The blog is moved!

This blog is now part of a new website and can be found at:

http://growolderbetter.com

The blog part can be read by clicking on the tab "blog" - but other topics are posted as well.

If you were subscribed to this blog - you will need to subscribe at the new site.

Still learnin after all these years :D

Almost ready to start placing posts on the new Word Press site for this blog.

I have spent a lot of time learning Word Press and the Thesis theme that I am using and the learning curve was very steep. In the midst of that my entire plumbing system is being re-done so that it is inside and not running directly under my floors and hovering over the Columbia River.

It's not been a very noisy process but it has needed my attention in terms of cosmetic planning - i.e. where do the pipes go? After they are all connected and tested - some kind of artistic cover will be built to hide them from view. My neighbors are full of good suggestions for that part of the project.

The pipes are actually plastic tubing that gets put together much like tinker toys and I now know much about this new kind of plumbing...

And early next year I will be offering local classes on parenting, aging and losing one's identity with retirement or job loss. These will happen through MindGlo, a new Portland business.

So it's been a month of teaching and learning - not how I imagined my older age to be at all - but I am very happy with the way my brain is still going full steam ahead...

More Twitter "Stuff"

Here are some photos from another evening with Twitter friends

Mara

@MaraBG

Stewart [doesn't tweet much] @stewartraven


Will

@_SDO

photos by @lynndorman

Why I Love Twitter

Some people i know from Twitter arrived in Portland yesterday and we ate supper on my deck..

Here are some videos taken in an IPhone [I want one!!!]

[These were directed toward others on Twitter but they are still fun to see]



http://twitvid.com/AA679 [ click and watch]

Abbot and Costello 2009

A friend sent this to me - although younger than I am - he's a luddite....we here know that you are never too old to understand computers ... but still - this is funny....

***********

You have to be old enough to remember Abbott and Costello, and too old to REALLY understand computers, to fully appreciate this!!!!!!!!!

If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their infamous sketch, 'Who's on First?' might have turned out something like this:

COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: Thanks I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer.

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.

ABBOTT: Your computer?

COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou.

ABBOTT: What about Windows?

COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?

ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?

COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows?

ABBOTT: Wallpaper.

COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.

ABBOTT: Software for Windows?

COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?

ABBOTT: I just did.

COSTELLO: You just did what?

ABBOTT: Recommend something.

COSTELLO: You recommended something?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: For my office?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!

ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.

COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a
proposal. What do I need?

ABBOTT: Word.

COSTELLO: What word?

ABBOTT: Word in Office.

COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.

ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.

COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?

ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue 'W'.

COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue 'w' if you don't start with some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: That's right. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?

ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.

COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?

ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.

COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?

ABBOTT: One copy.

COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money?

ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.

COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?

ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!

(A few days later)

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?

ABBOTT: Click on 'START'.............

AARP Member? United Health Care Customer? Look where your money goes!

United Health Care - the CEO makes more in a day than most people make in years! But they are best known for denying coverage to clients AND for being the company that AARP sold/rented it's name to!

Yes - if you have AARP medicare coverage - you are supporting this person in the video ! think about that! I did and after issues with the seemingly forever increasing monthly costs I switched - and I had only had AARP plan for about 9 months! And after I canceled I got a nasty call form them! So I was more glad I had quit and I also quit AARP.... AARP does not have my or your best interests at heat - all they care about is the $$$ they can make from the name [and from members]

From BraveNew Films:

What does UnitedHealthcare CEO Stephen Hemsley have to lose if Congress passes real healthcare reform this year? Well, for starters, his nearly three quarters of a billion dollars in unexercised stock options might lose a few pennies on the dollar.

Heat waves are BAD for you!

Wow - a 10 day heat wave - each day we hit at least 90 and a few were over 100 and up to 107. With no AC - inside my house was about 8 degrees cooler! Yes it meant when out was 107 - in was 99! And for several nights it never cooled off like "normal" although I fear these current patterns are the new normal.

I get heat exhaustion and I know how to take care of me - but this kind of weather gets to me no matter how well prepared I am. I get light headed and nauseous and don't feel like eating. I literally ate meals when I did not want them as I knew that I had to eat...

No fun - sleep was bad even with fans going.

Anyway - IT"S OVER!!! and now I am catching up on what did not get done in that time frame....and trying to not overdo too much - already did that the other day and learned again that when you get older your body needs a little more time to recover from stress- no matter what caused the stress :D

2 things:

1- next summer an air conditioner will be bought

2- I will be moving this blog to a new hosting service when I figure it all out and an announcement will be posted

For Pacific North West people: heat wave coming!

Having lived on the hot and very humid East Coast with a personal history of heat exhaustion - I know the symptoms and what to do to take care - yet even then I have had problems in Portland.

Dealing with many days of hot in a row is something to be serious about. In fact, as a NET person we got warning that we may be put on stand-by...

Here are some precautions to take that we got from NET:

Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning, who spend much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected by the heat.

Never leave anyone in an enclosed vehicle, even with the windows partially open.

Drink plenty of fluids, even if you don't feel thirsty. Start drinking fluids at least 30 minutes before going out.

Avoid beverages with caffeine, alcohol or large amounts of sugar because these can actually result in the loss of body fluid.

Eat smaller meals, more often, but be sure meals are well balanced, cool and light.

Take frequent breaks when working or recreating outside.

Wear sunscreen SPF 15 or higher, wide-brimmed hats and light-colored, loose-fitting clothes.

Dress infants and children in cool, loose clothing. Shade their heads and faces with hats or an umbrella. Use sunscreen as directed on small children!

Consult your health care provider about the added effects of sun and heat when taking prescription drugs, especially diuretics, antihistamines and antidepressants.

Check on your animals frequently to ensure they are not suffering from the heat, have water and shade.

and my own added warning - don't just drink water - you need electrolytes added to it - I use a product I market but there are others available - water alone can flush your system of needed resources. This many learn from experience - so learn from mine and take care this week.

Why I haven't written much lately

My long time best friend Freda, the one how had been ill since March - underwent surgery last week and died this week.

Her illness and death made it hard to write about aging - the "facts" of aging were all too clear and I was all too close.

I posted on Twitter and FaceBook that one of the bitches of aging is that all your friends start dying.

I'm feeling better today and will write more soon...in fact I will keep working on the e-book project she and I talked about before she got so ill... it will be about aging - including now more about having good friends die.

The Flu and You in Retrospect

I was asked by many why I did not write about the "swine flu" when everyone else was doing just that.

And my answer is - because everyone was writing about it and the information was getting confusing and making people so worried that they went out and paid lots of money for unknown and untested masks and other paraphernalia that were not going to help.

When I was asked what I personally was going to do - I said absolutely nothing and was told "good luck!"

It's not good luck - I take care of my immune system and it takes care of me. It's called good decision making as far as I am concerned.

This recent flu killed fewer people than usually die of flu every year. My cynical side tells me to follow the money and I'm guessing that a lot of people made a lot of money scaring everyone! Enterprising persons were selling masks in traffic to car drivers...c'mon when did we lose all common sense?

To protect yourself against the flu - you need to have a good defense and that's your immune system. You also need to eat properly and use supplements because our food is lacking the nutrients it used to have.

We are now far enough away form the media hysteria of the swine flu that we can look back and ask - what was all the fuss?

A new name? A new strain? I'm still not sure and I'm still just going to keep on ding what I have been doing most of my life - making sure my immune system is in the best shape it can be in.

If you want to read more about modern "foods" fill out the form on the upper right side of the blog.

My friend the artist

I have known June since we were about 5 or 6 years old. She is an inspiring example of "it's never to late to follow your dream." Her dream was art and she is now an established artist with world wide showings!

If you are in or near New York City, Stockbridge, Mass or Newport, N.H. this Summer/Fall [see schedules] go see her work...


FORMATIVE LINES: WORKING IN DRAWING AND SCULPTURE
GOVERNORS ISLAND, New York, NY
Curated by the Drawing Center.Joanna Kleinberg, and Rachael Liebowitz
Saturday May 30-October 4, 2009
Hours: Friday-Sunday 10-5
Ferry is free and runs hourly (7 minutes)
House 19 on Nolan Park

Work Included: No. 9 and D. D. 2



CONTEMPORARY SCULPTURE AT CHESTERWOOD 2009
Opening Reception & Award Ceremony
July 3, 5 - 7 pm Open 10-5 daily
Curated by Denise Markonish, Curator at MASS MoCA

Work included: Our Shrinking World

Chesterwood Sculpture Park
4 Williamsville Road
Stockbridge, MA 01262



H20: FILM ON WATER
AN INAUGURAL ART INSTALLATION AT THE NEWPORT MILL,
NEWPORT, N.H.

Curated by the Cynthia Reeves Gallery, New York, NY

Work included: Site dependent installation : In Depth 2009

A NEW, CONTEMPORARY ARTSPACE IN THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY
August 8-November 7, 2009

OR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 802.463.3330 OR EMAIL INFO@GREATRIVERARTS.ORG

The Newport Mill will feature 20 video pieces as well as a curated portion of the exhibition, including the work of several world-renowned visual artists. The multiple installation sites will encourage viewers to travel the Connecticut River Valley and further identify the region as one where art-making is alive, vital, and contemporary in scope.

NEWPORT MILL completed in 1906 on the bank of the Sugar River, The Newport Mill stands as the most architecturally significant industrial structure in this once thriving mill town. The four-story red brick building, accented by a six-story entrance tower, is comprised of over 60,000 square feet of interior space. A site for manufacturing and other business for decades, The Newport Mill is now completely renovated to allow for art exhibitions and other events of potentially unlimited parameters.

Web site: http://juneahrens.com

Memorial Day Thoughts

Some things change dramatically over time and I noticed that last night as I watched the Memorial Day concert from D.C. The story of the family whose son lost most of his brain got me and from that point to the end - I sobbed. When we lived in D.C., my son and I, along with friends, always went to the Memorial Day concert - ditto the 4th of July and Labor Day concerts. They were picnics on the lawn, kids climbing trees, music and good food.

We left D.C. in '96 and things have changed since then and last night's concert was certainly an example. It was more somber than any I have seen on TV since I left D.C. and also in that period of time I was a military mommy for 8 years.

I think all women and most men cry at the loss of a child - it happened in the 40's 50's 60's and 70's during WWII, Korea and Vietnam - and it still happens. I have been weeping for those lost in war since WWII [when my dad was in the military.] Both my dad and son were fine and were never in harms way - for which I was/am selfishly happy. But I had a stomach ache/ongoing worry for 8 years when my son was in and wondered on a daily basis if he'd be sent into war - especially after Sept 11, 2001. We, as parents, are not supposed to outlive our babies - it's not part of our psyches.

And so last night and still today - I weep for those mommies and daddies who have lost their children and for those children who have lost their mommies and daddies...and for those who lost husbands, wives and partners. It matters not how old we are - we hurt. To quote George McGovern: "I'm fed up to the ears with old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in."

Do not spend the day celebrating war or conflict - spend it in sober reflection about those who died and those who are wounded....and hug your kids - no matter how old they are.

FBI Scam letter - Update

There is a new twist on the FBI scam letter and it's this paragraph:

THESE CONDITION IS

VALID UNTIL 17TH OF MAY 2008 AFTER WE SHALL TAKE ACTIONS ON CANCELING THE PAYMENT AND THEN CHARGE YOU FOR ILLEGALLY MOVING FUNDS OUT OF NIGERIA .

I post this again as some of you might know of persons who will be intimidated by the fear of being "charged" with something.

Again these emails are sent to "undisclosed recipients" meaning it went to a list of 100's if not tens of 1000's of email addresses.

If you have a friend, family or loved one who says anything about a letter from the FBI - please let them know it is a scam.

It's not really from Robert S. Mueller, III - believe me he is not about to send you an email :D

Another warning signal is that every word starts with a capital letter - DUH - Who really writes like that except for scammers - it's their trademark!

Beware of these emails and just delete - do not worry - the FBI is not after you for this.....

Mother's Day - The original

This is my annual repost about the origin of mother's day.

We have gotten so far away from the original thoughts and made it into a shopping spree day - like all our holidays!

Take time today to think about what Julia Howe wrote.

Mother's Day Proclamation - 1870
by Julia Ward Howe

Arise then...women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts!
Whether your baptism be of water or of tears!
Say firmly:
"We will not have questions answered by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country,
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."

From the voice of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says: "Disarm! Disarm!
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."
Blood does not wipe our dishonor,
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil
At the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace...
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God -
In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality,
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.


Peace,
Lynn

Beware May Scams

I hate to keep posting about scams but I do keep hearing about older people getting taken in by them

If you collect Social Security you got a letter from them saying you will get your one time payment this month. That's good altho it's not a major amount. But the scammers know you got that letter as well and so they have reduced the amount they are asking when you get teh emails about the money they are holding for you.

My recent emails all ask for "only $99" to get that 1.5 gazillion :D some bank somewhere is holding for me.

And I expect you will start getting emails from those offering to "help" you get your $250 quicker! Or offering you a loan of $250 until you receive your money!

PLEASE do not contact these persons.....if you have your Social Security check automatically deposited - that's where this check will go! If you get your check mailed to you - this check will also be mailed to you. And I would guess that any loan you agree to will come with usurious high interest rates so that your $250 will not even make a dent in what you'll owe back in a few weeks.

New Take on an Old Scam

As the economy stays pretty bad - the scammers are trying new tactics. This one purports to be from a U.S. citizen complete with name and address and we are to believe she went to Nigeria to get her money and saw "my" name, phone number and email....

The email itself is addressed to undisclosed-recipients so my name is only one of a long list of those to whom this was sent - and if she was being such a "good" citizen why did she not make a phone call?

And then there is this- where the scam makes an honest statement: You really have to stop your dealing with those contacting you through email communications.

Well yes - but - if we must stop communicating through email - why are you asking me to email this fake barrister?

BEWARE - people only want your money - if t were a real financial matter - you would be NOT be contacted by
email!

Please do not respond to these....

*******************
Hello Friend,

I am Mrs. Jane W.Rowland, I am a U.S.A. citizen, 46 years Old. I reside here in West Texas. My residential address is as follows. 319 Runnels; Big Spring, Texas 79720, United States of America.

I am one of those that executed a contract in Nigeria years ago and they refused to pay me, I had paid over $70,000 trying to get my payment all to no avail. So I decided to travel down to Nigeria with all my contract documents.

And I was directed to meet Honourable Barrister Ben Mark ESQ, who is the Attorney General of CONTRACT AWARD COMMITTEE, and I contacted him and he explained everything to me. He said that those contacting us through emails are fake. Then he took me to the paying bank, which is THE CO-OPERATIVE BANK ONLINE OF NIGERIA PLC, and I am the happiest woman on this earth because I have received my contract funds of USD$5.6Million Moreover, Honourable Barrister Ben Mark showed me the full information of those that have not received their over due payment; and I saw your full name and email, your contract amount, your phone number as one of those that have not received their payment.

This is what you have to do right now. You have to contact him direct on this information below to release your payment.

Contact Name: BARRISTER BEN MARK ESQ.
Postiton: Head of Chambers.
Email Address: benmark73@yahoo.com.hk
Fax_234-1-7593154
Office Address: Plot 2961 Adeola Hopewell Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

You really have to stop your dealing with those contacting you through email communications or telephone calls conversations, okay, because they will dry you up until you have nothing to eat. The only money I paid was just $1,200 for IRS permit fees, which you know. So you have to take note of that and act accordingly and I assure you that with the help of this reputable Attorney General (Honourable Barrister Ben Mark ESQ) your over due payment will be release and wire transferred to you.

Thank you very much as you read this message and God bless you and your family.

Mrs.Jane W.Rowland.

Voices in Our Heads: Mother's Day Memories

I am heavily invested in politics and even though election season is over politics is never ”over.” After a recent major fundraiser - which got me home very late - after a longer week of late nights – my body rebelled.

When I awoke, still tired, I heard my mother's voice "You know – you’re not 20 anymore."

There are other of her sayings that sometimes appear but “not 20 anymore” is the one that comes back with some regularity - especially when I am doing "things" that we ancient elders are not "supposed" to be doing.

My mom started on that mantra when I was in my 40's and began playing competitive softball, touch football and squash. All of these come with the possibility of injuries and I was not immune: broken finger, broken ankle, sore quads, and being hit by line drives!

Ouch - but I did not stop as my own mantra is “play when hurt.” I finished a softball double header with a broken finger and ended that season only after the orthopod said further injury could result in serious permanent impairment.

I would tell my mother of my latest games - injuries or not – and she would repeat her mantra. It became a regular laughing point of all our conversations and she admitted she wished she still could do what I was doing! This continued until she died at 95 and I was in my early 60's - still doing those sports and telling her about them.

So when I had my exhausting week - her words rang in my head and I wondered if she was somewhere shaking her head proudly saying aloud to all who listen "that daughter of mine" - then to me "You know – you’re not 20 anymore."

The Top 100 Best Wellness Blogs for Women

Masters in Health Care included this blog on their list of 100 Best Wellness Blogs for Women. It's #87 on this site and in the category of Fit and Healthy After a Certain Age.

Although I giggle at the concept of "after a certain age" I am grateful for this honor.

Credit Card Scammers

There is a company who keeps calling - they use a 506 area code but the number that shows up in your caller ID has too many digits - it is not a real number and you can not call it back and they never ever leave a message.

One day they called me 3-4 times in an hour then they went away for months- but they come back - like today.

I once answered to try to find out who they were. After asking a few times for the company name - I got words along the line of "card services." If you press on with your questions you get "we can help you with your credit card." If you ask which card; they say all of them [?] When someone calls me and I have to ask questions about why they are calling - I am suspicious.

And if you continue to question them - guess what happens? Yup - they hang up on you :D

They have to be a scam - so if you see area code 506 followed by 229 or 224 or 222 do not bother answering.

Aging and Homelessness

I was chatting with a neighbor the other day about wine - when she just blurted out that she had met with her financial advisor last week and was told in no uncertain terms that she could not retire next year as she had planned on.... Her retirement fund had taken that big a nosedive!

She likes her job so she was not all that unhappy – but she been looking forward to spending more time with her grandchildren – and now her retirement is being put off until who-knows-when...

But as least she has a job and a retirement fund that may eventually creep back up into something akin to an amount to retire on.

Unfortunately for others the unemployment rate is at a record high, more stores are shuttering, more homeless are on the streets or in their old cars [including many more of the older generations – people like you and me.]

We used to respect our elders and take care of them. When did we lose that focus?

At some point in the last 30 or so years we became a me-first and a me-only culture and it’s now become apparent that the me-first/only greedy persons have devastated the world’s economy – of course while saving themselves.

It’s sad to see and read about people in their 70’s and 80’s living in cars. I love camping out – but that’s because I know I can get home and take a warm shower and eat warm food at the end of some stretch of time. I even lived in my VW van while driving to Alaska and back from the East coast – but again - I knew I had someplace to return to after 4 or more months of living in that vehicle --- and --- I was in my 30’s!

I can’t imagine doing that now for any long stretch of time – my body would be very unhappy -- and I expect those who are doing this hurt. Cars are not comfortable beds.

We again need to respect our elders and care for them – not leave then out in the streets.

Soon I will post about how our obsession with youthful looks and youthful people may be harmful.

Comments?