Al "baby boomer" Gore at work. Rather than taking a bow with traditional retirement, there’s a trend showing many baby boomers today are forging fulfilling encore careers with independent work. Today, there are five million boomer independents in the U.S., and it has never been easier for these senior professionals to design a second solo act, according to research by MBO Partners. Facilitated by the rise of online “cloud” and mobile computing and social networking, boomers are easily able to leverage their intellectual and social capital to start solo…
Boomers
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Most Topular Stories
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Baby Boomers: Hottest new entrepreneurs
BoomerCafé ... it's your place1 May 2012 | 2:43 pm -
So Are You Using Pinterest Yet? A Nightly News Report
Rosie's Boomer Review21 Apr 2012 | 9:29 pmIf you have been thinking about using Pinterest for fun or business here is a short video report on this new and famous social networking site. Note that if you are using it for business the interesting demographics of who is using the site. View the video and tell me what you think. Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy -
A Drug to Prevent Alzheimer's
The New Old Age15 May 2012 | 1:49 pmGovernment officials announce plans to test a drug to prevent Alzheimer's disease. -
State agency warns of possible dangers of crowdfunding investment opportunities
Boomer Consumer15 May 2012 | 4:37 pmInvestors need to approach crowdfunding investment opportunities with great caution, warns the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions. Crowdfunding is an online money-raising strategy that began as a way for the public to donate small amounts of money, often through social networking websites, to help artists, musicians, filmmakers, and other creative people finance their projects. [...] -
Baby boomers and the time of experiencing loss
BoomerCafé ... it's your place15 May 2012 | 9:52 amMaybe every generation goes through this time of life but we at BoomerCafé have noticed that many of us are thinking about and sharing stories of our own vulnerability and the passing of loved ones. Wendy Reichental, a regular BoomerCafé contributor, has written about losing her mother, and now offers this story that grief is a journey. Some people gave me one year to grieve. They saw grief as a straight line, with a beginning, middle, and end. But it is not linear. It is disjointed. ~ Ann Hood, Comfort: A Journey Through Grief Wendy with her mother. Grief is never linear, like my…
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Boomer Consumer
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State agency warns of possible dangers of crowdfunding investment opportunities
15 May 2012 | 4:37 pmInvestors need to approach crowdfunding investment opportunities with great caution, warns the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions. Crowdfunding is an online money-raising strategy that began as a way for the public to donate small amounts of money, often through social networking websites, to help artists, musicians, filmmakers, and other creative people finance their projects. [...] -
How’s your Mother’s Day going?
13 May 2012 | 3:51 pmBy Rita R. Robison I wrote four Mother’s Day posts this week and summarized them in my last post. However, I forgot two important items: How much money a mom’s work is worth The base salary for a stay-at-home mom is $37,000 for a year for 40 hours of work plus an additional $75,941 for [...] -
Top tips for celebrating Mother’s Day this year
11 May 2012 | 6:43 pmBy Rita R. Robison How are your Mother’s Day plans shaping up? Sunday is fast approaching, so if you need last-minute tips, here are some suggestions: Wondering what kinds of gifts that mothers like to receive? Visit “Top 10 Tips for Buying Mother’s Day Gifts” to learn what’s popular, what to avoid, and green gift [...] -
Court agrees with moms – Nutella isn’t a healthy breakfast
7 May 2012 | 8:26 amTwo mothers, who took the makers of Nutella to court because they thought the chocolate-nut spread wasn’t the nutritious breakfast the company hinted at in advertisements, won their case. “Nutella is made with simple, quality ingredients like hazelnuts, skim milk, and a hint of coco,” the company’s TV ad says. But Nutella doesn’t state the [...] -
Best and worst buys for your May shopping
2 May 2012 | 4:40 pmBy Rita R. Robison Planning on buying a Mother’s Day gift? Thinking about possible bargains on Memorial Day? Check out these recommendations from dealnews.com on likely bargains in May: Memorial Day sales and coupons Memorial Day weekend will offer some of the most exceptional sales since January. You’ll see the usual sale ads, but where [...]
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BoomerCafé ... it's your place
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Baby boomers and the time of experiencing loss
15 May 2012 | 9:52 amMaybe every generation goes through this time of life but we at BoomerCafé have noticed that many of us are thinking about and sharing stories of our own vulnerability and the passing of loved ones. Wendy Reichental, a regular BoomerCafé contributor, has written about losing her mother, and now offers this story that grief is a journey. Some people gave me one year to grieve. They saw grief as a straight line, with a beginning, middle, and end. But it is not linear. It is disjointed. ~ Ann Hood, Comfort: A Journey Through Grief Wendy with her mother. Grief is never linear, like my… -
Finding Passion in Midlife and Beyond
7 May 2012 | 11:29 pmEvery once in a while, we hear from a boomer who has figured out — or is figuring out — how to thrive at this stage of our lives. For this edition of BoomerCafé, that would be Nancy Anderson, author of Work with Passion in Midlife and Beyond. She has adapted a short section from her book for BoomerCafé; it’s about Finding Passion in Midlife and Beyond. Nancy Anderson After reading hundreds of boomers’ autobiographies over the past three decades, I’ve concluded that life is a story that needs to be rewritten in midlife to reflect the desires of the authentic… -
Bad news for baby boomers: Celebrations are getting smaller
5 May 2012 | 3:00 amWe boomers like to think we invented the best ways to party. But our parents probably thought the same, and without question our kids think they’re the ones who really know what a good party means. The fact is, the way we party has changed over the years. Jean Bansemer, who is associated with the party supplies and decoration website Shindigz.com, tells of a survey Shindigz did, simply taking a survey and asking baby boomers, how do you party today? The first thing we learned it: The Party Is Often Smaller. Boomers prefer staying home and socializing with about four to eight… -
Jenny Paschall: I’m bored with your illness!
2 May 2012 | 11:01 pmOkay, admit it: as baby boomers, we have aches and pains today that hadn’t taken over our lives ten, twenty, thirty years ago. Boomer writer Jenny Paschall might have as many as anybody, but what tires her is, hearing about it. She says, I’m bored with your illness! Jenny Paschall It goes without saying that as Baby Boomers, we get aches and pains. Sometimes we visit a doctor and probably most of us take some prescription meds to control cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc etc. But here’s my question: do we have to talk about our illnesses? Endlessly?? Why do people… -
Baby Boomers: Hottest new entrepreneurs
1 May 2012 | 2:43 pmAl "baby boomer" Gore at work. Rather than taking a bow with traditional retirement, there’s a trend showing many baby boomers today are forging fulfilling encore careers with independent work. Today, there are five million boomer independents in the U.S., and it has never been easier for these senior professionals to design a second solo act, according to research by MBO Partners. Facilitated by the rise of online “cloud” and mobile computing and social networking, boomers are easily able to leverage their intellectual and social capital to start solo…
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Who Moved My Dentures? Essential Information for Boomers on Healthcare, Aging and Caregiving
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Met Life Reverse Mortgage Study Scares Me!
16 May 2012 | 8:00 amDon't Regret "Reverse" @Bruce Laurance The MetLife Mature Market Institute published a study of how aging homeowners use reverse mortgagesReverse mortgages are available to homeowners age 62 or older. In the past, many older homeowners took out this loan as a way to enhance their quality of life. But now, people who consider these loans are more concerned about urgent financial needs, including lowering debt. By refinancing borrowers:borrowers can defer making principal and interest payments on their existing home mortgage until they move out. must also meet all of their other reverse… -
MS Caregiver Burdens Greater than the General Family Caregiver
15 May 2012 | 8:00 am -
MS Caregiver Burdens Greater than the General Family Caregiver
14 May 2012 | 8:00 amMultiple Sclerosis Caregivers 2012 is a report based on a survey conducted by the National Alliance for Caregiving with support from the National MS Society that reveals that the physical, mental and financial burdens on family caregivers of people with MS are significantly greater than the general family caregiving population. Half of MS patients experience “mental confusion” that negatively impacts caregivers in regards to their own mental health (43%) and overall financial situation (47%). In addition, 86% of family caregivers of people with MS indicated needing assistance in… -
Prudential Pulls Out of Individual LTC Insurance - The Story Behind the Story
11 May 2012 | 8:00 am“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts” Daniel Patrick Moynihan A guest blog from Raymond Lavine/ www.lavineltcinsurance.com / 253.778.6831 or 888.222.1789 / lavineltcins@gmail.com Prudential Insurance Company… -
Simplified Benefit Statements Coming from Medicare (VIDEO)
10 May 2012 | 8:00 am
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Blogging For Boomers
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Turn Your RSS Feeds into Emails? Duh? What’s RSS?
9 May 2012 | 10:52 amCan you turn your RSS feeds into emails? Ok, first let’s get past that funny term called RSS which means Real Simple Syndication and not Real Safe Soups. A really good tutorial on RSS Here is a tutorial I found on RSS that might help those of you who may not be comfortable with it yet. Click this link for a good explanation of RSS. Also, check out older posts on this site on RSS. Here is a vintage post on RSS. And finally, check out the video below on how to move your RSS into emails. Simple RSS to Email by AWeber Communications -
We’ve Come a Long Way Baby Boomers-Social Media Has Replaced the Water Cooler?
30 Apr 2012 | 10:48 amHas social media replaced the water cooler? Some of you remember the live chats during the breaks in your work day? Many of us are working alone at our computers. When we have to ask questions we will check with an online friend or group. For example, I do Ebay, Amazon, Etsy and working on more. There are groups on Facebook, LinkedIn and others that offer support from others. For example I have a piece of “possible Jade sculpture” that I picked up at a yard sale I posted a picture of it in one of my groups for feedback before I listed it. Moments before I created this post I saw… -
New Blogger? Returning Blogger? Now is the Time to Work on Muscle Memory
27 Apr 2012 | 10:17 amThe other day an exercise teacher told the class that we would develop muscle memory if we kept repeating certain exercises. My question was “What if your muscles get dementia. But what she said made sense and I have started sharing that concept in my blogging classes. The more you blog the more you really do remember and can blog faster with less pain. Try it. Set a goal today to create at least seven (7) blog posts in the next five (5) days. You can send me the links, if you wish, and I will visit. That helps to increase my comment memory. (smile) Take care -
Blogging Checklist Plugin-Was it Made for Baby Boomers?
10 Apr 2012 | 10:56 amI love checklists! I still try to multi-task but finding it more challenging. Even while I write this post my husband is testing a record before posting on Ebay. Then he decided to video the record playing on the speakers he is also posting on Ebay. He turns to me and says ” These speakers are as beautiful as my wife”. I was startled and got distracted from the downloading of the Blogging Checklist plugin and my thoughts on what I was going to post. In addition, I was also traumatized that he would use the video of my poor posture on the laptop and unplanned punk rock hairdo. -
How to be a Weekly Blogger-Insights From a Business Blogger
20 Feb 2012 | 11:48 pmGrab a cup of green tea and check out this video from a business blogger presenting at a WordPress conference.
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Advertising to Baby Boomers
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The Aging In Place, Universal Design, Age-Friendly Revolution
14 May 2012 | 7:59 pmNot quite as ubiquitous as The Blob (but friendlier), the UD revolution is oozing into public places, private places. 50+ Homeowners, urban and suburban architects and planners, product designers industrial and tech – all are finally paying attention to what many have been furthering for years. I’ve bundled my posts on the subject (2005-2012), spiced with other goodies. Be prepared – not all the embedded links are still alive. I guess the real Blob got them: The Aging In Place & Universal Design Posts Here’s a fun one I forgot to squeeze in: 12 June 2006Boomers in… -
Mad Men Redux
10 May 2012 | 1:22 amIt’s back after a long hiatus. My thoughts about the show a few years ago: 06 August 2008Mad Men… As as a rule I’m not a big soap opera fan – and Mad Men is primetime soap. My guess is that only about a fifth or sixth or less of screen time has anything to do with the wonderful world of advertising. Mostly it’s steamy bubbles. And that's fine. Probably better. It's sumptuously produced dark froth, brilliantly performed. At times it morphs into classic tragedy and very good theatre. Just as often it sinks into cliché silliness. Not much has changed. Like I… -
67% Of All Sales…
9 May 2012 | 2:05 pmI haven’t invoked NostraChuckus in awhile. He’s that Great Seer of The Obvious and The Mundane. Automobile advertising, marketing, sales – to Baby Boomers. When NostraChuckus first divined it (and went on divining it again and again): Car Spots Driving in the Wrong Direction Coming Boom in Boomer-Friendly Transport Who’s gonna buy this car?… In 2005 on The Advertising Show yours truly had a spirited discussion with hosts Brad Forsythe and Ray Schilens. A chunky segment was about marketing autos to Boomers. Now it’s some huge surprise: Baby boomers drive… -
Digital Distractions II
27 Apr 2012 | 10:48 pmI wasn’t planning on doing a Digital Distractions II – but there are so many digital distractions that it’s difficult to be distracted. Bob Hoffman aka The Ad Contrarian continues not to distract me. Two recent posts: FarceBookFacebook is like the telephone. It's great for chatting, but not terribly good for selling. One of the most remarkable things about it is the blind faith that marketers continue to have in it despite its questionable record as a marketing vehicle. That’s because only 0.051% are distracted. The rest aren’t distracted. They refuse to… -
Forever Young & Top Ten Secret Facts About Advertising
22 Apr 2012 | 2:22 pmA couple of short videos worth your time: Carol Orsborn takes AARP Magazine and rips it to shreds. Actually, she doesn’t – but I didn’t direct her video or I might’ve suggested it. Carol likes AARP and their magazine. She simply took issue with an issue – one with an ageist cover teaser and a few la-de-da comments in the story. Watch Don’t Defy Age. Embrace It: Dr. Carol Orsborn By sheer coincidence, or due to some mystical alignment of the cosmos, Carol’s video is a good companion piece to last week’s polemical take on the new Depend® campaign. Ageism…
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Boomer News
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Who do you think he was?
12 May 2012 | 6:52 amThe “Who do you think you are” TV program stirs up an ancestral mystery, I have yet to solve to my satisfaction. Grandchildren, it may surprise you, but the person I know very little about is my father. At age 81, I still have very little information about my father … your grandfather, who died from injuries in a truck accident in 1934. You eleven grandchildren, (who I have written to you in this blog for the past six years,) will have no difficulty sizing up … your grandfather. Perhaps you now have more information about me than you ever wanted or needed. My father… -
Dyslexia and Neanderthal Language an Experiment
29 Apr 2012 | 8:49 amKids, this is actually an example of how my dyslexic brain transmits signals that roam through my brain looking for correlations for feasible connections to achieve a desired result. Below is my experiment which shows how my thought process works to answer just one mystery that my brain tries to address. My mental question to myself: Is dyslexia associated with any particular culture? My gist info answer: Dyslexia is in all cultures world wide. Gist information: There is a brain structure difference between dyslexics and non dyslexics. (Gist info) Even though Planck Institute has confirmed… -
Were you curious at age 10?
25 Apr 2012 | 10:55 amI believe everyone is born curious. I was thinking about our grandson Joseph who is 10 who seems to be a very curious kid. I know I was curious at age 10. I guess I have talked and wrote about age ten being such an important and wonderful age. Read what neuroscientists have to say about age 10. I’m sure I have told you in my blogs about how my 10 year old brain spun around in my head when I tried to fathom that space and time were endless. I think that Lee Smolin said that he experienced the same thing as a young boy in his book “The Life of the Cosmos”. You will find over… -
Dyslexia: How it drives science
16 Apr 2012 | 8:09 amHow ignorance drives science is the subject of a book just published by Stuart Firestein. In the April Scientific American forum article he comments on an impenetrable mountain of facts that can obscure the deeper questions. In one of my blogs a few years ago I lamented about the “Too Much Information Problem” … and I wasn’t focusing on just the sciences. Stuart laments about the “accumulation view” … It’s not just the general public … “science have a pile of facts too big for us to ever hope to conquer … So, science to often… -
Innovation in Education
10 Apr 2012 | 9:22 amSince you older grandchildren are starting college I have been getting the Chronicle Review of higher education. This is the title of the Chronicle Review article of interest kids; “Innovation in Higher Education? HAH!” The consensus of the comments on this article seems to be; “college leaders need to move beyond talking about transformation before it’s too late.” Since I began working in the late 1940s after WWII, there are two very human traits that I see that have persisted through out all my working years. One, we Americans don’t seem to pay…
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Boomer Girl Diary
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Hi-ho, hi-ho! To the highlands we go!
16 May 2012 | 8:32 amInverlochy CastleThe hubs and I have always wanted to see the Scottish Highlands, but didn't want to be confined to a tour bus all day on our stop in Inverness. So, for the reasonable-sounding price of 55GPB, we hired a car for the day (just the car, not a driver) to do our own tour including the Inverlochy Castle and the Falls of Shin.This will be our second experience driving on the "wrong" side of the road, the first being in Grand Cayman three years ago. Suffice it to say, the first 24 hours was a dizzying adventure. Note to self: Skip the whiskey tastings that day. -
Pealing the bells
16 May 2012 | 8:08 amLast year, in my rush to get ripped - or, rather, less ripply - before vacation, I took to the gym with a vengeance, tearing my hip adductor and groin muscles in the process. This year, I've been much smarter, choosing a safer workout routine suited to a weekend warrior of my advancing age. The goal: Create a little extra room in my clothes to accommodate inevitable cruise ship consumption. (Sure, there's a gym, but we're talking 12 days of fabulous cuisine.) This new book, "Kettlebells for 50+," and my new 5-pound bells (purchased for $10 at Tuesday Morning) have been a big help. You can… -
iPad for 2
15 May 2012 | 7:52 amIn an effort to whittle down our electronics for the big trip, the hubs and I decided to pack the iPad and one iPod only, in addition to our phones, of course. Enter this nifty little audio splitter that will allow us to watch movies or listen to audio books simultaneously, without disturbing our fellow travelers. I didn't know this little item existed! If only we'd had it on those car rides with the kids. -
Morning iPhoneTown
14 May 2012 | 7:15 amTrue confession: I sleep with my phone. Not so I can check emails in the middle of the night (although I won't deny doing it - what else are you supposed to do while going pee at 4 am?), but because - in my new room of my own - my phone has become the alarm clock. Last night, I programmed my Nightstand Central app to wake me up with a lovely, slow-to-fade-in Joni Mitchell song, "Morning Morgantown." Ahhh. So much better than the brutal buzzer of old. -
Lovely in love then; lovely in love now.
13 May 2012 | 8:04 amThis is my mom's engagement picture, circa 1954, taken a few months before she married my dad. This shot was taken early last year, two months before she married the second love of her life. I think it's perfectly clear: Love's the best anti-aging secret out there. Happy Mother's Day, Mom.
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Boomers
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A Test of Will, Part 2: Dr. Mark Crooks, A 57-Year Cancer Survivor, A Life Dedicated to Showing Baby Boomers How to Age Well
10 May 2012 | 6:13 pmMark Crooks, Ph.D. an exercise physiologist, sports psychologist, fitness pioneer and daredevil risked everything to survive four bouts of cancer spanning 57 years. This is the second of a two-part post, the first of which you can read immediately below this article. The stony truck driver was exhausted following his overnight haul from Chicago to Kansas City. He had kept himself awake by drinking a thermos full of coffee and taking several No-Doz. His eyes burned from staring at dark, isolated highways. Even morning chatter on his radio did not perk him up for the final leg of his drive to… -
A Test of Will: On Baby Boomers, Obesity, Illness and Health
1 May 2012 | 7:28 pmTwo titanic forces are shaping society’s views of aging and health, one uplifting, one destructive. Which will prevail? In the first article of this two-part series, Brent Green addresses “the state of Boomer health”and the grave, looming threats to a generation's collective well-being. The boy lay pensively inside an oxygen tent, struggling to breathe the cold, aseptic air; nurses and doctors gathered curiously around their small patient. The child was frightened by this sea of white coats, not knowing if their appearance might precede some other invasive treatment for his… -
A Hosting Odyssey on the WeEarth Global Radio Network: Boomer Future, Aging, Business, Marketing, Advertising, and Public Policy Thought Leaders
25 Apr 2012 | 10:20 amAmazing conversations awaken a stronger sense of where the Boomer generation is heading. Amazing conversations instill clarity, insight, motivation ... even hope. Amazing conversations showcase the brightest minds in Boomer business, marketing and aging today. Thought leaders. Trendsetters. For nearly a year, I have been undertaking a radio host odyssey on the WeEarth Global Radio Network. Dovetailing my new book, the show is entitled Generation Reinvention: How Boomers Are Changing the Future. Guests on my show have included a remarkable cast of thinkers and creators. What they have to… -
Conclusion: The Boomer Generation Is Changing Aging
17 Apr 2012 | 3:25 pmTen years after beginning a serious inquiry into understanding the sociological and cultural collision between the Boomer generation and marketing, business, and aging, I have come away with some overarching observations and conclusions. Aging is a nonnegotiable part of the human condition, a biological imperative that binds, beckons, and bothers. Aging begets elderhood. These are facts, immutable, independent of generational context. What remains malleable is flexibility of meaning: social, cultural, and institutional narratives about human aging continue to evolve. A provocative… -
Gender and Generational Hallmarks Influencing Boomer Men
2 Apr 2012 | 10:38 amMiddle age, edging toward old age, presents many unique challenges for men, and these momentous changes—biological, social and cultural—become greatly magnified when around 5,500 men cross the threshold of 50 every day. For nineteen years, beginning in 1996 and until 2015, roughly two million men can be expected to traverse annually the journey across the age 50 horizon. Being 50-something and beyond can be viewed, in a sense, as an enormous population of men experiencing the same life stage at once. They are simultaneously dealing with the idiosyncratic vagaries of physiological changes…
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TheGloss » Beauty
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Weight Watchers’ Weigh-Ins Need To Stop
16 May 2012 | 11:56 amI recently attended a local Weight Watchers meeting to speak about an upcoming charity walk/bike ride. Much to my surprise, when I walked in, the receptionist at the front table asked if I “needed to be weighed.” No, I don’t “need” to be weighed, I told her. No one “needs” to be weighed. To me, weighing people in public is just offensive and humiliating. And it goes against everything I believe in about how to get people healthy. I get that Weight Watchers is all about helping people lose weight. Really, I do. But I don’t believe in scales. As a matter of fact, when I used to… -
Jennifer Love Hewitt Still Talking About Vajazzling To Stave Off Obscurity
16 May 2012 | 11:00 amA composite image meant to represent Jennifer Love Hewitt Jennifer Love Hewitt has a couple modes: One is talking about her weight, the other is talking about her vagina. Both keep her in the press in some marginal capacity. Today, she’s talking about her vagina: while promoting The Client List at the A&E upfronts, someone asked if there was any vajazzling afoot under her Alexander McQueen dress, which she affirmed with, “It’s a special occasion.” To be fair, she was asked about it. To be less fair, she could have just said, “I don’t feel like discussing the… -
Retro Snap: Can You Recognize Either Of These A-Listers?
16 May 2012 | 8:00 amBoth are in disguise! This isn’t even remotely retro! It’s Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer from the upcoming production of The Lone Ranger. Not to state the absolutely obvious, but does Johnny Depp seem like an odd choice to play Tonto, the Native American sidekick? Are there really no Native Amercan actors IN THE WORLD who are also able to wear disguises with panache? Related posts: Retro Snap: Who Is This Sex Symbol Retro Snap: Please Identify This Comically Handsome Man Retro Snap: Which A-Lister Is This? Post from: TheGloss -
Scent Of The Week: For When You’re Only Trying To Impress Yourself
15 May 2012 | 5:30 pmThere are lots of perfumes out there that are clearly designed to rope someone else in. You’ve got your perfumes for when you’re on the rebound, for instance, or for when you’re on spring break. But what about the days when all you want to do is sit around and smell your own wrist? Those days happen, and you know it. For that, there’s Valentino’s Valentina. It’s hard to know exactly how to describe this perfume other than that it smells somehow personal. It’s soft and delicate, a little bit sweet and a little, tiny bit baby powder-y. It has hints of… -
Dramatic Ways Your Life Changes With A Spray Tan
15 May 2012 | 3:18 pmSo, the people at St. Tropez offered me a spray tan. Obviously I was pretty hesitant, because I was worried that being human colored would cause me to lose my abilities to read minds and live forever. This is what I look like normally, except my hair is brown and I am not Jeremy Irons. Fortunately, that didn’t happen. Other stuff did, though! 1) When going out for the evening you will realize that you have no foundation that matches your new skin tone. Hope your skin is perfect. Sorry one of your superpowers is not “seeing the future.” 2) You’re going to spend at least…
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TIME GOES BY
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Peter Tibbles' Trip to Oregon – Part 2
16 May 2012 | 7:30 amTen days ago or so, I posted some photos of Time Goes By Elder Music columnist Peter Tibbles and his Assistant Musicologist, Norma, during their stay with me here in Oregon. On 3 May, I saw them off to Idaho where they visited relatives. A week later, the AM flew to the east coast of the U.S. to see friends and Peter returned to my house for a few more days. Among the interests Peter and I share is food and wine so a lot of our time was expended on thinking about, talking about, shopping for and preparing meals. What I did not realize until now, as I was going through the photos, is that we… -
The Elite Meet on Social Security Today
15 May 2012 | 7:30 amYou've heard of Peter G. Peterson, haven't you? He is the billionaire financier who has, for decades, been spending his money in pursuit of privatizing Social Security. Whenever you read the word “privatize” in that regard, read “loot.” Here is what Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and TGB contributor Saul Friedman wrote about Peterson in these blog pages two years ago: ”Give Peterson his due; he’s smart enough to know that Social Security is not in serious difficulty, that it’s not a big drag on the federal budget and that it’s not a 'Ponzi scheme,' as some ignorant… -
President Obama Endorses Gay Marriage – Finally
14 May 2012 | 7:30 amThe latest cover of the New Yorker magazine on newsstands today. Isn't this terrific: Compared to Congress and the judicial branch of government, a president has few actual powers. However, his position does imbue him with the authority to influence and, in time, even to change the course of the social zeitgeist. That happened last week when President Barack Obama endorsed same-sex marriage: Now the public conversation about full rights for gays and lesbians is altered. Among the zillions of words spoken in response to the president's announcement were some important ones from our own Jan… -
ELDER MUSIC: Buddy Holly
13 May 2012 | 7:30 amThis Sunday Elder Music column was launched in December of 2008. By May of the following year, one commenter, Peter Tibbles, had added so much knowledge and value to my poor attempts at musical presentations that I asked him to take over the column. He's been here each week ever since delighting us with his astonishing grasp of just about everything musical, his humor and sense of fun. You can read Peter's bio here and find links to all his columns here. Self indulgence time today (as if all these columns aren’t just that). BUDDY HOLLY was the most famous musician to come from Lubbock,… -
INTERESTING STUFF – 12 May 2012
12 May 2012 | 7:30 amBIONIC EYES FOR ELDERS An estimated half million Amercians age 75 and older are afflicted with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) along with, eventually, the resultant blindness. Two years ago, the Federal Trade Commission approved an amazing space-age treatment for some with AMD: video platform video management video solutions video player You can read more here. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TOMORROW And if you happen to live in the Spokane, Washington area, have we got a gift idea for you. Peter Tibbles found this and passed it on. Nothing says love like a family holiday at the shooting range.
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Rosie's Boomer Review
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Are You Looking for a Good Email Autoresponder for Your Newsletters?
9 May 2012 | 10:26 amIf you are looking for a way to send out emails even while you sleep then look at this video. Try AWeber’s Autoresponders for $1 -
So Are You Using Pinterest Yet? A Nightly News Report
21 Apr 2012 | 9:29 pmIf you have been thinking about using Pinterest for fun or business here is a short video report on this new and famous social networking site. Note that if you are using it for business the interesting demographics of who is using the site. View the video and tell me what you think. Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy -
Caregivers-Watch Changes in Your Elderly Loved One While in the Hospital
27 Mar 2012 | 10:27 amSince my mom’s recent death I am still convinced that families and religious organizations need to develop more systems for support. One of the systems needed is education and enhanced visitation of the elderly when they are in the hospital. We are often concerned, as we should be, about correcting the chronic or critical health condition. But other stuff can also happen like confusion and decline in the mental status of our loved one that MAY NOT be dementia. I saw this happen many times with my mom. One night when I was not at her bedside, she took her IV out and thank goodness a… -
80 Year Old Double Amputee Has Phenomenal Passion and Purpose
8 Mar 2012 | 7:53 pmMalcolm Lambert is 80 years old and a double amputee yet he has decided to live his life full of purpose and passion. He skydives for justice and is an active human rights advocate. Take three (3) minutes to listen to his incredible story which highlights his mission in life despite his physical challenges. Also, you can read more about this innovative video site that shares other inspirational videos by clicking this link for HooplaHa. -
African American Heritage of Committee of UMDNJ Presents Lecture Series in New Jersey
2 Feb 2012 | 10:59 amThe African American Heritage Committee is presenting a series of dynamic lectures during Black History Month. The theme this month is Impact of the Economy on Healthcare in African-American Communities. Click this link to get more information about this lecture series for Black History Month.
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Baby Boomer Talk & other stuff
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Blueberries Are Good for Soccer
12 May 2012 | 7:09 pmOn the way to my grandson's soccer game today, I asked my grandson if he wanted some of the blueberries I was eating. Of course, he said yes and then proceeded to eat them all. After scoring the first goal of the game, he proudly told his coach that his grandma told him if he ate the blueberries, it would make him strong enough to kick some goals. Yes, I did say that and he listened. One of the things I love about young children is how trusting they are. That's why it is so important that we, as adults, give them the love and resources needed in order to help them grow up to be happy and… -
Grandma Wears a Hoodie Too
7 Apr 2012 | 2:54 pmThe other day I had to stop and think twice before I left for my regular visit to the gym. You see, it was a little chilly outside and I reached for my green jacket---which just happens to be a Hoodie. Of course, Hoodies are in the news these days following the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. I put the Hoodie on, looked at myself in the mirror and thought, "What if I walked down the street in my neighborhood---would my white neighbors become frightened and call the police or would I discover we had our own version of a neighborhood watch captain who might become trigger happy?"… -
The Lengths We Go to to Protect Our Grown Children
1 Apr 2012 | 3:25 pmIt is a parent's job to keep their children out of harm's way---but there is such a thing as over-protection and cover-up.One might argue that is the case when it comes to 64-year-old Robert Zimmerman and his 28-year-old son George. We all know George as the pistol-packing self-appointed neighborhood watch volunteer who fatally shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on February 26 in Sanford, FL. We all know Martin was unarmed and only carrying a bag of skittles and an iced tea.A month after the shooting, Robert Zimmerman has finally spoken out in defense of his son. Why it took so long is anybody's… -
Trayvon Martin Could Be My Grandson
18 Mar 2012 | 11:00 amAfter death threats and an avalanche of hate mail, the man who shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on February 26 has packed up his belongings and moved away to an unknown location. So how does that happen? How does George Zimmerman get to receive a pass for shooting the unarmed teen who was just walking home from a convenience store with some skittles and an iced tea? How come the police believe Zimmerman's story that he was defending himself when he was the one who got out of his vehicle in pursuit of Trayvon and then pulled a weapon as the young man screamed for his life? Zimmerman… -
Have You Had the Talk With Your Spouse Yet
5 Mar 2012 | 5:34 pmFor many couples, talking about death is difficult. Nobody likes to think about dying. It's scary to think the person you're growing old with will no longer be around someday.The other day my husband said, "I can't imagine my life without you. That's why I'm going to die first." Of course, his comment shocked me and I wasn't sure how to respond. Trying to lighten the mood, I said, "No--I need to go first because I know you will be able to re-group a whole lot better than I would." Then, jokingly, I suggested we die together.That brief conversation got me to do some serious thinking. How would…
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About.com Assisted Living
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Coming Out of the Closet with Caregiving
16 May 2012 | 4:00 amThe AARP Public Policy Institute issued a paper entitled: A Call to Action: What Experts Say Needs to Be Done to Meet the Challenges of Family Caregiving. They invited 10 authors who have written about the challenges of family caregiving to participate in an AARP Solutions Forum on the issue. Here are some of the highlights. In many respects the conclusions are not much different than the National Alzheimer's plan. It calls for:...Read Full Post -
How About We Let This Speak For Itself?
15 May 2012 | 4:00 amIt's pretty ironic that one of our articles this month is about music --- for the dying. Well Matilda is a long-way off from that!...Read Full Post -
NJ Assisted Living Partnership Ups Quality Focus
14 May 2012 | 4:00 amThe NJ Department of Health and Senior Services has joined with the Health Care Association of New Jersey (HCANJ) to enhance quality and consumer information about assisted living residences in New Jersey. This four-year pilot program, entitled Advanced Standing, will offer a designation by the Health Care Association of New Jersey Foundation, which verifies that an assisted living facility has satisfied all state licensing regulations and also meets quality benchmarks....Read Full Post -
NQF Endorses Palliative Care Measures
11 May 2012 | 4:00 amThe National Quality Forum (NQF) Board of Directors has approved for endorsement 14 quality measures on palliative and end-of-life care. The measures address a wide range of care concerns, including pain management, psychosocial needs, care transitions, and experiences of care....Read Full Post -
Medicare Overpayments - 60 Days and 10 Years Ago
9 May 2012 | 4:00 amTime is expiring! According to a new proposed regulation, healthcare providers must report self-identified Medicare over-payments within 60 days of noticing the incorrect payment or face monetary penalties. The deadline was instituted by the Affordable Care Act policies aimed at reducing Medicare fraud....Read Full Post
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The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide
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FTC charges company put more than $70 billion in bogus phone charges on consumers’ bills
14 May 2012 | 4:48 pmBy Rita R. Robison The Federal Trade Commission is charging that the nation's largest third-party billing company placed more than $70 million in bogus "cramming" charges on consumers' phone bills in violation of a previous court order. The FTC is... -
Recall of the Week: Banzai in-ground pool water slides sold by Wal-Mart and Toys R Us due to death, serious neck injuries
13 May 2012 | 6:14 pmBy Rita R. Robison Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Toys R Us Inc. are recalling of about 21,000 inflatable Banzai in-ground pool water slides. During use, the slide can deflate, allowing the user to hit the ground underneath the slide and... -
Happy Mother’s Day
13 May 2012 | 9:56 amBy Rita R. Robison Today, I’m thinking about my mom, Ruth L. Slingsby. She was a good kid. That’s what she used to say to me even when I was an adult. My mom passed away on July 14, 2005.... -
Tips for stressed-out women this Mother’s Day
11 May 2012 | 8:06 amThere’s no doubt about it. Being a mom in these modern times can be stressful. Women are more likely than the general public to cite as sources of stress family health concerns – 57 percent for women, 53 percent for... -
Last-minute Mother’s Day gifts for your mom
10 May 2012 | 6:23 pmBy Rita R. Robison Mother's Day is Sunday, and it's crunch time to get mom that perfect gift. It’s getting too late to order from the Internet, but you can check out dealnews.com for ideas and to see what stores...
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Midlife Crisis Queen: It's never too late to find out who you might have been!
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The human costs of long term unemployment
15 May 2012 | 9:13 amUnless you have experienced job loss yourself, and remained unemployed for more than six months, you may not be aware of the human disaster occurring in America today. Five million Americans have been looking for work for more than six months, the definition of long term unemployment according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In American history, this has not occurred since the Great Depression. Before the Great Recession of 2007, long term unemployment accounted for just 0.8 percent of the labor force, and how many have simply given up? According to a New York Times op-ed piece on… -
Blogging Boomers rides again!
14 May 2012 | 1:50 pmAnne over at Accidental Locavore has the latest on Mother’s Day and everything else! -
Please give me your vote!
14 May 2012 | 8:49 amHave you heard about Midlife Collage yet? I think it’s a great idea! It’s a website where anyone in midlife is encouraged to submit their best stories for everyone to read and vote on. One of my stories has come up for a vote this week. The story chosen to be the best each week (the one with the most stars) wins the author $50 and a place in the winner’s circle. My specific contest runs from Monday, May 14th through Sunday May 20th and you MUST REGISTER TO VOTE, but then you are all set to submit your own story! If you enjoy reading my blog, PLEASE DO ME A GREAT… -
The solution to most of the world’s problems
12 May 2012 | 11:44 amI wasn’t quite clear why there was such a stir over our President saying he believes gays should have the right to get married. I wish the human race would finally realize that most of the world’s problems could be solved with the simple phrase: Mind Your Own Business! Here’s the deal, whether it’s gay marriage, abortion, religion, politics or any other type of disagreement, nobody knows better than me what’s good for me! Whenever I find myself arguing with someone else, I ask myself: “Could this be solved by me minding my own business?” From my… -
Some historical perspective on Mother’s Day 2012
10 May 2012 | 9:58 amI have been reading an excellent and fascinating social history of women called: In Our Prime: The Invention of Middle Age, by Patricia Cohen. For a little perspective on the lives of our great great-grandmothers, check out these fun facts: “For women [in 1800] adulthood was one long, undifferentiated stretch of mothering with scarcely any leisure time. Mothers gave birth, then gave birth again, and again. The average woman had seven children and spent seventeen years either pregnant or breastfeeding, although without antiseptics, anesthesia, or antibiotics, there was barely a…
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The New Old Age
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A Twist in the Driving Debate
16 May 2012 | 1:28 pmResearchers find that many older adults who stop driving hit the road again. -
A Drug to Prevent Alzheimer's
15 May 2012 | 1:49 pmGovernment officials announce plans to test a drug to prevent Alzheimer's disease. -
The Shingles Vaccine Returns
15 May 2012 | 5:00 amThe manufacturer of the shingles vaccine says production has been restored. -
When Disaster Strikes the Nursing Home
10 May 2012 | 2:30 pmMany nursing homes remain unprepared for a natural disaster, a federal report finds. -
A Benefits Statement You Can Read
9 May 2012 | 2:51 pmMedicare plans to simplify the quarterly benefits statements mailed to millions of older adults.
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MidLifeBloggers
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Growing Eyelashes
15 May 2012 | 1:04 pmEyelashes are in. You knew that didn’t you? You could tell because there isn’t a female appearing on TV that isn’t sporting mega-eyelashes. I liked the look, maybe because it took me back to the days when slapping on a pair of false eyelashes was as natural as putting on mascara. That was back in [...] -
Walking Manhattan: Tribeca, Chinatown, Wall Street
14 May 2012 | 3:20 pmThe more lists I can make, the less time I have to delve deep into my soul. You see, I’m facing some new developments in my life at the moment and I need to delve. -
A Mother’s Lesssons
13 May 2012 | 11:46 amIn one six week blizzard of disobedience, I went from the youngest child who pleased his mother to the only one of the four children to get kicked out of the house. -
Walking Manhattan: Central Park
11 May 2012 | 6:31 pmIt finally hit me that this dream had actually come true. If for some reason I had to leave tomorrow, this experience will have already exceeded my expectations. -
I’m Growing My Hair. How Long Should I Go?
11 May 2012 | 2:03 pmI’m growing my hair. I think. I last had it cut about six months ago. It was the third strike and out for that particular hairdresser, and I haven’t found anyone to replace her. Well, I’m replacing her, actually. I have some haircutting shears (they came with the dog grooming kit I bought for Molly) [...]
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vintage everyday
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Lomonosov Moscow State University In 1956
16 May 2012 | 10:17 amRead more » -
Operation Doorstep
16 May 2012 | 10:09 amOperation Doorstep was a Civil Defense test done in conjunction with the March 17, 1953, 16-kiloton ANNIE test conducted at the Nevada Test Site, part of Operation Upshot-Knothole. In Operation Doorstep, blast and thermal effects were evaluated on mannequins, automobiles, and wooden frame houses. Testing of simple basement shelters and complex underground, reinforced-concrete shelters was done. Read more » -
Photos Of The World Series from 1911-1914
16 May 2012 | 9:43 amA band sets up in the background as players warm up for a 1912 game A Giants player and an A's player pose before competing in the 1911 World Series A serious handshake between a Red Sox player and a Giants player in 1912 A who's who of Massachusetts politics including Governor Foss and the mayor of Boston in 1912 Boston Braves players and manager in the dugout before a 1914 World Series game Read more » -
Pink Floyd's Album Covers from 1967-1994
15 May 2012 | 4:47 amThe Pipers at the Gates of Dawn (1967) A Saucerful of Secrets (1968) Ummagumma (1969) Atom Heart Mother (1970) Meddle (1971) Read more » -
Incredible Vintage Photos Of Sports Fans 100 Years Ago
15 May 2012 | 4:39 amA "chorus girl" singing at a baseball game in 1912 A Dutch fan cheering at a game in Amsterdam in 1931 A jockey and a fan at Belmont Park in the 1910s An Ansel Adams photo of baseball at Manazar Relocation Center in 1943 Belgian fans watching a game against Holland from the trees in 1913 Read more »
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Steves Midlife Crisis
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Veterinary Assistant Salary Boosting Techniques
26 Apr 2012 | 4:00 pmA veterinary assistant salary is a doctor for animals. They diagnose and treat animals when they are sick, have diseases or have been hurt. They also do check ups periodically to make sure that an animal is well. They give shots, prescribe medicines and perform surgeries. They also talk to pet owners and ensure that they understand what care is needed and how it is to be given to their animal. The job of a veterinary assistant salary is varied, this is why several years of school are required. To become one, you will need to get a doctorate degree in veterinary medicine. This will involve… -
Midwife Salary And The Benefits That Come With It
26 Apr 2012 | 1:28 pmmidwifes are the first people who meet patients that come in a medical institution. They make sure that the patients are given the information that they need when it comes to medical procedures or check-ups. These professionals also spend a lot of time doing administrative tasks to make sure that everything goes smoothly when it comes to a physician’s schedule, duties and records of patients. They create a bridge that helps bring a more meaningful and efficient relationship to patients and the institution. The demand for these highly skilled workers continues to grow since more and more… -
Medical Billing Certification
23 Apr 2012 | 3:20 amMedical billing is a profession that is highly demanded. As a medical biller, you can work in a medical or hospital setting without having to deal with patients. You can also choose to work from home and this profession is therefore a great opportunity for those who would like to work from home or those who want to supplement their income. As a medical biller, you serve as an intermediary to insurance companies, health care professionals and patients. Medical billers communicate with insurance companies to ensure that the bills that patients incur get paid and that health care professionals… -
posting
21 Apr 2012 | 12:51 ampostingssafdss -
Midlife from a Man’s Perspective
28 Jun 2011 | 9:42 amSteve’s Midlife Crisis has been online for a little more than five years. Blogging about computer technician salary and all sorts of other topics has been a lot of fun. I have learned a lot and met some great people. However, in recent months, I haven’t been updating this site nearly as much as I’d like to and that is due to time constraints. Therefore, I am going to take a break from updating this occupational therapy salary for an indefinite time. I might resume posting here at some point; I don’t really know what I will do. In any event, I appreciate all the people who have read my…
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Whose shoes are these anyway?
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Michael Ealy Jokes that Taraji P. Henson Stalked Him
13 May 2012 | 1:44 pmI'm pretty sure what was bleeped out on Michael Ealy's interview with Wendy Williams was that he's an "a*s" man so (breasts) cups "don't matter" to him. He said he used to date older women, but now he's more open-minded (as though any ordinary woman reading or writing this blog would ever have a chance with him). The interview was cute, and it seems his co-star from Think Like a Man, the -
Judy Smith: The Real Olivia Pope Inspiring ABC's Scandal
11 May 2012 | 11:25 amI love Scandal, Shonda Rhime's hot, new drama on ABC, but I had no idea that it is based on a real black woman, Washington DC fixer (crisis manager) Judy Smith. In the video below, Smith says, "To be a crisis manager you have to be very calm." When clients come to her, they are already in the middle of a crisis and nervous. It would not help for her to be nervous and jumpy as well. She also says -
A Man's World: Joshua Ledet vs. Juliet Simms vs. James Brown, the Godfather of Soul
10 May 2012 | 5:15 pmJoshua Ledet of Westlake, Louisiana, performs "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" on American Idol Top 4 Vs. Juliet Simms's performance on NBC's The Voice. Juliet, coached by CeeLo came in second on The Voice Tuesday night. Jermaine Paul, coached by Blake Shelton, won. His holding his wife while singing "I Can Believe I Can Fly" was very moving. Vs. James Brown's original rendition -
Rest In Peace, Daddy
27 Apr 2012 | 11:55 amI am saddened to report that my father passed away Wednesday morning. NORWOOD EDWARD ADAMS (November 9, 1920 - April 25, 2012) ADAMS Norwood Edward Adams, age 91 years, a native of Vacherie, LA, and a permanent resident of New Orleans, passed away on Wednesday, April 25, 2012. He was a World War II veteran who witnessed the eruption of Mount Vesuvius during the war in -
Black Woman Body Cake: White Privilege Swedish Style
17 Apr 2012 | 10:49 pmThis post has been syndicated at BlogHer.com where it has been updated to reflect the revelation that the artist in black face is of African descent.The National Afro-Swedish Association is demanding that Sweden's minister of culture Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth be fired for participating in an April 15th World Art Day celebration during which she ate a piece of cake. The problem is not that she ate
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Twenty Four at Heart
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Random Wednesday
16 May 2012 | 2:01 amI’ve got so much in my head right now, Is it okay if I just spill some of it out in scattered randomness? • I’m scheduled to be a panelist on Photo Talk Plus tonight at 8 p.m. Pacific time. It will be airing on VidCast Network. I hope you can watch. I’m even going to put mascara on! It should be a lot of fun. (I plan to drink wine while the show is being recorded.) • Yesterday, I watched a woman with misplaced eyebrows beat the hell out of a watermelon at Trader Joe’s. I swear, cameras should just follow me around all day and tape the reality I live… -
Summer in Southern California
15 May 2012 | 2:01 amIt suddenly feels like summer again. • My high school aged son, PR, took his last Advanced Placement exam for the year yesterday. He still has over a month of school until summer break, but the big “junior year pressure” has now lessened. (Of course, he still has prom and an SAT test ahead of him … so the high school pressure isn’t completely off.) After the AP exam yesterday, I let him play hookie from his other classes and took him out to lunch. Then we came home, just the two of us, and watched Captain America. I laughed a lot. It made for a really nice,… -
When Basil Goes Bananas
14 May 2012 | 2:01 amThis is going to be a very quick and simple post. I apologize in advance, and will try my best to do better tomorrow. I’m currently covered in basil goo. C-O-V-E-R-E-D!! (That’s what happens when you take off the top of your blender to look at the contents as it’s blending.) I guess it’s a good thing I love the smell of fresh basil? The basil I planted just a few short weeks ago has gone bonkers. I have more basil than an Italian restaurant could use in a year. (I planted TWO basil plants. Clearly one tenth of one plant would have been enough!) What’s a person… -
Mother’s Day 2012
13 May 2012 | 3:00 amWhether you are a mother, have a mother, or merely know a mother - I hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day today. -
Time For A Life Change?
12 May 2012 | 2:01 amSometimes, I kind of get the feeling life is tapping me on the shoulder trying to tell me something. For instance, When I was roaming The Huntington, these beautiful roses caught my attention. And then … I read their sign …..
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Anali's First Amendment
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Five Eleven
14 May 2012 | 12:08 amAnali's First Amendment © 2006-2012. All rights reserved.This Post’s LinkSubscribe to blog posts. Follow me on Twitter. Join me on Facebook. -
So Many Thoughts...
10 May 2012 | 1:23 amThere are so many things going through my mind dear readers. I know you are there. Taking in these words and hopefully enjoying them. Sometimes it's nice just to read without saying a word. Most times I do the same thing as I roam around the Internet. I have to remind myself. But sometimes it feels like my words are floating away into the ether...Have you listened to The Splendid Table with Lynne Rossetto Kasper? So many interesting food and cooking shows on NPR! No wonder SNL can't help but parody them with The Delicious Dish. Anyway, I noticed a section on the website called Where We Eat. -
The Restaurant Business: An Eater's Perspective
8 May 2012 | 10:41 amMy reading has been on the upswing recently. I finished these two books and really enjoyed them.Restaurant marketing reports have also captivated my attention. While I'm not a restaurateur or a marketer, it's certainly fun eating in different restaurants. And I'm always curious about and interested in how things are sold to consumers. Reading about the restaurant business gives us diners some different insights.Isn't it annoying when you Google a restaurant and cannot find a website? Or they don't list their menu on the website? Why is that? How come out of the blue a few years ago, every… -
Dinner Club: B. Smith
3 May 2012 | 10:12 amYears ago, I enjoyed watching a television show called B. Smith with Style. B. Smith always had interesting interviews, food, and lifestyle tips. Recently, I saw her on Twitter, so I took a look at her website and suggested her for our next celebrity chef meal.The website isn't the most user-friendly, but we did enjoy the dinner that we made using her recipes. I made my first Red Velvet Cake. It's surprising how little cocoa powder the recipe called for and how much red food coloring. It was the end of my bottle of red food coloring, so the cake wasn't as red as it should have been, but… -
My First Instagram
1 May 2012 | 11:17 pmAnali's First Amendment © 2006-2012. All rights reserved.This Post’s LinkSubscribe to blog posts. Follow me on Twitter. Join me on Facebook.
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Average Jane™
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Average Jane's Girls' Day Out
14 May 2012 | 7:30 amI was out of town for my niece Shay's twelfth birthday, so I decided that I would take her out to lunch and shopping so she could pick out her own gift. She stays really busy with school, soccer and lacrosse, but we managed to take advantage of an open afternoon yesterday. Of course, it was also Mother's Day, which meant that we needed to avoid restaurants that were too mom-ish. Thus, we ended up at Winstead's for burgers, onion rings and fries. I had a limeade and she got the chocolate shake. We were both stuffed. Winstead's is a Kansas City tradition and although we… -
The Colorful Neighborhood Where Average Jane Works
11 May 2012 | 10:38 amThere's an alleyway that I pass when I walk from my office to my favorite coffee shop that is always painted with a variety of interesting artwork. Yesterday I stopped to take this photo of a new character I hadn't noticed before. -
Average Jane's Bad Dog
2 May 2012 | 7:32 pmWhile my husband and I were vacationing in Nashville, we left Toby with my sister and her family. My nephew thought it was great because it gave him a snuggle buddy. The rest of the household was less thrilled with the experience. We hadn't even reached our destination yet when I received this photo with the accompanying text from my sister, "So ty ty from peeing on ur stuff." There was a winky emoticon with it, but I still felt guilty that Toby was causing problems. He settled in relatively well otherwise, except for the occasional molestation of the family's ancient… -
Average Jane Reads
27 Apr 2012 | 7:56 amMy husband tried his best to sync his schedule with mine before we left for Nashville, but that just meant that I woke up four hours earlier than he did instead of the usual eight. Fortunately, travel in the age of the Kindle (or in my case, the iPad Kindle app) means that there's no real limit to the number of books that you can take with you on vacation. Thus, I had a wonderful amount of leisure time to read on our trip and I took full advantage of it. First on the list was Bitch in a Bonnet: Reclaiming Jane Austen From the Stiffs, the Snobs, the Simps and the Saps (Volume… -
Average Jane Celebrates National Hairball Awareness Day
27 Apr 2012 | 7:21 amYes, today's the day and we're celebrating here by drawing to see who will win my cat FURminator giveaway. The first two comments were from the same person, so I ran the random number generator for entries 2 through 34: Lucky entry #8 was from Sweet Purrfections: I'm sure they can really use a good FURminating. Congratulations, kittehs! Disclosure: Prize was provided to me at no charge by FURMinator, but I will be paying for shipping to prize winner.
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Cindy La Ferle's Home Office
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Quindlen’s new book
15 May 2012 | 8:41 am“The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself.”– Anna Quindlen I was in awe of Anna Quindlen’s writing when I started reading her syndicated New York Times column, “Life in the Thirties.” Her highly personal yet carefully crafted reflections on being [...] -
A garden indoors
14 May 2012 | 9:03 amFlowers really do intoxicate me.” — Vita Sackville West Seasoned Michigan gardeners agree that mid-May is fickle — always a bit of a teaser. My neighbors and I are itching to get to the local nurseries to shop for annuals, but we know from past experience that it’s best to wait another week or so, [...] -
New chapter for Mom
10 May 2012 | 8:10 amResearch is confirming what many mothers have been discovering—that “empty nest” syndrome isn’t so empty after all.” — Naomi Barr It’s going to be a roller coaster season for a friend whose youngest child graduates from high school this month, then heads off to college in August. Working through her conflicting emotions, my friend gets [...] -
Why manners matter
7 May 2012 | 7:58 amI place a high moral value on the way people behave. I think it’s repellent to behave with anything other than courtesy in the old sense of the word – politeness of the heart, a gentleness of the spirit.” –Fran Lebowitz Drivers run us off the road and shout obscenities. Children throw tantrums in nice [...] -
Walking for the future
5 May 2012 | 12:58 pmMost of us don’t need a psychiatrist as much as a friend to be silly with.” — Robert Brault The Mad Hatters showed up in style for the 2012 “Walk for the Future” to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of South Oakland County. Doug and I are grateful to the wonderful friends who sported [...]
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Diary of a Midlife Crisis
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Self in progress
15 May 2012 | 12:24 pmThis is the beginning of a self-portrait I will be working on throughout my treatment for breast cancer. The colors in the background represent the surge of emotions running through my soul every single day. Stay tuned to see how it turns out. -
More treatment stuff
12 May 2012 | 2:53 amHere's a new update - withdrawing from school, surgery update and blessings in my life.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhd7CbAx9ZQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player -
Meandering thoughts...
7 May 2012 | 12:25 amI have so many thoughts in my head today, it's impossible to get them all straight. So here they are, in no particular order.1. There is too much information on the internet. The past couple of days, I have lost an enormous amount of time online researching and reading and basically getting buried in the incredible amount of information out there about breast cancer. Some of it is useful but some of it just scared the shit out of me. I have an appointment with my doctors on Tuesday so I'm trying to get as much info as possible so I can ask thorough questions when I see them.2. I'm so very… -
Raising money...
2 May 2012 | 1:06 amA colleague and lovely woman, Allegra, started a fundraising page for me to help me pay my bills while I go through treatment for breast cancer. If you'd like to help out, any contribution would be greatly appreciated.Give ForwardThanks. -
Treatment update video
30 Apr 2012 | 2:17 amJust posted this to YouTube so check it out.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhd7CbAx9ZQ&feature=youtube_gdata_playerTreatment, friends, etc....
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DuchessOmnium - Island to island
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Drought Orders
19 Apr 2012 | 4:38 pmIt’s raining hard. In fact, it has rained for some part of almost every day since a drought was officially declared last week in most of southern England and Wales. (Scotland is, as usual, drenched.) The Orders are typically British: complicated, detailed and humane. For example, under Drought Orders you are not allowed to use a hosepipe to fill a garden pond or water feature, unless your water feature features fish. Do not go out and buy goldfish just to beat the ban! pleaded the water company spokesman, interviewed days before the Orders came into force. The BBC journalist asked… -
Austerity
20 Jan 2012 | 7:13 amSaturday Long delayed winter has finally come, and the fire is the one chore I cannot neglect. Every few days I heave a 25 kg bag of coal from the roof, carry it the 62 ft length of the boat and drag it onto the covered section of the bow. From there I shovel up several scuttlefuls of coal a day, and, kneeling in front of the stove, pull the riddling arm, fast in and out, in and out. When the grate is clear I swap new black nuggets for the dusty, grey ash. It is my third winter on the boat and the bags feel heavier than they used to. I’m older than most of the people I know living on… -
That powerless feeling
16 Jan 2012 | 5:53 pmI arrived back on Pangolin on New Year’s Eve. I had only intended to be away for two or three days, but in the end I was gone a full week. Whenever I started to say it was time for me to go home, someone asked what was for dinner, and all eyes turned to me. It was alarmingly easy to slide back into jobs I thought I had long ago shed, and once again I found myself in charge of the total nutrition for three overgrown children and an ex husband, along with his mother and uncle, who at the last minute made the almost unheard of announcement that they were joining us for the holidays. The… -
My new urban life
21 Nov 2011 | 4:17 pmWay back last summer I started to blog about how I had a new mooring. “These days,” I wrote, “when the British Waterways inspector strides down the towpath in formal dark trousers and white short-sleeved shirt with navy epaulettes (which I guess someone in HR thought made their employees look proper nautical), I neither duck out of sight nor race out to offer him coffee and biscuits, my former alternating strategies for dealing with Pangolin’s semi-legal mooring status. Now I don’t care when I see him tapping my license number into his hand-held electronic thingy. He can… -
Warning: contains scenes of nudity
3 May 2011 | 3:08 pmI have been away — that is, I have been away from England, from my boaty home, and from my own four foot wide, lumpy, boaty bed. I left in late March, when the crocuses had already almost gone by, the daffodils were in glorious bloom, and even the odd tulip had risked opening to the young sun. I flew across the Atlantic and a few months backwards into a late winter that still lingered when it was almost May and time to think about heading home again. In five weeks I slept in seven beds. In Washington DC I was promoted to the guest bedroom. My father, 86 and frail, insisted on…
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Good & Plenty - Candelaria Silva's Blog
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Say what you mean and...
16 May 2012 | 7:29 amSay what you mean and mean what you say was one of the “snaps” my friends and I used to say when we were growing up in St. Louis. We didn’t really understand what we were saying given the ferocity of our delivery of those words but as I’ve grown, I’ve come to understand them. They’ve come to mind a lot recently as I’ve heard people, particularly politicians and reality TV characters, deny something they’ve said even when their exact words are replayed or repeated to them. “I didn’t mean that…” “What I meant was….” “My comments were taken… -
Encouragement
8 May 2012 | 9:06 pmA mother, a brother, a teacher, a spouse, a child, a coach, a stranger, a friend – any or all or other than these can be a source of encouragement. Written, spoken, whispered, bellowed, frequent or rare – words of encouragement are precious. I have received, witnessed and given encouragement to others. Allow me a few examples – My sister encouraged her friend who lived next door to aim for and go to college when they were in high school – something her friend hadn’t considered, intending instead to do a civil service job. They both became teachers and have… -
Whose turn is it to wash the dishes?
24 Apr 2012 | 6:54 amI don’t have to hunt through the trash to find the forks. I’m not a referee for “whose turn is it to wash the dishes.” You know how that goes: It’s her turn to wash dishes., child 2 says to child 1. No, it isn’t. I washed them last night. No you didn’t! Yes, I did. I have a full set of matching glasses. All my pots that had tops, still have them. None of my pots are missing. One of my morning rituals is to put away the dishes that were washed by hand, mine or my husband’s, the night before. The tea kettle is boiling or I’ve poured myself a glass of orange… -
Jump, Jump, Jump on It!
18 Apr 2012 | 8:02 amOpportunities (actual) and leads (possible) are delivered fast and furious in this age of instant communication. I am learning that I have to be as fast in my response. To hesitate, even for a day, can often mean that the opportunity that knocked has left your doorstep, your street, sometimes even your city. Knocks In the past week – two opportunities came to my inbox. One delivered by an acquaintance of some years, the other by a friend. I paused on one and even though I got the materials in (encouraged by an email exchange with the organization) I didn’t do it… -
There is always a choice
7 Apr 2012 | 7:36 amThe fact is, there is always a choice. Even if it’s a bad choice. Even if it’s something you don’t want to choose. Even if it’s a choice that scares you. We always have a choice between what we’re doing now and something else. Don’t like the life you’re living now? Choose or make another life. Don’t like the job you have? There are choices: find another job, leave the job, make the job you have more interesting or stop trying to like it and just doing it. People have made choices like: Getting a divorce or staying married (despite wanting to divorce). Abandoning their…
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Granny Sue's News and Reviews
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Going Across the Mountains: Day 2
15 May 2012 | 9:25 pmFrom my journal, May 12, 2012: It is 6:00 am in Hinton, WV. Birds have been singing for an hour, welcoming a day that has not yet dawned. A train whistle sounds somewhere downriver. Fog blankets the town, hiding the sheltering mountains that slope up and away from the mighty New, Bluestone, and Sandstone rivers. Out of my window I see the black-and-whites pull in; an officer gets out of one, punches a code and enters the city building. I wonder what mischief occurred in the night or if all was merely routine patrol in this small river town. A car clatters over the brick street; a truck… -
Going Across the Mountains, Day 1
14 May 2012 | 2:21 pmGoin' cross the mountains, oh fare ye well, Goin' cross the mountains, oh fare ye well... Lines from an old Civil War song fit our weekend journey quite well. We traveled across the mountains to the southern part of the state to the home of our friends Ron and Wendy Perrone, who operate the Three Rivers Avian Center high atop Brooks Mountain in Summers county. It's a beautiful drive, passing stunning scenery like this: and this: We wound up the gravel road to their home, passing swaths of pale blue wild foxglove. The view from their home is worth the drive: After an evening… -
Around Home
11 May 2012 | 12:12 pmIt's been a busy week: gardens, flowers, storytelling, the auction last night (stuff to show you later) but right now I'm on the road again to tell stories for Migration Celebration at Little Beaver State Park near Beckley, WV. A few pics from around home: the first one I tried to catch the knockout roses along the driveway; the second is one of my favorite flowerbeds, and the last is a (crooked) peek in the window to the fire in the fireplace. It's been cold the past few days here, and the fire felt good. We roasted our hot dogs in there instead of the firepit because it was so cold and…
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Jan's Sushi Bar
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Wasabi Cheesecake With Maguro
15 May 2012 | 8:52 amI was going to do a Random Tuesday Thoughts post, but the only random thing I could come up with was this: Darling Daughter is teaching herself to play the ukulele. If you knew Darling Daughter, you’d know how entirely appropriate that is, which is why I bought her the instrument when she expressed an interest in it. The only question left to ask is how long it will take her to learn to play Black Dog. You laugh. Anyhoo, the first “outdoor” farmer’s market of the season was last Saturday and while Jeanie, The Fabulous Goat Cheese Lady was not there (her son got… -
Raspberry Dark Chocolate Muffins
14 May 2012 | 8:44 amHappy Monday, y’all! I hope all the moms out there had a lovely day yesterday. My Mother’s Day was great; I spent it doing exactly what I wanted to be doing: cooking. Like, for 8 hours straight. I know; call me crazy but it’s what I wanted, so it’s what I did. I won’t tell you about everything I made – yet – but it included rhubarb, raisins, mustard greens, bacon, eggs, goat cheese, wasabi, macadamia nuts and coconut, just to name a few ingredients. It also included almond flour, tapioca flour, fresh raspberries and an exquisite bar of… -
The Mom Show
11 May 2012 | 7:41 amIt’s Friday and I’ve got a great big load of…nothing. Sorry, I’m just all blogged out this week. However, this week’s Spin Cycle is all about “Mom” in honor of Mother’s Day this Sunday. It’s been awhile since I posted this, so for those of you who might not know, my mother was on The David Letterman Show in the late 80s. She died of a heart attack 15 years ago at the age of 51; I wish I’d known then what I know now about healthy diet. If you want to know the story behind this video clip, click here. And have a great weekend,… -
Blackberry Barbecue Sauce
10 May 2012 | 8:34 amI’m almost embarrassed to say this, but I won the Paleo Iron Chef competition. You could have knocked me over with a feather when I saw that; I honestly did NOT expect to win. Wow. Anyhoo, today’s recipe. If you’ve been reading here any time at all, you know I love a good barbecue sauce. My go-to recipe has been the Maple Barbecue Sauce since the first time I made it – it’s just so darn good. But I had meatloaf on the brain and some wonderful, fresh blackberries in the fridge (on sale for $1 a pint – you can’t beat that with a stick) so I… -
That’s What It’s All About
9 May 2012 | 8:22 amPut your right foot in, take your right foot out, put your right foot in and shake it all about… I was so excited and relieved yesterday to post my final entry for the Paleo Iron Chef competition that I completely forgot to announce the winner of the Farmageddon giveaway. And the winner is Janet! Here’s her comment: “Here is what I will do with that movie if you pass it to me. I live in a dairy-heavy agricultural area–bereft of any who will sell it raw. We have a festival every year ’cause this town is the “Milk Center of the World”. (Hyperbole much?) I also work…
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Nanny Goats in Panties
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Occasions When Cow Bells Aren’t Good Enough
14 May 2012 | 12:00 pmWhen we entered the very flowered courtyard of the Ryde Hotel (centrally located in downtown Ryde, California), a young man handed me a Yay flag. Trivia Nugget — Ryde (population: 146) was named after a seaside town on the Isle of Wight. The Ryde Hotel lies along the Sacramento River and is known for its wedding venue-ness. Coincidentally, we were there for a wedding. A fun wedding. With Yay flags. Yay flags that waved while the groom kissed the bride. If Christopher Walken had RSVP-ed to this wedding like he should have, he would have said right then and there: “This… -
Goat Thing: Flash the Baby Goat
11 May 2012 | 4:26 pmThere’s a new kid on the block over at The Maaaaa of Pricilla. Meet Flash. Why are goat kids so dang cute? What would you say that white blotch on his side looks like? I say it’s that monster from the Bugs Bunny cartoon. Not the Tasmanian devil, but that big brown thing that chases Bugs around and at some point Bugs does his nails like a gossipy salon girl. You know, this guy (who is apparently named Gossamer) Hey, did I show you guys this pic my friend, Drew, sent me? -
Hey Someone Is Making Very Bad Things About You
4 May 2012 | 10:04 amI don’t know how many of you are on Twitter, but there are two ways to communicate with people on it. You can either tell the entire world what you’re having for lunch, or you can DM (Direct Message) someone privately what you’re having for lunch. For example, you would DM someone if you were having, say, hamsters in a red wine reduction sauce, which while good for bragging about your new Paleo-Primal diet, is not so good for that whole public image thing. And just like every privilege out there (e.g. driving, streaking, murdering, etc), plenty of other people in the world… -
Goat Thing: Sissy the Spokesgoat and a Goat Hop
1 May 2012 | 4:34 pmBeverly of Bee Haven Acres showed us her spokesgoat, Sissy: Cheeeeeeese. That pic is from the post “The Ladies in Waiting” over on the Bee Haven Acres blog. Thanks, Beverly! And it looks like you’ve just had kids! I mean, your goats had kids. The Goat Hop Orion Unleashed sent us to a goat hop (as seen on Cheezburger): Hey, while you’re here I could really use your vote for Best Local Blogger. Please click the image below to poke your chad: BEST Local Blogger -
Wine for Dummies – Story Winery
26 Apr 2012 | 9:08 pmI don’t know if you recall what happens to me when I pair wine with…well, with anything, really: From “Maybe I Just Have a Hole in My Lip“ So while I may have a drinking problem, it is coupled with the fact that I don’t know a lick about wine. I drink it. I like it. But I’m stupid when it comes to tasting it. The only thing I know about “legs” and “complex aromas” happens in the barnyard. (And stays in the barnyard.) Anyway, between my ignorance of wine and a conversation during our weekly Bull Session at Thinkhouse Collective, the…
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Out On The Stoop
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Searching for Auditory Pleasures Part 2
15 May 2012 | 11:15 pmAfter a long day at the salt mine I get to come home and look for non-skeezy and titillating podcasts. Friends, it ain't easy but somebody has to do it. I think I was flapping my jaws about some sexually repressive outrage. Next thing you know I am trying to avoid malware and bad sex writers.That might be one and the same thing. You can learn a lot by seeking out erotic podcasts. I have to be careful what I listen to because it could wind up in a dream. I got plenty enough action. So much so I have a hard time waking up. Unless I am hanging on a cliff or something. You don't want to be… -
Discovering The Little Death Podcast
11 May 2012 | 9:21 pmThe crickets have stopped for the night. Only a strangler or two put out last call. I am in-between sleep and being awake so I reach for my music player for something to put me back to sleep.I'm looking for something different. I came to this podcast a little late but I'm intrigued with a murder mystery set in a future with different rules and beings.I place the ear bud in and I am taken to the Sextel 69.In honor of National Masturbation Month 2012 I'm seeking out female friendly erotic podcasts. This one is more literary story than wham bam and that is just the way I like it.Sometimes.This… -
You Are Still A Young Man - Idiot!
27 Apr 2012 | 8:36 pmI have to straddle a line between retaliation and just let it pass. I haven't told you the story yet. There is always a story. It is not apocryphal. It is tough out there in the brick and mortar world.I was on the train. Young man and his friend enter the car as they start talking about girls. I have dubbed him Dumbstruck and his sidekick, Goofy.So Dumbstruck was yacking on how he could not find any chicks. It was too early and the girls were not liquored up yet. It was around 5pm so I could kinda see his dilemma. It was all I could do not to want to hit Dumbstruck upside the head. -
Lusting Tempos for National Poetry Month
20 Apr 2012 | 9:23 pmIt is National Poetry Month. I don't have to tell regular readers what May is but stock up on the lube just in case. Replace your worn out electronics and for your podcastical dilatation you might want to visit Erotica al la Carte.It is Friday and it has been a long day. Need something to take the blah out of it. This poem is from Victoria McColley who has a blog at www.poetryauthoress.com.I don't have anything profound to say. I have been drained by the week and I am looking forward to the L.A. Times Festival of Books so I can walk among the words and the people that carry them.It is a pain… -
Programming School Dropout and Redemption
8 Apr 2012 | 11:45 amI've been avoiding telling folks this but it is time to come clean and start again. I am the beauty school dropout in Grease.I hate quitting anything. Really, I can be guilty of hanging on for dear life until I get it done. Well, life snuck up on me and went booger-booger.Strike 1. I was doing okay. I wrote my first program and thought my homework was done. What I failed to realize was there were a whole bunch of lessons underneath the first one. I catch that mistake two days before the first quiz and try to cram it down.You can't do that with an intro Python programing class. I tried but it…
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SEASONALITY: A Common Sense Approach To Living The Good Life
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LAST TIME I SAW PARIS: PLAYING WITH PARCHMENT
16 May 2012 | 8:17 amRight around this same time last year, we were packing up to head out on that long-awaited trip to Paris and southern France. You might recall from my post here, that one of my favorite things about France was all the little flower shops, whose goods spilled out onto the sidewalks everywhere you looked. So, when I discovered that my latest class assignment was learning how to make buckets of coneflowers out of baker's parchment, well, my mind couldn't help but wander back to those flower stalls in France.To make the flower petals, we took a sheet of parchment and smeared on several different… -
ALAS, THEY ALWAYS GROW UP!
15 May 2012 | 2:46 pmMy favorite little neighbor isn't quite so little anymore.Above you see him as he was just a month or two ago, when the bluebonnets were in full bloom, and I had just met him. So stinkin' cute, and FWUFFY!Here's what he looks like now -- still stinkin' cute, but not nearly so fluffy, I'm afraid. Our babies, they grow up fast, don't they? -
COLOR MAD MONDAY: PALETTE DU JOUR
14 May 2012 | 6:56 amI had a simple assignment this weekend: take one sheet of paper, and dab upon it the colors that are rocking your world right now. Then assign each color a word, perhaps one that describes how it makes you feel -- kind of like one of those Rorschach ink blot tests. Funny, isn't it, how "simple" so often gets way out of hand? This time, it started with me flipping idly through a few magazines, to see which colors jumped out at me. As you well know, our tastes often change, so I wanted to nail down exactly where mine were focussed at this particular moment in time.I tore a few of those magazine… -
KEEPIN' IT REAL: TO WOMEN WHO GALOSH
13 May 2012 | 6:56 amAs soon as I began my latest art class assignment, I was immediately reminded of this post about "farm girl fashion" over on my very favorite blog -- the one that has kept me coming back on a near daily basis since, well, since I first discovered blogs -- Soule Mama.Image from www.soulemama.comThe assignment was just to create this precious girl in layered skirts and aprons (pieced from fabric and paper), and place beside her something we are passionate about, whether it be sheep, art supplies, gardening tools, or even cupcakes! Well, I'm not passionate about sheep, but my instructor Junelle… -
MY WILDLY ABANDONED BED: LATE SPRING
12 May 2012 | 8:41 amNot only have I been taking a class called the Art of Wild Abandonment, I've also created my first ever Wildly Abandoned flower bed! Normally, I'm all about design and composition -- about getting the perfect combination of colors, heights and textures. However, after planting everything we had purchased at the nurseries last fall and early spring, I still had this one bed that was mostly empty, and I was feelin' kinda lazy. Plus, it's the bed that the deer have easiest access to, so I didn't want to put a whole lot of money into it. The only things in it were three rudbeckias and that amazon…
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Telling It Like It Is
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Lending Money to Adult Children: Is it Asking for Trouble?
16 May 2012 | 8:26 amLending Money to Adult Children: Is it Asking for Trouble? Money is the world’s way of measuring the worth of a person and although learning how to manage it is extremely important, many go through life at its mercy. It’s not just paper currency – it wields tremendous psychological and emotional power. With that in mind, lending money to adult children can be risky. Money Management 101 is not taught in school and money is something that can damage relationships between family members. Loaning it can result in either faithful reimbursement or financial disaster. Whether or not a parent… -
10 Uses for Lavender
11 May 2012 | 8:09 amWhile lavender has a scent many find appealing, it is not just for use in potpourri. There are many other uses for lavender including relieving pain, soothing irritated skin and flavoring food and beverages. Lavender flowers can be purchased at flower shops and some grocery stores, or you can choose to grow the plant in your garden at home. Lavender oil, which is most commonly used for medicinal and aromatic purposes, can be purchased at health food stores. Check out our favorite 10 uses for lavender oil: 1. Help you fall asleep. Lavender’s ability to sooth and relax people means it can… -
The Many Health Benefits of Coconut Oil
3 May 2012 | 6:15 amCoconut oil is a natural source of vitamins and minerals for your body. The benefits of coconut oil can be gained not only by eating the oil, but also by using it directly on your hair and skin. Medicinal Benefits of Coconut Oil Coconut oil has been used as a traditional remedy for constipation, stomach upsets, kidney stones, and nausea for many hundreds of years by people in the tropics. In recent years, scientists have been investigating some of the medicinal claims that have been made about coconut oil, and their studies have produced some very promising findings. The high levels of lauric… -
Where to Have Baby – Natural Childbirth Options and Birthing Plans
30 Apr 2012 | 6:00 amGiving birth naturally can be quite an achievement. Natural childbirth is where a pregnant woman experiences labor and delivery without the use of pain medication. A woman’s body is pre-programmed to handle childbirth and the labor pains that come along with it. If women knew all of their options when it comes to giving birth naturally, then maybe the rates at which women receive epidurals would go down. If women were properly educated on the facts of natural childbirth, how they might feel after birth, how their recovery would go, maybe fewer women would be afraid to take this route and… -
Health Benefits of Coconut Oil
23 Apr 2012 | 5:31 pmMy introduction into the health benefits of coconut oil came while researching dental procedures and treatments while spending time observing how patients are cared for in a holistic dental office. Seeing many books on display in the doctor’s private office and reception area dealing with fluoride, mercury amalgam fillings, root canals, implants etc was not surprising. What did surprise me was the numerous books about coconut oil on display. My first reaction to seeing coconut oil related books was, What in the world does coconut oil have to do with the health and well-being of teeth and…
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Baby Boomer Talk & other stuff
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Blueberries Are Good for Soccer
12 May 2012 | 7:09 pmOn the way to my grandson's soccer game today, I asked my grandson if he wanted some of the blueberries I was eating. Of course, he said yes and then proceeded to eat them all. After scoring the first goal of the game, he proudly told his coach that his grandma told him if he ate the blueberries, it would make him strong enough to kick some goals. Yes, I did say that and he listened. One of the things I love about young children is how trusting they are. That's why it is so important that we, as adults, give them the love and resources needed in order to help them grow up to be happy and… -
Grandma Wears a Hoodie Too
7 Apr 2012 | 2:54 pmThe other day I had to stop and think twice before I left for my regular visit to the gym. You see, it was a little chilly outside and I reached for my green jacket---which just happens to be a Hoodie. Of course, Hoodies are in the news these days following the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. I put the Hoodie on, looked at myself in the mirror and thought, "What if I walked down the street in my neighborhood---would my white neighbors become frightened and call the police or would I discover we had our own version of a neighborhood watch captain who might become trigger happy?"… -
The Lengths We Go to to Protect Our Grown Children
1 Apr 2012 | 3:25 pmIt is a parent's job to keep their children out of harm's way---but there is such a thing as over-protection and cover-up.One might argue that is the case when it comes to 64-year-old Robert Zimmerman and his 28-year-old son George. We all know George as the pistol-packing self-appointed neighborhood watch volunteer who fatally shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on February 26 in Sanford, FL. We all know Martin was unarmed and only carrying a bag of skittles and an iced tea.A month after the shooting, Robert Zimmerman has finally spoken out in defense of his son. Why it took so long is anybody's… -
Trayvon Martin Could Be My Grandson
18 Mar 2012 | 11:00 amAfter death threats and an avalanche of hate mail, the man who shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on February 26 has packed up his belongings and moved away to an unknown location. So how does that happen? How does George Zimmerman get to receive a pass for shooting the unarmed teen who was just walking home from a convenience store with some skittles and an iced tea? How come the police believe Zimmerman's story that he was defending himself when he was the one who got out of his vehicle in pursuit of Trayvon and then pulled a weapon as the young man screamed for his life? Zimmerman… -
Have You Had the Talk With Your Spouse Yet
5 Mar 2012 | 5:34 pmFor many couples, talking about death is difficult. Nobody likes to think about dying. It's scary to think the person you're growing old with will no longer be around someday.The other day my husband said, "I can't imagine my life without you. That's why I'm going to die first." Of course, his comment shocked me and I wasn't sure how to respond. Trying to lighten the mood, I said, "No--I need to go first because I know you will be able to re-group a whole lot better than I would." Then, jokingly, I suggested we die together.That brief conversation got me to do some serious thinking. How would…
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BOOMER WORLD
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Nearly Half of Baby Boomers May Die Without a Will
3 May 2012 | 9:03 pmRemember that old saying: "Up the creek without a paddle." Well, it appears some baby boomers may be swimming in the deep end of the pool when it comes to leaving a last Will and Testament. According to RocketLawyer.com, nearly half of Americans are taking a big risk with their family's future by not having a Will. When it comes to protecting digital assets (Facebook account, online photos, passwords), 63 percent of respondents say they don't know what happens to their digital assets when they die.Sixty-one percent say they don't believe its important to provide for a pet in a Will.If you die… -
Baby Boomers Restaurant Closes Its Doors But Needs No Bailout
30 Apr 2012 | 8:05 pmAfter more than seven years in business, the restaurant in Des Moines, IA made famous by President Barack Obama has officially closed its doors. The restaurant, known as Baby Boomers, became a huge hit with the community and the nation after candidate Barrack Obama named their chocolate chip cookies his favorite during his first presidential campaign. He even asked for them in Iowa City during a campaign stop last week.The owner says if it wasn't for Barack Obama, he probably would've closed up shop a long time ago. He said the President and First Family boosted business at Baby Boomers more… -
Baby Boomers Being Bullied in the Workplace
10 Apr 2012 | 5:13 pmAccording to a recent article by AARP.org, more and more employees over the age of 50 are being bullied in the workplace. Taunts like “stupid old woman,” “too old to keep up,” and “You should just retire,” are being hurled at by bosses, co-workers and even customers.Just how bad is it? A 2011 survey by CareerBuilder found that 29 percent of workers age 55 and older said they’d been bullied on the job, compared with 25 percent for the 35-44 group.Think about your own behavior. When was the last time you complained about how slow someone "older" was when it came to helping you?The… -
How to Cure an Aging Baby Boomer Voice
30 Mar 2012 | 5:43 pmCosmetic surgery has allowed some baby boomers to turn back the aging clock. Now there's apparently a treatment that will keep your voice from aging.An increasing number of patients are seeking help from the University of North Carolina Voice Center and other medical facilities. Dr. Robert Buckmire, a UNC otolaryngologist says a person recorded at age 30 and again at age 70 will sound noticeably different because of the diminished bulk of the vocal cords. Lung capacity also tends to diminish with passing years, leading to a weaker voice. Sometimes a singer or speaker will produce a breathy… -
Baby Boomers Needed for Migraine Study
2 Mar 2012 | 2:03 pmIf you're one of those people who suffer from migrane headaches, you may be interested in participating in an online study that may (or may not) give you some relief.Quincy Bioscience is now enrolling participants in a migraine trial to evaluate a safe and natural supplement. There is no cost to participate and no travel is required. All participation is completed online.Call 877 359-6197 to learn more. The Online Migraine Trial is a double-blind, placebo-controlled study that is conducted online using migraine assessment surveys. All study supplies are shipped directly to participants. The…
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midlifeandbeyond
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midlifeandbeyond
15 May 2012 | 4:05 ammidlifeandbeyond
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BoomerCafé ... it's your place
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Baby boomers and the time of experiencing loss
15 May 2012 | 9:52 amMaybe every generation goes through this time of life but we at BoomerCafé have noticed that many of us are thinking about and sharing stories of our own vulnerability and the passing of loved ones. Wendy Reichental, a regular BoomerCafé contributor, has written about losing her mother, and now offers this story that grief is a journey. Some people gave me one year to grieve. They saw grief as a straight line, with a beginning, middle, and end. But it is not linear. It is disjointed. ~ Ann Hood, Comfort: A Journey Through Grief Wendy with her mother. Grief is never linear, like my… -
Finding Passion in Midlife and Beyond
7 May 2012 | 11:29 pmEvery once in a while, we hear from a boomer who has figured out — or is figuring out — how to thrive at this stage of our lives. For this edition of BoomerCafé, that would be Nancy Anderson, author of Work with Passion in Midlife and Beyond. She has adapted a short section from her book for BoomerCafé; it’s about Finding Passion in Midlife and Beyond. Nancy Anderson After reading hundreds of boomers’ autobiographies over the past three decades, I’ve concluded that life is a story that needs to be rewritten in midlife to reflect the desires of the authentic… -
Bad news for baby boomers: Celebrations are getting smaller
5 May 2012 | 3:00 amWe boomers like to think we invented the best ways to party. But our parents probably thought the same, and without question our kids think they’re the ones who really know what a good party means. The fact is, the way we party has changed over the years. Jean Bansemer, who is associated with the party supplies and decoration website Shindigz.com, tells of a survey Shindigz did, simply taking a survey and asking baby boomers, how do you party today? The first thing we learned it: The Party Is Often Smaller. Boomers prefer staying home and socializing with about four to eight… -
Jenny Paschall: I’m bored with your illness!
2 May 2012 | 11:01 pmOkay, admit it: as baby boomers, we have aches and pains today that hadn’t taken over our lives ten, twenty, thirty years ago. Boomer writer Jenny Paschall might have as many as anybody, but what tires her is, hearing about it. She says, I’m bored with your illness! Jenny Paschall It goes without saying that as Baby Boomers, we get aches and pains. Sometimes we visit a doctor and probably most of us take some prescription meds to control cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc etc. But here’s my question: do we have to talk about our illnesses? Endlessly?? Why do people… -
Baby Boomers: Hottest new entrepreneurs
1 May 2012 | 2:43 pmAl "baby boomer" Gore at work. Rather than taking a bow with traditional retirement, there’s a trend showing many baby boomers today are forging fulfilling encore careers with independent work. Today, there are five million boomer independents in the U.S., and it has never been easier for these senior professionals to design a second solo act, according to research by MBO Partners. Facilitated by the rise of online “cloud” and mobile computing and social networking, boomers are easily able to leverage their intellectual and social capital to start solo…
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Baby Boomer Going Like Sixty
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The Little Girls Like Me
15 May 2012 | 11:26 amFor some reason, the little girls like me. To a grumpy old man (which I CAN be) this can be rather off-putting. It’s been a long long time since our girls were this little. But we made some pretty good memories at the time and I think I made some good memories with the two latest young girls in my life. A while back Abby came to visit from Tennessee along with her Granny who is raising her. Abby is eight. We had a great time while she was here, mostly because she isn’t your normal 8 year old girl. (Is there such a thing?) Abby didn’t bug me, she didn’t whine, she… -
Geeky Animated Gif Monday – Flying Finger
14 May 2012 | 12:53 amYou might like these too...Geeky Animated Gif Monday – Cop’s Behind YaGeeky Animated Gif Monday – Flapping FlyerGeeky Animated Gif Monday – Smiling BaconGeeky Animated Gif Monday – Shove Off TurtleGeeky Animated Gif Monday – Puppy FlipPowered by Contextual Related Posts -
Bingo Costa Rica Style – Esta Buena!
13 May 2012 | 1:31 pmAs Bulbous pointed out: We are not old enough to be regulars on the bingo circuit. But one evening we passed by the school as the bingo game was breaking up and we commented that it might be kind of fun to do bingo. We got the chance Saturday afternoon as Pat invited us to go with them to the church in their neighborhood to play bingo. Since Pat is fluent, she promised she would help with the numbers. Did you know Bingo callers have their own lingo when it comes to numbers? I think I knew that from U.S. bingo games… or maybe something I’ve seen on the big number program on the… -
How to Pick an Irwin Mango
11 May 2012 | 4:16 pmOK, OK, first you lean a ladder up against an Irwin Mango tree… what I should have said was how to “choose” an Irwin Mango after somebody has already picked them. I wasn’t a mango fan until I was introduced by Clara to the Irwin Mango. They have a grove of mango trees including a few Irwin Mango trees just down the road from us. When they had us for breakfast, Clara insisted we try their Irwin Mangos. Oh, Yum. Yum. They are delish and I am officially hooked on them. They are in season now and four mangos weigh about two kilos which sell for a “mil” (one… -
IN spits out Lugar; KY jells behind McConnell
9 May 2012 | 9:49 amIndiana unceremoniously “retired” one of the few statesmen left in the U.S. Senate, Richard Lugar, when they decided that the Tea Party candidate had a better chance of retaining the office against the dems in the election. Lugar had served 36 years in the Senate and was highly regarded by Washington pundits as a sensible compromiser and political centrist especially when it came to matters of foreign policy. for this Hoosier frequently endeavored to forge bipartisan coalitions to advance national security priorities. But the dopes in Indiana decided that what Washington needs is…
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Family Relationships
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Virtual Book Tour: Don't Carve the Turkey with a Chainsaw
16 May 2012 | 2:24 amToday we welcome Roger Frame, Ph.D. to our blog to chat with us and answer questions about his new book, Don’t Carve the Turkey with a Chainsaw: Resolving Family Conflict. Dr. Frame, known as The Conflict Whisperer®, consults and conducts workshops across the United States on interpersonal conflict management issues. You’re sure to enjoy the book, filled with his quick humor and insightful techniques, just as we have. So let's get started. Roger, how did you come to write this book, Don’t Carve the Turkey with a Chainsaw: Resolving Family Conflict? Roger: When I completed my Ph.D., I… -
Facebook and Mothering - What's the Connection?
14 May 2012 | 3:05 amWith the sweet smell of Mother's Day flowers beginning to wane but the chocolates well ensconced on our hips, let's talk about our relationships with family and friends - and why they're so important to us. This week when Facebook goes public, its worth is expected to be about 100 billion dollars. Yep, that's not a typo, it's $100 billion, if the IPO shares are priced around $35 each. With over 900 million active users, how has Facebook achieved such a record-breaking success in less than 10 years? It's built its success on the assumption that we all want to connect with family and… -
You, Your Difficult Mother and Mother’s Day
9 May 2012 | 2:05 amPerhaps you're fed up with trying to win your mom’s approval and be accepted for who you are. Or you’re tired of feeling guilty and blaming yourself for the problems. Although we all want an emotionally healthy relationship with our mother, sometimes it’s not possible. Instead of trying to placate mom, understand that the anger is her problem and it’s not your responsibility to manage her emotions. Silence your self doubt. It’s not uncommon for insecurity to be the legacy of a difficult mother. Challenge your negative internal scripts and put them to rest. Value those who listen as… -
Difficult Moms and Mother's Day
7 May 2012 | 9:49 amWhen we’re young, it’s mom who gratifies our needs and takes care of our hurts. But she is also the first one to impose control and set limits. As we grow, memories of this primary and most powerful relationship are imprinted deep in our psyche. It’s through attachments that we eventually learn who we are and what we feel. Some moms don’t acknowledge their kids as independent and set up coercive relationships with conditions on love and approval. In all stages of life, children with difficult mothers struggle with self doubt and worry others will disapprove of them. Even though the… -
Pledge to End Bullying Now
2 May 2012 | 11:49 amThe emotionally charged issue of childhood bullying is back in the forefront of public attention after the opening of the documentary, Bully, earlier this month. According to the Department for Health and Human Services, between1/5 and 1/3 of teens report being bullied within any given year. While kids may often be aggressive to one another, to qualify as bullying, this behavior requires specific qualities: it is repetitive and uses an imbalance of power with intent to cause harm. Some parents of children being bullied may feel powerless to stop the harassment and protect their children,…
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RetirementRevised
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LGBT couples can’t bank Obama’s blessings yet
15 May 2012 | 2:06 pmWhen President Obama embraced same-sex marriage last week, he tried to frame it as an issue for the states to resolve. But federal laws and policies are very much front and center in the battle for a level financial playing field for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans – especially seniors. And the Obama [...] Related posts:LGBT caregiving portal launchesRetirement planning for gay and lesbian couplesObama’s DOMA decision points to yawning gap in LGBT retirement benefits -
Five ways to change your retirement math
11 May 2012 | 8:51 amWe’ve all seen the studies – one seems to land on my desk once or twice a week. “Americans are living longer.” “Fewer have defined benefit pensions.” “The value of Social Security is shrinking.” “Boomers don’t have enough money to retire comfortably.” “A retirement crisis is looming.” Just a couple recent data points: –Working American [...] Related posts:Number One worry: cost of health care in retirementCan you adapt to change as you age?Five ways to make 401(k) plans more like pensions -
Why new online Social Security statement doesn’t cut it
10 May 2012 | 3:11 pmImagine getting the following notice in the mail from your life insurance carrier: “Dear Customer: Due to the difficult business climate, we no longer will be mailing out a regular statement on your account as a cost-saving measure. We do expect you to continue paying your premiums, so please log on to our website to [...] Related posts:Social Security to stop mailing annual benefits statementsThe other Social Security battle: The SSA budgetSocial Security suspends mailing of critical annual statements -
Uncle Sam gives workplace Roths a big push
8 May 2012 | 10:51 pmRoth workplace accounts, which have grown more popular in recent years, are about to get a shot in the arm from Uncle Sam. This week the federal government started rolling out a Roth option to 3.3 million employees who participate in its main retirement program. Unlike tax-deferred retirement accounts, Roth contributions are made with after-tax [...] Related posts:Workplace Roth plans slow to take offNew law gives a boost to surging workplace Roth accountsReader mailbag: Allocations, Social Security taxes and Roths -
Should Ford retirees take a lump sum buyout?
3 May 2012 | 2:22 pmFord Motor Company is making an offer it hopes 90,000 former employees can’t refuse: a lump sum buyout of their pensions. The auto giant plans to offer a voluntary buyout of defined benefit pensions to salaried retirees and former employees, with payouts to start later this year. Although Ford hasn’t revealed the exact terms of [...] Related posts:Why lump sum pension payouts are a bad deal for most retireesWorried governmental retirees wonder: traditional pension or lump sum?Five factors to consider if you get a job buyout offer
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Feed the Beauty
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Celestial Cartography
11 May 2012 | 10:54 am“For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.” ~Vincent Van Gogh Celestial Cartography from the Harmonia Macrocosmica by Andreas Cellarius, 1661 Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Andreas Cellarius, antique maps, Celestial cartography, Harmonia Macrocosmica, Ptolemic universe -
good morning fresh sap of ideas
16 Apr 2012 | 11:54 am“I have enjoyed greatly the second blooming that comes when you finish the life of the emotions and of personal relations; and suddenly find-at the age of fifty, say- that a whole new life has opened before you, filled you with things you can think about, study, or read about…It is as if a fresh [...] -
The Three Pearls from ‘Feed the Beauty®White Rose’
12 Apr 2012 | 12:30 pmFiled under: FTB Soul, Sophie Lumen art Tagged: Beauty is an inside job by Sophie Lumen, Feed the Beauty, Feed the Beauty®White Rose, inner beauty, Soul quotes, The Three Pearls by Sophie Lumen -
Technology Feeds the Beauty in “Alive Inside” – Watch it to the end to hear Henry sing.
9 Apr 2012 | 8:33 pm‘”Alive Inside” is a documentary that studies the effects of music therapy on the elderly, and examines the quality of life of nursing home patients, especially for those who suffer from degenerative diseases. Social worker Dan Cohen, along with neurologist Oliver Sacks, author of “Musicophilia,” describe the way that patients “awaken” when music unlocks memories.” [...] -
Agelessness
26 Mar 2012 | 1:36 pmbackground-Mixed media/acrylic on recycled wood by Sophie Lumen Filed under: Art of Aging, FTB Soul, Sophie Lumen art Tagged: Beauty is an inside job by Sophie Lumen, Feed the Beauty, inner beauty, Sophie Lumen art
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Funeral Blog | iMortuary.com
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Choosing a Casket
10 May 2012 | 1:27 pmOne of the first decisions you’ll make if you opted for traditional burial as part of your funeral planning efforts is which casket you’d like. Some funeral homes offer burial packages, and you choose a casket from a select number of options in that package. Read more on Choosing a Casket… -
Choosing a Cemetery Plot: A Checklist
8 May 2012 | 1:44 pmOne of the most important decisions you’ll make while funeral planning is which cemetery plot to choose. Although it is possible to move buried or cremated remains after they have been interred, it is a very expensive and lengthy process. The final resting place you select should reflect the ideal location for this and future generations. Read more on Choosing a Cemetery Plot: A Checklist… -
Working with Hospice to Plan a Funeral
2 May 2012 | 10:29 pmMost people associate hospice with issues related to end-of-life care, not funeral planning. After all, hospice is supposed to be about coping with terminal illness as a family and enjoying whatever time is left together. Read more on Working with Hospice to Plan a Funeral… Incoming search terms:communication between cemetaries and funeral homes -
Writing a Letter of Last Instructions
30 Apr 2012 | 10:13 pmThere are many different types of official arrangements for funeral planning and other end-of-life issues. From wills and living trusts to funeral insurance, the right amount of preparation can leave a clear and easy path for the loved ones you leave behind. Read more on Writing a Letter of Last Instructions… Incoming search terms:draft void funeral claim letterletter of last instructionswriting letter for memorial leave -
Writing an Ethical Will
27 Apr 2012 | 9:59 pmEthical wills are one of the oldest funeral planning tools in existence—even though they have a lot less to do with funerals and a lot more to do with leaving a legacy behind. Historically popular in the Jewish culture as a way to pass ethical values from one generation to the next, ethical wills are now being adopted by a large percentage of the population, across generations and religions. In fact, the American Bar Association recommends writing an ethical will as an addendum to traditional estate planning. Read more on Writing an Ethical Will…
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Baby Boomer Talk Online
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The Prince of Fools
21 Apr 2012 | 9:11 amBlog post by senior editor Boomer54 Mark. Some people have the vocabulary to sum up things in a way that you can quickly understand them.This quote came from the Czech Republic. Someone over there has it figured out. It was translated into English from an article in the Prague newspaper, Prager Zeitungon. “The danger to [...] Related posts: Top 3 April Fools’ Day Ideas From Around The Web Your Inspirational Quote Saturday April 2 2011 Your Inspirational Quote Tuesday February 22 2011 -
11 Ways To Slash Your Gasoline Bill
10 Mar 2012 | 9:36 amGas prices are on track to break all previous price records in 2012. The impact on small businesses and individuals will be significant because of the many transportation needs that arise each and everyday. Certain actions can be taken to reduce unnecessary costs to trim wasteful spending from the monthly expenses. Creative planning will reduce [...] Related posts: 3 Best Tips On How To Save Money On Gas For This Summer 9 Ways to Reduce Stress by Simplifying Your Style – By Brad Paul 3 Ways of Putting “1 Billion” In Perspective -
4 Life Saving Secrets About Your Cell Phone
3 Mar 2012 | 10:55 amThis is a guest post by Brenda Martinson a professional organizer in San Diego. Below are 4 ways your cell phone can be a life saver. 1. Emergency Number Worldwide The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobile is 112. If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile network and there is an [...] Related posts: Health Warning: Can a Cell Phone Carried Regularly in Your Pocket Damage Your _____? Five Unique Cheap Graduation Gifts Under $10 Your Inspirational Quote Saturday March 5 2011 -
4 Classic Super Bowl Commercials That Will Make You Smile
6 Feb 2012 | 8:07 amPlease click here to view 4 of my favorite Super Bowl Commercials including last year's with the kid Darth Vader. Related posts: Joe Namath Farrah Fawcett Classic 1973 Super Bowl Commercial Your Inspirational Quote Wednesday February 2 2011 Your Inspirational Quote Tuesday February 8 2011 -
How To Make Your New Year’s Resolutions a Reality
4 Jan 2012 | 6:33 pmLike most Americans, by February, your resolve is waning, and by May you don’t even remember resolutions. Then, on Dec. 31, you berate yourself. Related posts: Boomers~How To Make Money Working At Home In 3 Simple Steps Baby Boomers 6 Simple Powerful Ways to Achieve Your Goals The Professor of Harsh Reality
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ThirdAge
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Facebook Boosts Size of IPO by 25 percent
16 May 2012 | 8:49 pmFacebook says 25 percent more shares will be sold as investors clamor for shares in the year's hottest stock offering. Facebook said in a regulatory filing Wednesday that about 421 million shares will be sold, up from 337 million under its earlier plans. The increased size signifies heavy investor demand for the shares. The news comes a day after Facebook raised the expected price range for the stock to a range of $34 to $38 per share, up from its previous range of $28 to $35. ... -
Manhunt Underway for Groom of Slain Bride
16 May 2012 | 11:11 amA groom whose bride had sought to keep their impending wedding secret from most of her family is wanted on a murder charge after his new wife was found stabbed to death in a bathtub in her suburban Chicago home just hours after the ceremony, still dressed in silver sequins. A manhunt is under way for 30-year-old Arnoldo Jimenez, who is accused of first-degree murder in the slaying of Estrella Carrera, 26, shortly after they celebrated their marriage on Friday with friends, said police in the Chicago suburb of Burbank.... -
Report: Zimmerman Had Broken Nose
16 May 2012 | 11:07 amGeorge Zimmerman had a broken nose, two black eyes and two cuts on his scalp the day after he killed Florida teen Trayvon Martin, medical records indicate. He also had a minor back injury, the medical records obtained by ABC News indicate. Zimmerman, 28, told police he shot unarmed 17-year-old Martin in self-defense Feb. 26 after the teen attacked him. Martin had been walking through a Sanford, Fla., gated community just north of Orlando after stopping at a convenience store, police said.... -
Those with Dementia Apt to Die at Home
16 May 2012 | 11:05 amPeople with dementia are more likely to live in their family's home than in a nursing home, U.S. researchers said. Dr. Christopher Callahan of Indiana University School of Medicine, who is also Regenstrief Institute investigator, said the finding challenges the commonly held view that most individuals with dementia in the United States eventually move to nursing homes and die there.... -
Ellen Degeneres Wins Top Humor Prize In U.S.
16 May 2012 | 6:33 amEllen DeGeneres, who broke ground in 1997 as the first lead character on prime-time TV to reveal she was gay, is winning the nation's top humor prize. The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced Tuesday that DeGeneres will receive the 15th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. She will be honored Oct. 22 with a lineup of star performers in a tribute show that will be recorded for broadcast at a later date....
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Michael Wood, CSCS
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Watch Weight of a Nation Tonight
14 May 2012 | 2:12 pmThe HBO series Weight of a Nation is on tonight at 8 PM EST - the first two parts can be seen tonight with parts 3 and 4 on Tuesday. -
Not Just Another Mother's Day
4 May 2012 | 7:34 amMother's Day, which is on Sunday, May 13 this year, is also the kickoff for National Women's Health Week. This is a week-long effort to promote women's health across the United States, and to increase women's awareness of what they do to take care of themselves. Many organizations including businesses, communities, medical centers and government institutions are putting on programs and ad -
Are GMO's Hidden in the Food You Eat?
27 Apr 2012 | 6:51 amThere has been some backlash recently of a certain "healthy" cereal that is considered one of the better breakfast options but now may contain genetically modified organism or GMO's in the whole grains of this cereal. The Cornucopia Institute made some pretty hefty claims this week in a press release that I had sent to me about the cereal in question (that I actually eat as well). It looks -
Movie Review: Vegucated
22 Apr 2012 | 10:04 amI had the opportunity this weekend to watch an educational and inspiring movie that was sent to me to review called Vegucated. It is a movie that everyone should watch not just from an educational perspective of the benefits of eating plant-based foods but to also witness the inhumane side of the slaughter of the animal products that we eat on a daily basis. The movie also has appearances by T -
Be More Aware of Daily Sugar Consumption
20 Apr 2012 | 7:53 amA relatively easy nutrition tip that you can start adding to your fitness routine is to monitor your daily sugar consumption. Sugar can come in two forms - natural and added. Natural sugar like fructose can be found in fruits and there is of course sugar in the milk you drink. What I'm talking about is keeping a watchful eye on added sugar that is found in just about everything else that you
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Boomers Next Step
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Don’t Let Misconceptions Drive You Away
2 May 2012 | 11:15 amJania Bailey shares insights on buying a franchise and how FranNet can help BoomersNextSteps.com recently interviewed Jania Bailey, FranNet’s president and COO, about franchising opportunities for Baby Boomers and how FranNet can help future franchisees reach their business goals. For 25 years, FranNet has helped people achieve their entrepreneurial dreams by matching them with the [...] -
3 Key Differences Between a Professional Bio and a Resume
14 Apr 2012 | 8:29 amAre you confused about the difference between a professional bio and a standard? If so, this article will help. We’ll look at the three key differences between the bio and the standard resume, along with some tips to keep in mind when creating them. There’s no doubt it can be confusing to understand the difference [...] -
Top 10 Don’ts for Resumes and Cover Letters
13 Apr 2012 | 8:19 amI look at all day long. In my experience I have looked at technical, sales, finance, marketing, operations, new graduate and non degree resumes. No matter what field or what a candidate is applying for I see the same common mistakes almost daily. Below are a few that I must talk about and can’t be [...] -
Employment Background Check Red Flags
12 Apr 2012 | 9:00 amPeople get for lots of reasons. It may be because of possible employment, renting an apartment or home, or even online dating. No matter what the reason, you are trying to make sure that you can trust the person and they are who they say they are. However, if you own a business and are [...] -
Jania Bailey – President/COO FranNet.com [Video]
11 Apr 2012 | 9:22 amJania Bailey is the President and COO of FranNet. FranNet is the first choice for quality franchisors and potential prospective franchisees when seeking a franchise consultant. They accomplish this goal by being the market maker for a select number of high-quality franchisors using franchise consultants in local markets. She grew FranNet from $984,000 to $9,700,000 in three [...]
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The Fearless Factor | Overcome Fear Now
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Juliana Rotich – Fearlessly Building A Map of Stories
11 May 2012 | 11:41 amJuliana Rotich: Using The Internet to Link Our Stories The modern world is a complex place, and with all of the advantages that technology bring us, all too often there is a fear that it distances us from each other and turns us into ones and zeros. Juliana Rotich has...Read Article -
[Fearless Factor] 12 Easy Steps to Increase Productivity
9 May 2012 | 11:36 amMost of us think that to get the results we want and to experience success, we need to be more productive. That is true to a degree. It’s one thing to be more productive, but unless you’re organized and know what it is you have be productive around, then you’re...Read Article -
[THE FEARLESS FACTOR] A Rocky Past Could Mean A Powerful Future
7 May 2012 | 11:35 amAccording to a review in the NY Times on a book about Helen Gurley Brown of Cosmopolitan Magazine written by Jennifer Scanlon, Helen is described as the original Carrie Bradshaw of “Sex and the City.” While she was a woman of much substance and fame, Ms. Brown had a very...Read Article -
[THE FEARLESS FACTOR] What Do Our Children Fear?
3 May 2012 | 11:30 amIn a recent survey published by Opinion Research for Habitat Heroes, 500 children between the ages of 6 and 11 were asked if they thought the Earth would still be here when they were adults. The results indicated that one-third of them feared that Earth would not be around by...Read Article -
[Fearless Factor] Be Fearless in a Culture of Fear: 5 Tips for Moving Beyond Negativity
1 May 2012 | 11:48 amWe live in a culture that is plagued with fear that is only too real when you consider the amount of violence in the world, the amount of foreclosures and layoffs, the collapse of the auto industry, and the scandals that surround our trusted advisers. The news has been negative...Read Article
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My Itchy Travel Feet
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Dining outdoors at Tohono Chul Tea Room
15 May 2012 | 3:00 amTohno Chul Tea Room, Tucson, Arizona Are you a fan of eating breakfast outdoors—especially while on a trip? There’s something decadent about lazing over a cup of coffee after a delicious meal while nature provides the entertainment. Here’s an insider’s tip: if you’re boomer travel plans include Tucson, Arizona, save a morning for breakfast at Tohono Chul Tea Room. Alan and I have enjoyed many breakfasts at the hacienda-style residence that is part of Tohono Chul Park, named one of the Great Botanical Gardens of the World by Travel + Leisure. I’m always… -
Saturday’s scene: at the end of the road in Utah
12 May 2012 | 3:00 amEnd of the road at Dead Horse Point State Park near Moab, Utah. The road through Dead Horse Point State Park, near Moab, Utah, ends at a parking lot with an overlook to the Colorado River some 2,000 feet below. It’s not only the end of the road for human visitors. Legend says that the point was also used as a natural corral for wild horses. The cowboys picked the best ones then left the other horses to die of thirst—a gruesome story for a spectacularly scenic spot in the American Southwest. On this visit, Alan and I were ending a photography workshop in Canyonlands and Arches National… -
Travel dreaming with Wildjunket Magazine
10 May 2012 | 3:00 amThe April/May edition of WildJunket Magazine. Photo courtesy WildJunket What happened to travel magazines that encouraged travelers, including boomers, to explore the wild places still left on earth? National Geographic Adventure used to be my go-to for travel inspiration, even though some of the adventures were beyond my boomer capabilities. Sadly, the magazine is no more. But there’s hope with a new kid on the magazine block. And, this one’s electronic. WildJunket Magazine, published by travelwriter Nellie Huang and her designer husband, Alberto Molero, focuses on stories about… -
Snorkeling at Moon Reef on a private excursion in Fiji
8 May 2012 | 12:00 pmOn the way to Moon Reef “We’ve booked a private cruise excursion to go snorkeling at Moon Reef when we dock in Suva, Fiji. There’s room in the minivan for two more. Would you like to go with us?” asked Randy, one of our new cruising friends on Seabourn Odyssey. Of course Alan and I said yes to an active boomer travel adventure that involves snorkeling and possible sightings of spinner dolphins, Moon Reef’s claim to fame. As our minivan traveled on the two-hour journey to Takalana Bay Retreat, it became evident why there was no Seabourn cruise excursion to Moon… -
Saturday’s scene: pull up a chair
5 May 2012 | 3:00 amCancun beach Happy Cinco de Mayo. How will you be celebrating? Alan and I like the idea of pulling up a lounge chair close to the turquoise water on a Cancun Beach. This particular beach fronts the CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort. After a day of celebrating with margaritas and guacamole, we might just splurge with a dessert of Nutella quesadillas. But will the residents of Cancun be celebrating Cinco de Mayo? Possibly not. According to a Wall Street Journal article, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated regionally in the state of Puebla, located in East-Central Mexico, to commemorate an 1862 victory…
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Remembering Who We Are -
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Soul-Making is a Lifelong Process – Let’s Get Busy!
30 Apr 2012 | 11:12 amRemembering who we are, and where we are going, is a function of the soul. We can even say that there is a process guiding the soul. This process can be thought of as soul-making, or what our life here on Earth is really for. It is how we develop and draw out the potential we are innately endowed with. Soul-making is the lifelong process of acquiring the attributes, qualities, and character needed for our eternal journey. It helps us in both this world and the next. As Marion Woodman puts it, “soul-making is allowing the eternal essence to live and experience the outer world through all the… -
Soul-Making is Connecting to Our Deepest Nature
20 Apr 2012 | 7:58 amC.G. Jung wrote: “My life is a story of the self-realization of the unconscious… I can understand myself only in the light of inner happenings. It is these that make up the singularity of my life.” He seems to be implying that at our essence, we are like all other human beings. The soul is what links us to the archetypal world. Soul-making is communicating deeply with the inner realm, being fully awake and aware as the numinous bursts forth from the unconscious, flooding our consciousness with eternal images. James Hillman sees soul-making as what happens when we evoke the emotions and… -
Soul-Making is “Learning Life by Heart”
10 Apr 2012 | 10:06 amJohn Keats asked the question, “How then are souls to be made?” He wasn’t referring to how our soul is originally created, but how it is brought into its fullness of being. He knew that the soul is a “spark” of Divine creation. The question was, “How then are these sparks which are God to have identity given them—so as ever to possess a bliss peculiar to each one’s individual existence?” Our soul is a work in progress, and this life is designed to assist it in reaching its fruition. We are placed in this physical setting, with all its contradictions and oppositions, so our… -
We Need to Know the Value of Our Own Soul
30 Mar 2012 | 8:11 amYou know the value of every article of merchandise, but if you don’t know the value of your own soul it’s all foolishness. You’ve come to know the fortunate and the inauspicious stars, but you don’t know whether you yourself are fortunate or unlucky. This, this is the essence of all sciences— that you should know who you will be when the Day of Reckoning arrives. —Rumi Is this the greatest challenge of our lives? How many of us, as Jung has asked, are really prepared for the second half of life, for old age, death, and eternity? For Rumi, this is all a very… -
Finding Our Inner Phoenix – & Rising From Our Own Ashes!
20 Mar 2012 | 10:06 amAs winter turns into spring, as nascent flower buds begin to push their way up from sleeping leaves of life, we too can remember that it is our time to emerge afresh with renewed energy for the things we are most deeply committed to. This renewal is as much a part of our perennial process as it is part of nature’s cycle. We also can – and do – arise from the ashes of our own exertion to become even more than we were. The Phoenix, the mythical bird rising from its own ashes, is but one expression of a universal archetype of renewal and rebirth, one of the most powerful symbols…
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Sandwich Generation Radio Show | Wriggling In the Middle
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Kathleen Porter on Natural Alignment
15 May 2012 | 12:10 pmKathleen Porter, author of Lasting Health: The Open Secret to Pain-Free Living and Comfortable Aging, joins us to discuss proper posture. Dr. Leonard Knell, an orthopedic surgeon, joins us as well to discuss our health. -
Jane Gross on Becoming a Caregiver
7 May 2012 | 11:18 amJane Gross, author of A Bittersweet Season: Caring for Our Aging Parents and Ourselves, joins us to discuss how we can maintain a balance while taking care of our families and ourselves. -
Dr. Steve Hodges on Children’s Potty Problems and Cheri Fraker and Laura Walbert on Picky Eaters
7 May 2012 | 11:09 amDr. Steve Hodges, author of It’s No Accident, joins us to discuss the increasing instances of potty problems with young children. Cheri Fraker and Laura Walbert, specialists on on children’s feeding disorders, join us as well to discuss ways to stop your child’s picky eating habits. -
Dr. Mache Seibel on Emergencies
23 Apr 2012 | 12:49 pmDr. Mache Seibel, author of Save Your Life: What to Do in a Medical Emergency, joins us to discuss what to do in a medical emergency, when to call 911, and symptoms of stroke. -
Alinda Tugend on Learning from Mistakes and Vernice Armour on Creating Breakthroughs
16 Apr 2012 | 10:41 amAlina Tugend, author of Better by Mistake, joins us to discuss how to identify mistakes, correct them and learn from them. Vernice Armour, author of Zero to Breakthrough, also joins us to discuss how to make goals for yourself and how to achieve them.
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Retirement: A Full-Time Job
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Inspiration and Marigolds
10 May 2012 | 11:46 amThree seemingly unrelated items: I have found someone to replace myself at my part-time consulting gig, so I should be back to full-time retirement within a few months! I have seen the trailer to The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel four times now and I really want to see the movie. I might even want to visit India. A couple of years ago my father-in-law wrote this post about traveling and learning with Road Scholar (formerly Elderhostel). One of the things I have learned about myself while working at my part-time consulting gig this last year is that it’s important for me to do things that… -
Looking Through My Camera at Retirement
3 May 2012 | 12:23 pmI went to Golden Gate Park with my photography class last weekend, and now I have 186 photos of a place I’ve been to a gazillion times but have never really noticed before. We go to New York almost every year. We used to go for a week at a time, but the last few years we’ve gone for a month. A month is great because you don’t feel compelled to race around trying to squeeze all the excitement of Manhattan into just one week. Plus you get some more time to explore places you might not go when visiting for just one week, like the outer boroughs, and the less famous parks of… -
Another Retirement Formula
13 Apr 2012 | 12:46 amAfter you are comfortable that you have enough money saved to retire, the decision as to when to actually pull the trigger really boils down to a simple formula: When (value of remuneration from job) > (value of your time) = Work When (value of your time) > (value of remuneration from job) = Retire Notice I do not not use the word money. People work for a variety of reasons, more reasons than just the money. However, since most people actually need money to live on, that reason can obscure those other reasons. I do know a few people that… -
How Safe Do You Want to Be?
2 Apr 2012 | 11:58 pmDuring this blog's recent discussion of "how much is enough" to safely retire, one of my readers correctly pointed out that if, instead of using a first-year withdrawal rate of 4% or 3% you used a 2.4% rate, you would be virtually assured of never running out of money over a really, really long retirement span. A span most people wouldn’t even live all the way through. The result over most reasonable lifespans is that you would not only die with money, you would likely die with more money than you even started with. That is indeed a very safe approach. When you aim for any of these… -
Building Your Retirement Budget
1 Apr 2012 | 1:25 pmOne quick comment before I cause any of my other readers to have a near heart attack. In all these discussions about how much money you need to accumulate to cover your retirement years, we are talking about covering the expense needs that are not already being met by your other income sources such as Social Security or pensions. Your annual “withdrawal” would only be the shortfall, or difference between your other retirement income and your expenses. So let’s talk expenses. I just saw this morning that CanadianMDinvestor has a great series about building your own retirement…
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SandwichINK
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Heavenly Resources to Encourage the Sandwich Generation From the Promises of God in the Bible!
16 May 2012 | 8:23 amLike It's been SUCH a WEEK! A week full of joy and a week full of sorrow. A week of health and a week with a bit of the tummy bug among some of my Sandwich Generation family. A week of feeling positive and a week of feeling down. As I write this, I have to smile, because that probably describes just about every week, doesn't it. Only this one seems to have been in technicolor. I was praying about what heavenly verse to choose as I drove home from babysitting grandchildren. I had just called my senior mom to see how she was feeling since she has continued to feel just a bit under the… -
Happy Senior Citizens Day! Fun Senior Gardening, Sunflower House, and Bird Feeding Update for the Sandwich Generation
15 May 2012 | 7:00 amLike Today is Senior Citizens Day. A perfect day to shine the spotlight on my senior mom along with her gardening and bird activities with her great-grandchildren. Both of these hobbies are so great for our aging parents – physically, mentally, and emotionally. And both are so rewarding – leading to lovely smiles and, often, gales of laughter. You should see my mom and grandkids howl when the squirrel jumps on the bird feeder rope and swings around and around and around. One of these days, I hope to catch a shot of it, but so far… The grandboys and great-grandma have… -
Simple Is Sweet for The Sandwich Generation Grandparents and Grandkids
14 May 2012 | 8:00 amLike As a busy grandkid babysitter, I'm always looking for easy crafts and activities for all of us boomers and seniors grandparents to share with our grandkids. Sometimes, though, things will conspire together to thwart my grand ole plans. Like yesterday. I had prepared a fun scavenger hunt for the grandchildren (more on that to come I'm still tweaking it). I had just finished setting it all up, with clues for inside and out, when my oldest grandson cheerfully announced, "It's raining really hard!" Ooops! There went that plan, along with ball tag, swinging, and kickball. We… -
Blessings and Greetings on Mother’s Day for All of Us in The Sandwich Generation
13 May 2012 | 9:22 amLike Mother's Day Blessings to you all. I wanted to share one of my senior mom's favorite hymns with you. She usually prefers the sweet old Christian hymns and Nearer My God to Thee is one of her top favorites. And sung by Tennessee Ernie Ford! That will definitely put a smile on her face and, I hope, yours as well. I pray this will be a joy-filled day for each of you in the Sandwich Generation – nearer our God no matter what our circumstances! Kaye CommentsLove Ernie. I saw him in El Monte in about 1949 at the Home ... by CharlotteRelated StoriesNeed Last Minute… -
Need Last Minute Mothers Day Ideas for Your Senior Moms?
12 May 2012 | 8:32 amLike True confession time! I'm just plain tired! It's been a LONG day of babysitting grandchildren, running to errands and therapy appointment with my senior mom, and working on summer plans – on top of waking up toooo early after toooo little sleep! Do you ever have one of those days where your brain just does NOT want to do anything except vege? Still and all, I did get quite a bit done today, including some great one-on-one Bible time with a grandkid, and some Mother's Day shopping for my mom. Sadly, I have not yet found her main present, which is to be a hydrangea plant.
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Boomerwizdom
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Off The Grid In Brussels
11 May 2012 | 11:35 pmIf countries were beautiful women, Belgium would not be Sophia Loren or Bridget Bardot. Let’s say Belgium is Heidi Klum: good stock, cosmopolitan, multi-lingual, beautiful, modern yet a woman with a complex history. That is a general description of Belgium. It is a country the size of Maryland in which at least 3 languages are spoken that has been invaded at one point in history by all of its neighbors leaving it extremely cosmopolitan. Although ruled by a constitutional monarchy, the French- speaking and Flemish- speaking portions along with the city of Brussels provincially function… -
Vanessa and Helen Williams prove “You Have No Idea”
3 May 2012 | 8:19 pmYou Have No Idea by Vanessa Williams and Helen Williams As we approach Mother’s Day, here is a suggestion for a book gift written by Vanessa Williams, the first black Miss America and her mother Helen Williams entitled, ”You Have No Idea.” In other words, we would never guess what “Really” went down in their lives. From the outside looking into the Williams family, I would guess this is probably true. We learn that Helen’s trust issues stem from her early years in the care of her abusive grandparents. These issues translated themselves in her mothering… -
Journey Secrets: Imperfect Action is the Key to Boomer Success
27 Apr 2012 | 1:52 pmMy Favorite Sofa Street Corner Amsterdam-courtesy the writer Do you sometimes find yourself going through the motions in your life? At the end of the day you feel exhausted. You take a seat on your sofa. But when you review how you spent your time that particular day, your answer might disappoint you. Most of us “feel” busy even if a large portion of our time and and energy is spent preparing, researching, discovering how best to proceed toward our goal. It’s kind of like watching people exercise on television, then feeling tired as though you exercised yourself. This… -
Off the Grid: Boomer Drive along the Great Ocean Road
17 Apr 2012 | 1:17 pmThe Twelve Apostles The Twelve Apostles Sometimes when I travel my body does not move. I was thinking of The Great Ocean road in Victoria, Australia this morning because I have itchy feet. I took these pictures a year ago. They are The Twelve Apostles, limestone stacks formed by erosion outside of of Port Campbell National Park. They are breath-taking and worthy of being considered one of the wonders of the world, wouldn’t you agree. I looked for 12 but I only counted 10. Photos of these changing formations over the past 30 years show that nature has been at work. From an… -
Some Travel Journeys are Internal: Arrest in Trayvon Martin Case
12 Apr 2012 | 9:32 amGeorge Zimmerman was arrested last night in the killing of Trayvon Martin. I gathered solace in this progress in the case. But what shall I do with the rage and disappointment I felt in the way this case was handled. The special prosecutor gave one of the best, most balanced press conferences I have ever witnessed. Trayvon Martin’s parents gave a tempered, heartfelt and eloquent response to the prosecutor’s actions. Reverend Al Sharpton admitted he’d not had faith that the system would move forward as originally promised. Viewers were reminded this was not a moment to…
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Baby Boomer Generation
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Retirement Travel: Road Trip
13 May 2012 | 12:31 pmLooking for travel ideas when you retire? Here are some enjoyable road trips for you to consider. Continue reading → -
Dental For Seniors
2 May 2012 | 7:04 pmGood oral hygiene is important to our over all health. According to an article that I read from the Mayo Clinc Continue reading → -
The Power Of Positive Small Words
20 Apr 2012 | 9:38 pmSmall words can carry power to inspire, bring hope, joy, and encouragement to others. Continue reading → -
Planning for a Successful Retirement
12 Apr 2012 | 11:39 amMost of us know how important it is to stay flexible with our retirement planning due to life situations. Things can happen that will set us on a different Continue reading →
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Aging Parents
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Where in the USA Do Men Live the Longest?
25 Apr 2012 | 1:03 amThe county with the highest life expectancy for men also has the second highest life expectancy for women. A recent study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, a health research center at the University of Washington, Seattle, surveyed county-by-county estimates of life expectancy in the U.S. between 1989 and 2009. I was happy to learn that these great longevity statistics are for my own home county, Marin, CA. Life expectancy rates for men in Marin County are 81.6 years, and for women 85.1 years. These life expectancy numbers are contrasted with the lowest in the US,… -
Has Your Aging Parent Told You to “Mind Your Own Business”?
17 Apr 2012 | 3:34 pmGetting rebuffed hurts. Have you ever tried to talk to your aging parent about finances and been told to take a hike? “Just mind your own business. I’ll be fine”. Or has your aging parent ever said, “Let’s talk about that some other time” when you bring up the subject of money and the future? Of course the some other time never comes. Some parents clam up, change the subject and otherwise put off having a conversation when their adult kids raise it. What are they afraid of? According to what I’ve learned at AgingParents.com from asking directly is… -
Should You Move In With Your Aging Parent?
9 Apr 2012 | 6:01 pmAP Victoria is at her wit’s end. After a struggle with deciding how to best care for her Dad, 86, she moved him to assisted living. She’s beginning to think it was a mistake. Over the last five months, there have been numerous errors at the assisted living facility. Dad is spending $7500 a month there. First they got his medication mixed up and created a mess. Then, they sent Dad to the wrong doctor. Finally, Dad fell and they called 911, but Victoria says the assisted living folks “forgot” to tell the paramedics about the fall. He went to the emergency room… -
A Startling Reality: Your Aging Parent Runs Out of Money
24 Mar 2012 | 1:51 am“I never thought I would live this long”. That’s what Marsha’s mom says about being 97. It’s great that she has survived a heart attack, a broken hip 2 years ago, and a brush with cancer. Aggressive medical care got her through all of those episodes. Marsha loves her mom, and is glad she’s still around. No one planned for mom being unable to afford her own living expenses. The pension left for mom, calculated 50 years ago, seemed like enough at the time. In today’s dollars, it’s peanuts. That meager pension and Social Security are all mom… -
Aging Parents, Embattled Kids: Can You Find Pain Relief?
13 Mar 2012 | 8:02 pmThis is a real situation. Three brothers are engaged in pitched battle over their mother’s living situation. Mom is severely demented and can’t care for herself independently. She had long term care insurance, but she has almost exhausted that benefit. Her only remaining asset is her home. She needs full time care. The eldest brother, James, seized power over her finances from the middle brother, Paul. He got mom to appoint him the power of attorney and the agent on the healthcare directive, and displaced Paul, who had always been on both documents . Mom wasn’t…
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The Geezer Gadget Guy
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What You Missed (at my other blog)
12 May 2012 | 9:02 amThis week over at ThadThoughts.com I started off with a great interview with a Boomer who has just had her first book published. I encourage you to head over to read Breaking In As an Author: Interview with “Hungry for More” Author Kandy Persall. You’ll enjoy it! Pick up Kandy’s book too! -
Where Is Technology Going?
10 May 2012 | 6:30 amWhatever else can be said, the pace of change related to personal technology has continued apace. The disruption continues. This excellent infographic examines the disruptions exceptionally well. Source: FrugalDad -
Good Reads For Wednesday
2 May 2012 | 7:30 pmI’ve been far busier than is probably healthy. I apologize for a dearth of posts here. I want to point you to some excellent reads this week: 1. Your Life is Like a Tapestry from Michael Hyatt. 2. Clyde-ism #7 | Making Do With What You Have from ThadThoughts (gratuitous self promotion). 3. Why Do The Rich Get Richer? from Watson Inc. 4. Measures that You Must Take to Become a Powerful Leader at The Joyful Self-Manager And if you enjoy movies and dining out, I have a giveaway for you! -
A Video To Share | There Is So Much Left Inside
12 Apr 2012 | 6:30 amI saw this video recently on Facebook. My mother had Alzheimer Disease and my mother-in-law Clyde has Alzheimer Disease. It’s a dreadful thing to watch someone you love slowly slip away to live in disconnected moments in time. But this video is worth watching, and perhaps it will warm your heart as much as it has mine. It occurs to me that this is also a story about the use of technology, in this case an iPod. Of course it could be any MP3 player, but the use of a personal music device to assist Alzheimer Disease sufferers to enjoy music from their era is such a great use of… -
Alltop.com: All The News That’s Fit to Aggregate
10 Apr 2012 | 6:00 amYou may have noticed there is a new badge in my sidebar (go have a look if you haven’t seen it). It’s the one for Alltop.com. Have you heard of Alltop? I first heard of it a few years ago through something I read by Guy Kawasaki. Kawasaki is an author, former Apple evangelist and general social media maven. After I heard about Alltop, I bookmarked it in my browser and made it a regular place to visit. The magic sauce in Alltop? RSS feeds. The truth is that Alltop lets you use their site as a place to aggregate all the things on the Internet that you like to read. Not…
