"Old Is The New Black"

It's Time To Do My Annual 2017 "I'm Done" List Every year a friend, of about 10 years, and I get together for our annual “I’m Done” list.  This list, when finished, is comprised of all the things we’ll be done with by the end of the following year.  I’ve been told by my friend that this list has helped her be stronger person over the last 8 years we’ve been putting these lists together for ourselves.  I have to agree, making a list with someone can help make me accountable for what I say I'm going to do.  Goal setting with accountability! We always plan to do our "I'm Done" list about a week before the new year.  The day starts with a celebration champagne cocktail before we start.  Then we open our little spiral books and click on our pens.  We read aloud, each of us taking turns, what we wrote the previous year for the current year.  Some of the things we previously wrote were funny but most were serious.  A few things we wrote do...

I am posting this reprint today because the holidays are upon us and I still believe giving books as presents encourages people to read, especially children.  Here is a list of the best children's books of 2016.    The Best Children’s Books of 2016 "From love to mortality to the lives of Einstein and Louise Bourgeois, by way of silence and the color of the wind."  Brought to you by www.brainpickings.org Happy book buying!

It’s that time of year again when people are getting on my nerves.  The frantic, frenetic pace of the holidays seems to make everyone crazy.  Driving like maniacs to get to the mall, running into people with their shopping carts, ripping stuff off the shelves and not putting it back.   And the parking lots!  Pulling in and out without so much as a turn of the head to see if anyone is behind them.  The other day I saw a huge pickup truck pull into a parking space where the mom had her door open and her child standing between the door and the vehicle and this monster truck pulled in so fast and close the mom had to close the door so that the child and herself were between the door and her vehicle to be relatively safe.  If the truck would have been one inch closer he would have squashed them both, maybe to death.  Inside the store, he was walking hard and fast, fists clenched, I thought he was deliberately on his way to punch someone out who ...

Why Can’t I Follow Through With My Goals? I want to start my goal setting, again, before New Year’s Day.   I try to do this every year and it doesn’t work.   Then I say I’ll start my new goals New Year’s Day and then that doesn’t happen.   As you can see I haven’t posted in quite some time, a long time.   All because I can’t seem to follow through on my goals – again.     And there seems to be many different reasons (excuses?) why. Tomorrow’s another day.     I’ve had to do things my entire life, now that I’m retired I don’t have to so I’m not going to   I’d rather be doing something else   I’m afraid I might fail   Writing seems like so much work.   I think I’m going to clean the house right now   I’m retired.   Why am I forcing myself to do things?    I’m afraid I might fail These are just a few of the reasons I procrastinate and I’ve gotten better at procrastinating th...

These are picks from AARP. Check them out! Best Movie for Grownups Our Age - Any Age The Theory of Everything The true story of astrophysicist Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) and his first wife, Jane (Felicity Jones), starts out as a tale of young love. But as Stephen falls ill, the film supernovas into matters both painfully personal and mind-blowingly cosmic. Best Director Richard Linklater, Boyhood Richard Linklater admits it was “insane” to start a movie about a 6-year-old and continue filming it with the same actor (Ellar Coltrane) through age 18. Maybe, but it's fun watching the boy get older while his parents enact growing up too. Best Actor Steve Carell, Foxcatcher In Foxcatcher, the Steve Carell (left) we’ve known for his hilarious turns becomes the dead-eyed John E. du Pont, a wannabe wrestling coach whose delusions, combined with his vast wealth, spelled disaster for all around him. Best Actress Julianne Moore, Still Alice As a 50-year-old professor enduring early-ons...

Things We're Too Old to Say - Sounding off on slang we should drop by Jacquelyn Mitchard, March 11, 2011 I'll never be too old to say I love you. I'll never be too old to say I'm sorry. I'll never be too old to ask an obnoxious jerk if he's this rude to everybody or if he's running a special just for me. Still, I am too old to keep on saying certain things. Being part of the generation that won't grow up means that I still have many friends (female) who announce that they're going "to the little girls' room" to "tinkle," and many friends (male) who clap their pals on the back and cry "dude!" We may be young at heart. We may even fit into our wrestling singlet or cheerleader uniform. (No, you don't have to prove it … I believe you!) All that said, we could at least talk the talk of gracefully grown people. What follows here is a smattering of silly syntax — slang that people of my generation should never utter. ...

This is an article from the Huffington Post today by Dr. Karl Pillemer. I'd like to share a revelation with you. It took me months of pondering my interview data from hundreds of long-married elders, but I finally got it. It's about sex and older people -- not something younger folks think about a lot. However, when I have given talks to 20- and 30-somethings about my  book  of advice from people married a half-century or more, I know there is one question in the back of their minds, even if they don't come out and say it: How can sex possibly stay interesting for a lifetime? I have good news for you. I'm going to allay your worst fears and help you to relax about the idea of sex in the later years of marriage. I will tell you the spoiler right now. The message from our elders is: don't waste your time worrying about sex in later life, because it's pretty good. But first, here's the revelation. Ready? The reason you are worried about this issue is ...

We Can Still Do This! Sex may not be the same for you or your partner as it was when you were younger. But sex and intimacy can continue to be a rewarding part of your life. Here are some tips for maintaining a healthy and enjoyable sex life. Talk with your partner. Even if it's difficult to talk about sex, openly sharing your needs, desires and concerns can help you both enjoy sex and intimacy more. Visit your doctor   Your doctor can help you manage chronic conditions and medications that affect your sex life. If you have trouble maintaining an erection, ask your doctor about treatments. See a sex therapist   A therapist may be able to help you and your partner with specific concerns. Ask your doctor for a referral. Expand your definition of sex   Intercourse is only one way to have a fulfilling sex life. Touching, kissing and other intimate contact can be rewarding for you and your partner. As you age, it's normal for you and your partner ...

Online dating - gosh, this has been going on for over ten years for me.  And yes, I've dated a few men but not for long.  Baggage, you say?  Yes, baggage can be a part of it but more than that.  What I'm finding out is a search for Old Mr. Right can't be a search for Old Mr. Perfect because there isn't such a thing and there never was such a thing.  Not when I was younger, not ever.  And, unfortunately, the older I get the more I wish for perfect or at the very least as close to perfect as possible.  For example, a little weight is acceptable but twenty or more pounds are not good.  Not good for the body, heart health or self-image.  Thinning hair is eventually inevitable in a lot of men but letting it grow long (picture Donald Trump) to compensate for the lack of hair is not attractive.  I know what you're thinking "oh, my, aren't we Miss Hoity Toity?" but what I'm talking about goes for women too.  Most of us older people...

Brain Octane! What bumps kale up the superfood chain is its abundance in phytochemicals, substances associated with the prevention of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension – four of the leading cause of death in Western countries. Phytochemicals are believed to help prevent cell damage, prevent cancer cell replication, and decrease cholesterol levels. Kale is very high in beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C, and rich in calcium. Kale is a source of two carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin. Kale, as with broccoli and other brassicas, contains sulforaphane (particularly when chopped or minced), a chemical with potent anti-cancer properties. Boiling decreases the level of sulforaphane; however, steaming, microwaving, or stir frying does not result in significant loss. Along with other brassica vegetables, kale is also a source of indole-3-carbinol, a chemical which boosts DNA repair in cells and appears to block the growth of cancer cells. Kale ha...

There is so much in the news today about Ebola.  I asked myself, the other day, how concerned am I? I'm going to be traveling quite a bit this winter, by air, and that is the part that concerns me.  I know so many people who, after flying on an airplane, get sick with different respiratory illnesses.  According to the CDC approximately 20% of all travelers incur an upper respiratory infection and it's the viral pathogen respiratory infection that's the most common.  Here is a list of causative agents:  Thinovirus, respiratory synctial virus, influenza virus, human metapneumovirus, adenovirus and coronavirus. Legionella pneumophila and coxiella burnetii can also cause outbreaks of a respiratory illness.  To make matters worse for us snowbirds the best (or worse?) time of the year to travel is December through February.  In the southern hemisphere the peak flu season is June through August.   If you travel to a tropical zone you are at risk a...

One in 10 of us is and the ranks are growing.  New research shows compulsive shoppers have two things in common.  First, they don't think credit card debt is a big deal:  They may max out cards, skip payments, or only pay the monthly minimums.  Second, they often shop to feel happier.  The researchers suggest you can control your shopping by paying attention to credit card statements and asking yourself why you want to make each purchase. It seems, at my age, I have everything I need but I still like to shop.  We hardly ever hear about men being shopaholics.  Why does this seem to be more of a *woman thing* and not more of a man thing? Is it because we may have more ups and downs than men?   Or is it because new things just, simply, make us happy?

With the hot summer months approaching we thought this article about heat stroke might come in handy. Heat Stroke: Symptoms and Treatment Heat stroke is the most serious form of heat injury and is a medical emergency. If you suspect that someone has heat stroke — also known as sunstroke — you should call 911 immediately and render first aid until paramedics arrive. Heat stroke can kill or cause damage to the brain and other internal organs. Although heat stroke mainly affects people over age 50, it also takes a toll on healthy young athletes. Heat stroke often occurs as a progression from milder heat-related illnesses such as heat cramps, heat syncope (fainting), and heat exhaustion. But it can strike even if you have no previous signs of heat injury. Heat stroke results from prolonged exposure to high temperatures — usually in combination with dehydration — which leads to failure of the body’s temperature control system. The medical definition of heat stroke is a cor...

Did you know the first photographic self-portrait was taken by Robert Cornelius in 1839?  Today the Oxford Dictionaries announced their word of the year for 2013 to be “selfie”, which they define as “a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website.” Although the rampant proliferation of the technique is quite recent, the “selfie” itself is far from being a strictly modern phenomenon. Indeed, the photographic self-portrait is surprisingly common in the very early days of photography exploration and invention, when it was often more convenient for the experimenting photographer to act as model as well. In fact, the picture considered by many to be the first photographic portrait ever taken was a “selfie”. The image in question was taken in 1839 by an amateur chemist and photography enthusiast from Philadelphia named Robert Cornelius. Cornelius had set his camera up at the back of the family stor...

  Sure, coffee and tea help us stay awake, but they may also help us stay alive.  Among nearly 2,500 people over age 40, coffee and tea drinkers died at lower rates over 10 years than those who abstained, a study shows.  Each daily cup of joe -- regular or decaf -- cut coffee lovers' risk of death by 7%.  Each cup of tea slashed the risk by 9%. Source:  Nutrition

My mom is moving. To a senior apartment in a fabulous place. It has a movie theater, a fine dining restaurant, a cocktail hour bar. She’s moving from a 2300 square foot 3 bedroom, 2 full bath townhome. She’s downsizing but to a much nicer place with lots of social activity and more.Although we’ve never, really, gotten along for all my or her life, she thinks (or needs to believe) we are best friends now. She’s constantly telling me “I don’t know what I would do without you.” And, because we’ve never (and still don’t) get along all that well, I tend to think she’s only saying that because there is no one else in the family who can, or will, help her. I have a sister who doesn’t and hasn’t done anything to help her in years. The only other person who helps her is my son who, conveniently, lives 7 miles away and can fix “stuff”. Thank goodness because her *stuff* isn’t the only stuff that needs help; I’m always first or second on the list of “help me, please?”Point being is I think ...

I'm publishing this article from the November 2014 issue of the AARP Bulletin . I've never heard of this bug before, "C.diff", and that it can only be eradicated by bleach. So, start wearing white and mix up a little bleach and water and carry it with you. I think Clorox has wipes with bleach in the wipes - this way you can wear whatever color you want! Hate those bleach dot stains.......... Grace Voros was 85 and enjoying life, watching her family grow and taking romantic walks with the man she fell in love with 61 years ago, when she took a minor fall. She went to the hospital for an x-ray, where tests confirmed she had no broken bones. But while there, she contracted an infection no one in the family had ever heard about, “C. diff,” and died. C. diff, short for Clostridium difficile, is raging through hospitals, infecting hundreds of thousands of patients a year. The bacteria contaminate every surface, including bed rails, bed tables, nurses’ uniforms, ...

Wow! It just didn't feel like anything. What's up with that? I mean, it really didn't "feel" like anything at all. I'm beginning to believe 60 is, indeed, the new 40! Here's a great link to Readers Digest where 50 Celebs were interviewed and share what they learned by Andrew Zuckerman, author of "Wisdom". Okay, any of you remember these people who are turning 60 this year of 2008? (Remember, the oldest real Boomers will be turning 64 this year!) BOOMERS WHO WILL TURN 60 IN 2008 In no particular order, Americans born in 1948 include: * John Carpenter * Joe Roth * Leslie Marmon Silko * Rhea Perlman * Ronnie Van Zant (d. 1977) * Wayne Kramer * Todd Rundgren * Alice Cooper * Raymond Kurzweil * Teller * Kate Pierson * Stevie Nicks * Dianne Wiest * James Ellroy * James Taylor * Billy Crystal * William Gibson * Errol Morris * Richard Simmons * Elizabeth Blackburn * Jerry Mathers * Phylicia Rashad * John Ritter (...

This article is copied with permission from Pam Sissons. You can read more of her writings at the links below. Does memory loss and forgetfulness have to be part of your life after turning fifty? Noticing changes in your memory function as you age is completely normal! Approaching midlife often brings challenges of many kinds – including normal memory loss or forgetfulness. If and when those incidents of memory loss seem to be happening more frequently, they can be frightening.“Where the heck did I put the car keys?” “What was the name of that movie we just saw?” “What did I come in here for?” Changes in memory function can begin in your 40s or 50s and come slowly or gradually at first. The fact is that some memory loss, forgetfulness, or "fuzzy brain" is perfectly normal after turning fifty, and probably does not signal the onset of a debilitating memory disorder or dementia such as Alzheimer's. About Memory Function There are many types of memory that de...

There are many reasons of not getting a good night’s sleep. Whatever it is, try to enjoy some foods would can clam you and relax your tense muscle . Yahoo! Food suggests top 10 foods that helps you to get solid 8 hours of sleep. They are Bananas, Chamomile tea, Warm milk, Honey, Potatoes, Oatmeal, Almonds, Flaxseeds, Whole-wheat bread and Turkey. The easiest one is warm milk and whole-wheat bread. Doesn't everything look so yummy?