my healing from cancer. I was not self-conscious or embarrassed by this or anything and felt very honored that she would pray for me. At this point in my life, if people don’t like something, too bad for them!
We then hugged again and said our goodbys as she walked toward her gate.
What a wonderful gift to meet her at the airport!
July 27, 2010
My Favorite Plane
During all my years of flying, I was safety qualified to fly as a Flight Attendant on about 10 different aircraft. That may not mean much to you as a non-airline person, but it is a big deal to Flight Attendants. For instance, Southwest Airlines only operates one type of aircraft, so their Flight Attendants only have to be safety qualified on that one aircraft, a Boeing 737.
In order to be safety qualified to work a particular piece of equipment (aircraft), you must first learn all the safety features of the airplane. No big deal, you say? No, it isn’t if you only have to learn one aircraft; but for every aircraft that you are qualified on, you must take a FAA safety exam and pass the exam with a grade of 90% or better. And you must do that every single year, not just one time. In thirty-five years, I’ve taken a lot of FAA exams and passed every single one of them ~ many with a grade of 100% . Don’t ever think that your Flight Attendant is a ‘dumb blond’! Many women that I’ve flown with over the years had Bachelor’s Degrees, Master’s Degrees, Doctorate Degrees and even culinary Cordon Bleu Degrees. It was quite a varied and multi-talented work force.
The comprehensive FAA exam covers items such as the location and pre-flight of fire extinguishers (and don’t get mixed up with the next aircraft or you’ll fail), door operations (There are 5 different types of doors that I can think of just off the top of my head after being retired for 5 years!), operation and pre-flight of oxygen bottles (two different kinds), safety and medical procedures and emergency evacuation procedures.
Portland Firefly was hired by TWA, the premier United States Flag Carrier Airline. This means that TWA had the flag emblem of the United States emblazoned on the tail of each of their aircraft. Pan Am (Pan American) was the only other carrier allowed to have the flag of the United States displayed on the tail of its aircraft. Because you are supposed to light any flag if it is flying at night, the tails of every single TWA airplane had a light on them at night. We were the only carrier in the world to have aircraft with a light on its tail at night. It was really cool to be watching planes land and even when overseas or from a great distance, you could tell which aircraft were TWA’s because of the tail light. In some ways that tail light was a beacon that said to me “You’re home.”
Some of the aircraft that Portland Firefly was FAA Safety qualified on are: Boeing’s 707,727 stretch, 727 regular,747,757,767; Lockheed’s Constellation & 1011; McDonald-Douglas 80 regular and stretch, DC 9. Within each category, such as the 747, there were many different configurations due to the fact that TWA would purchase aircraft that were originally ordered by another airline to that airlines specifications and would therefore have a ’different’ safety locations from those of our TWA aircraft. We had two MD-80s that we purchased from Alaska Airlines and they were set up completely differently from the TWA configuration including Galley location and equipment.
I was originally hired by TWA to work the new 747 Internationally because I was fluent in a foreign language (not Spanish). I did love the 747, but eventually that beautiful aircraft became the workhorse of the fleet and had numerous problems. I doubt if I’ll ever forget sitting on my jumpseat being able to see all of my passengers and look out the big window on my emergency door and see the landscape as it fell away from us on take-off or came closer to us for our long-awaited landing. The 747 was my second favorite aircraft to work.
I want to tell my readers the reason for posting this particular story today, July 27th.
It is because today is 7/27. And the 727 Stretch was my favorite aircraft to work on in the entire TWA fleet.
Why did I love that aircraft so much? I think it was because it was so spacious yet had an intimate feel. The first class was really classy (for those days). The lavatories were big enough to actually turn around in! And the galleys had plenty of space for all of our cabin service supplies. There were designated places for the crew to stow their luggage and the cockpit was really nice and big with three pilots, a Captain, a First Officer, and a Flight Engineer. Today, most aircraft are designed to fly with only two cockpit crew members. The cabin seating configurations changed many times over the years and even one time TWA removed seats in the middle of the aircraft and installed (YES!) a piano! Yes, a piano lounge in the middle of the airplane. What was corporate thinking??!! There were the ‘blue chip’ flights from NYC to ORD. Then there was the ‘more leg room in coach’ campaign and now the airlines just have us all jamed in there as close together as they can get us. But nothing can compare to the glory days of the 727 and I was there!
And so today, on 7/27, I am thinking of my favorite aircraft ~ the Boeing 727 Stretch.
July 26, 2010
Today is Paper Shredding Day
Don’t forget to take you boxes or bags of paper to the KGW Studios to participate in their free paper shredding day!! It’s today!!
From 5:30 am to 7:00 pm at the KGW studios at 1501 SW Jefferson in downtown Portland. You are allowed to bring 2 file boxes or 2 paper bags full of paper for the freee shredding. Recycle and save a tree!
July 25, 2010
Ethiopian Refugees
While at the airport last week, I saw something that moved me.
It was one of those ‘airport golf carts’ that transport passengers from one gate to another because they have a special need. Well, if ever someone needed the cart this day, it was the woman I saw in the cart.
The thin black woman was from Ethiopia, I guessed, and surrounded by children. Sitting softly tall in the cart’s back seat, the beautiful mother had an African ‘baby sling’ wrapped around her complete with infant. She was also struggling to hold a restless child about 16 months old. Close in next to her was another boy about 3 years old who was mesmerized by what was happening all around him, yet not willing to leave the safety of his Mother’s side. He was seeing things he had never seen before and I wondered how this trip would affect him. Absolutely his life will be changed for the better, but what of this trip will he remember?
Then my gaze advanced up to the center seat — another boy identical to the two behind him, but about 5 years old sat with his mouth open looking mostly ahead of him. And in the front seat was the cart driver along with ‘big brother’ who was probably about 7. Again identical to his three brothers; there was no doubt that he was part of this same family.
I have seen such families before when working as a Flight Attendant. I believe that they ‘win’ some sort of lottery to come to America . And come they do. With nothing but the clothes on their backs. Literally. No checked luggage. No carry-on bag. Just their paperwork and maybe a few possessions in a white plastic bag with blue lettering.
This Mother had a large white / blue lettered plastic bag (about the size of our grocery bags) sitting where the luggage goes in the cart and that is how I confirmed my inclinations of their status. There is a very distinctive emblem on the bag and that plastic bag is ALL that she brought with her and 5 children to America.
They are sponsored by a family somewhere and that is where they will be living. The mother may decide to take ESL (English as a Second Language) classes and the children should begin school soon. Usually they settle in communities with similar families for common encouragement and because they can communicate with them until they learn English.
Anyway I still have the picture in my mind of this beautiful contemporary Madonna with child plus four more in the airport golf cart. And yes, Portland Firefly prayed a special blessing for this brave mother as I passed by.
July 24, 2010
Shop QVC for Ovarian Cancer Research
Saturday, July 31, 2010 QVC will be having a special event to benefit Ovarian Cancer Research from 2 to 4:00 pm Eastern time. That would be from 11:00 am to 1:00pm Pacific Daylight Time on the West Coast. It is called Super Saturday Live and they actually have some designer items on sale online now.
I was told that the show items are very nice, high quality and that they are below retail prices so they sell out very fast. This sounds like you should not miss this opportunity to pick up a few goodies (early Christmas shopping perhaps) and benefit Ovarian Cancer research in the process.
Some items are already available onlline at:
http://www.qvc.com/cgen/render.aspx?qp=promo|supersaturday_2010&rewrite=no
July 23, 2010
Free Shred Day
KGW is having another free paper shredding day on Monday, July 26, 2010. For every 6000 pounds of paper that we recycle, we save a tree!!
So be sure to take up to two ‘file-type’ boxes or two grocery bags of paper to the KGW Studios (1501 SW Jefferson) in downtown Portland on Monday, July 26, 2010 between 5:30am and 7:00 pm.
July 22, 2010
Ovarian Cancer Facts
Who Is at Risk:
• A woman’s lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer is 1 in 71, with most cases developing post-menopause.
• Women with close family members — sisters, mothers, aunts, grandmothers — who have had ovarian cancer are at higher risk for developing the disease.
• Women of Eastern European (Ashkenazi) Jewish descent, or women who have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, are at higher risk for ovarian cancer.
• Women who have had breast, colon, or endometrial cancer have an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer.
Symptoms:
• Ovarian cancer, sometimes called “the silent killer,” is not silent. Symptoms such as bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, feeling of fullness or urinary issues, can be subtle but are usually present early.
• When symptoms like bloating, abdominal pain, feeling of fullness, or urinary problems are caused by ovarian cancer, they tend to be persistent, and a change from normal.
The symptoms of Ovarian Cancer will be a change from how you feel normally and will continue over a period of two weeks or more. Some other symptoms may be extreme fatigue, constipation or diarrhea, a feeling of nausea, increase in waist size, back or leg pain, reflux type symptoms. Many women are mis-diagnosed with irritable-bowel syndrome which causes a detrimental delay in treatment.
Most women know that they are sick in a way they have never been sick before. Do not wait. See your gynecologist immediately and ask for a pelvic and rectal exam, a transvaginal ultrasound, and a CA-125 blood test.
Prevention:
• Using oral contraceptives, especially over the course of five consecutive years, lowers the risk of ovarian cancer.
• A woman’s risk of developing ovarian cancer lowers with every pregnancy.
• Know your family history. Ovarian cancer in the family means an increased risk of ovarian cancer for yourself.
Basic Statistics:
• Approximately 22,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year.
• Among women in the United States, ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths.
• Currently, there is no reliable method of early detection for ovarian cancer. The mission of the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund is to find one.
About the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund:
• Since 1998, the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund has given over $33 million toward ovarian cancer research.
• The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund’s Scientific Advisory Committee, comprised of the nation’s top ovarian cancer experts, distributes funding yearly to the most promising up-and-coming researchers in the field.
• Ovarian Cancer Research Fund is the largest private organization in the United States dedicated exclusively to finding a method of early detection, and ultimately a cure, for ovarian cancer.
July 21, 2010
Chris
This post is about one of my heroes who deserves to be recognized publically. It is my friend Chris who lives in Southern California and was also diagnosed with Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma.
Why is she one of my heroes? I’m really glad that you asked.
Shortly after I was diagnosed I did some online research on Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma. One of the statistics out there says that the average life expectancy is 25 months. I believe it because I personally know of 4 women who died just a few months after diagnosis. I was not only very sick, but cognizant of the fact that my life was now being cut shorter than I would like. Since I knew that I was very sick and I knew that averages are made up of the short-term survivors and the long-term survivors, I didn’t have a clue as to where I might fall in that ‘average’.
Then I found out about Chris. She is the wife of one of my high school friends and she had been diagnosed 14 months prior to my being diagnosed. Wow! 14 months….. I cannot begin to tell her how much her survival time encouraged me! I thought, “If she can live for 14 months with this, then so can I.” And now I am 16 months from my diagnosis. I am feeling well, gaining new strength weekly, living my life, enjoying it and my beautiful friends and family.
Chris has had a more difficult time with this horrible disease than I have. Initially, she was misdiagnosed, which is not un-common with this cancer. The 4-6 months delay in her obtaining a correct diagnosis allowed her tumor to continue growing.
She was so helpful to me when we spoke after my diagnosis. She told me many helpful things of what I could expect to happen and what to do about them. This was invaluable to me as I was struggling through this maze of Ovarian Cancer alone and her availability ~ just on the other end of the phone~ gave me the great comfort that I truly was not alone in this battle.
She is now 30 months post diagnosis and most of that time she has been on chemotherapy. Yes, 30 months on life-saving poison with all of the accompanying side-effects. Yet, during that time, she continued to work as a hospital nurse and she found the strength to travel to Lourdes, France with her family. When Portland Firefly took a trip to Southern California, Chris, even though she was not feeling well, made an enormous effort to come and meet me. Thank you for that, Chris. She regularly continues to take family trips ’to the river’, even if she isn’t feeling at all well. This beautiful woman has had hospitalizations, surgeries, and more chemotherapy; yet she perseveres and continues to be a vibrant, vital force to her loving family.
Recently, she has had so many medical complications that she had to quit work. Quit work! I couldn’t even get out of the recliner on most days. How did she find the strength to get up, get dressed and go to the Hospital. Yes, they did give her a ‘desk job’ but, my goodness! She was working full-time up until recently.
I doubt if she has any idea of the positive effect that she has had on my life and how much she is in my prayers. Chris, you are truly one of my heroes and I love you, my Cancer Sister. Thank you for the encourager you have been to me and to those that know your warrior spirit in this battle. God Bless you, Sweetie, and keep fighting. There are lots of people who love and care about you.
July 19, 2010
Household Hint
Here is a little household hint for keeping food fresh. These household hints use a damp (not wet) paper towel. You can also use a damp (not wet) very clean cloth towel.
You can make your dinner salad earlier in the day . Before you refrigerate it, simply lay a damp paper towel over the top of the salad. This will keep your salad from drying out and will save you valuable time during dinner preparations.
This damp towel can also be used to cover a pre-prepared cheese tray, or keep half of a sandwich fresh for a few hours. I actually prefer this to putting it in a plastic baggie and I’m sure you can think of other uses.
July 18, 2010
America’s Next Top Model Auditions
The auditions for America’s Next Top Model, cycle 16 are now under way.
In the Portland area you must go TODAY from 10:00am -2:00pm to be considered for the show.
1221 Southwest 12th Avenue
Portland, OR 97205-2036
(503) 226-7355
The basic requirements are: 18-27 years old, a citizen of the United States, at least 5’7″ tall (although there are exceptions). You must live in the United States and be able to obtain a valid US Passport as international travel may be required. Three photos are required, a head shot, a full length, and one in a swimsuit. A video (no longer than 3 minutes in length) is required. Producers are looking for a variety of models, including plus size models.
You can go to this weblink for additional information: http://www.nw32.com/entertainment/antm/
Good Luck!
July 17, 2010
American Idol Season 10 Auditions
Here is the schedule for Season 10 of American Idol Auditions.
Nashville, Tennessee Bridgestone Arena July 15, 2010 July 16, 2010 July 17, 2010
Milwaukee, Wisconsin Bradley Center July 19, 2010 July 20, 2010 July 21, 2010
New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans Arena July 24, 2010 July 25, 2010 July 26, 2010
East Rutherford, New Jersey Izod Center August 1, 2010 August 2, 2010 August 3, 2010
Austin, Texas Frank Erwin Center August 9, 2010 August 10, 2010 August 11, 2010
San Francisco,California AT&T Park August 17, 2010 August 18, 2010 August 19, 2010
For complete information go to: http://www.americanidol.com/auditions/
And GOOD LUCK! Please let Portland Firefly know how you do! I’ll be watching!!
July 16, 2010
Sand in the City
What do you get when you mix over two hundred competitors, thousands of spectators, great food, live entertainment, master sand sculptors, and 450 tons of sand? It’s Yoshida’s Sand in the City! As the premier fundraising event for Kids on the Block Awareness & Powerful Puppetry, this event brings the beach to Downtown Portland.
Grab the kids, and ride the Max to Pioneer Square to enjoy the sandcastles….. no rain expected this weekend!
For more information about this event: http://www.sandinthecitypdx.com/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=336058&lis=1&kntae336058=186FF1BB36CC43E3B93365BFCCE00698
July 9, 2010
Hair Length
It has now been 4 months since Portland Firefly went off Chemo. I’m doing well and my CA 125 numbers are relatively stable. My eyebrows and eyelashes have grown back. YEA!!! And my hair is making a slow comeback.
It is the longest at the nape of my neck and it sometimes peeks out from under my head scarves so it looks like my hair is longer than it really is. Last week I saw a documentary on PBS about a woman who gave up everything and became a Buddhist nun. Her shaved hair is longer than mine.
And so, when people ask me I tell them that my hair is shorter than a Buddhist nun’s hair!
July 7, 2010
A Tea Party
Portland Firefly has found an easy fun way to entertain that does not wear her out too much. I have started having tea parties at my home.
Tea Table by PDXfirefly
I start out by deciding who I want to attend; and it is usually a very small group — usually two or three others in addition to myself. I make sure that the people attending are compatible in some way. This does not mean that they have to know each other — just invite people who you like that you think would get along with each other and may have a common interest.
I have a beautiful dining room – very light and airy – with comfortable chairs so I set my dining room table and that is where we have our tea party. Mine is a little more formal than you need to have it; but that is how I like to entertain ~ comfortably elegant. I have a lot of pretty items and it is fun to get them out and use them; they aren’t doing anyone any good sitting in the drawer or cabinet!
Because of my limited energy levels, I plan my menu several days in advance and I write it down. I also assemble my serving pieces and get out the dishes and silver that I plan to use. I clean the house several days ahead of time, so all I have to do the night before is to freshen up the place. Besides we will be doing so much talking that no one will notice a little dust or disorder. And, if they do, well…. they don’t have to come back again!!! The big advantage of preparing the house ahead of time is that I have more days to enjoy a clean house! And for someone with cancer ~ cleaning the house is a big deal, believe me.
Now what to serve…. I usually serve only one type of tea which I make in the kitchen in my best tea-pot which I then bring to the table and set it on a plate lined with a doily to catch any drips. The tea that I serve is called Good Earth – caffeine free original. It has a naturally mild sweet and spicy taste and I have yet to find someone who does not like it.
I have a tiered serving dish that was a gift a long time ago. It is perfect for putting tea goodies on. I usually serve home roasted nuts, fresh berries, dried apricots, dates or hibiscus flowers, a wrapped cheese, fresh made (just an hour ago) scones, chocolate truffles, a vanilla cream filled creation, cucumber sandwiches, and maybe a special small cookie such as a meringue. Use your imagination ~ you want to have a variety of textures and colors on you serving tray ~ and make the items small sizes and easy to eat with your fingers.
To accompany the scones, I serve Raspberry Jam, Lemon Curd and butter in separate dishes with their own tiny serving spoons. If these items are dished out and refrigerated an hour (or more) before your guests arrive, you can set them on the table as you answer the doorbell and they will still be cold at tea time. You can have your tiered tray of goodies on the table as well or on a nearby table or just around the corner on the kitchen counter. It should be close enough so that it will be easy to grab it and set it on the table as your guests seat themselves. Always reserve the seat closest to the kitchen for yourself!
As my guests arrive I have them sit in the living room and when everyone has arrived, we go to the tea-table. At that time , I’ll bring in the warm scones and the tea. I actually have the water all hot well before my guests are scheduled to arrive. It will stay hot on the stove (with a lid on it) on low temp once it is brought to a boil. I also ‘scald’ my tea-pot. That means that you put very hot water into the pot to warm it up before you actually add the tea bags and hot water for tea. It helps to keep your tea hot longer. You can actually make your tea in the kitchen when your first guest arrives (hopefully your remaining guests will be there soon). That way, you can all spend more time at the table visiting and enjoying the tea goodies and each others company.
Because, the whole idea of a tea party is to visit and create time together with your friends.
Now, this may sound like a lot of work to some of you out there. But remember, you are doing all of the prep work ahead of time so that you will be refreshed and able to enjoy the time with your friends. I also like to have several tea parties planned near each other. Maybe one on Tuesday at 11:00 am and another one on Thursday at 2:00 pm with different friends. I already have the food and everything is out and ready to use, so it is pretty easy to do it twice.
July 5, 2010
Dr.Oz and Olive Oil
Well, Dr. Oz did it again! He (his staff) came up with some unusual uses for olive oil. None of them really surprised me.
He emphasized that drinking olive oil will help reduce bad cholesterol and showed this with one of his ‘science experiements’. Then he had one of his guests shave her legs with olive oil. She liked it as it also moisturizes your legs. Then he had her pour olive oil on her long dark tresses; massage it in and cover with an old shower cap for 15 minutes. You then wash your hair.
I wonder if her husband thought that she was a salad!
July 3, 2010
A Good Wishes Gift
Portland Firefly was just made aware of a business that sells accessories for women’s hair. This business owner now makes pre-tied head scarves available for chemotherapy patients who have lost their hair.
So I called their toll-free phone number after I viewed their offerings online. They asked me to give them three choices on fabric styles and that they would be mailing a headscarf to me within 3 weeks. I am pretty excited about this offer as I have been wearing scarves for 17 months now. I love the scarves I have, but it is always fun to get a new something for the wardrobe!!!
July 2, 2010
Happy Fourth of July
Today begins the July 4th weekend celebrations. The neighbors started shooting off fireworks two nights ago, thankfully not too late in the evening!
Here in Portland and in the surrounding municipalities, including Washington state, MANY of the firework use laws have changed. It is important that you check your local rules so you don’t purchase or use illegal fireworks. Since the rules vary considerable, the fireworks stands may sell you a product that is illegal where you plan to use it.
Some of the stands were even unaware of the rules changes, so don’t rely upon them to give you the correct information. They are … after all ….. selling a product… and they want you to buy it. Also, some cities can only shoot off fireworks on certain days. So Buyer Beware!!! The law enforcement fines are very hefty this year.
Oregon law bans possession, use, or sale of any fireworks that fly, explode, travel more than one foot into the air, or more than six feet on the ground. These fireworks are illegal. You are encouraged to report illegal firework activity through the City’s non-emergency number, (503) 823-3333.
Why are most fireworks illegal in Oregon? It’s not rocket science: Oregon law states that fireworks outside the above definition are dangerous and strictly limit the use of these to professional displays only. Illegal fireworks cause:
- Countless injuries including trauma and burns from unplanned explosions
- Reoccurring trauma to many of our returning veterans suffering the effects of their service to our Country
- Enormous property loss each year by causing fires to residences, landscape, and wildland
- Emotional trauma and anxiety to many small children and animals, who are especially vulnerable
- Environmental pollution, measurable in both air and noise
In Portland, our difficulty is that many of the fireworks that are illegal in Oregon are legal in Washington and readily available to anyone who can drive across the Columbia River. Given the physical, emotional, environmental, and economic costs, as our population becomes more aware about these real consequences, it will become increasingly clear that illegal fireworks in the hands of amateurs is no longer a ‘patriotic’ act.
For those of you outside of the city of Portland, contact your local police or fire department on their non-emergency phone number. Now … if your house is on fire … call 911!
Happy and Safe Fourth of July!
July 1, 2010
Time to Fly Your Flag
Today, July1st is the beginning of our patriotic season!!!!
Patriotic Firefly is getting ready to hang her beautiful large flag outside. I’ll leave it up over the holiday weekend and that will be ok because I’ll have a light on it at night.
Won’t you make the effort to fly your flag also?
