Robert Frost and Stuff

Two roads diverged in a wood and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.

I got lost, came back, read the sign.

<-------Outhouse

Public Restrooms---------->

Children's Book

I've been writing a lot lately. I thought about my grandkids and did a picture book for them and others. Its only 99 cents at Amazon.com for PCs or Kindles. Click on the link below if you want to see more.

We live here in the mountains of north east Georgia. Its amazing how many wonderful creatures live back here. Without the trail camera, we'd never have seen them.



 
 Wild Neighbors

Fist Fights at the Local Wal-Mart

Today I ventured into town early, hoping to avoid any left over Black Friday Madness. Checking out at the register, I asked the clerk how yesterday went. She said it was steady, not too crazy, except for the fist fight that broke out over bed sheets.

Bed Sheets? By god, yeah, bed sheets.

Seems saving 10 bucks was worth loosing some self esteem. Or, I suggested, maybe we'll see some footage on You Tube.

Let me know, I bet its hilarious.

Women Who Run With Seniors

I admit I'm a social media slut. I was trying to think of some "trailer" for the trilogy (set of three books in one series) and came up with this. I think its kinda interesting. I had to run down this path four times before I got it right. I kept laughing, cause bottom line, I know the guy at the end.

It reminded me of a Blair Witch Project running headlong into Rambo. Or something like that.

Well, women who run with the wolves can also run with the camo dude.

That's my take, anyways.

Perfect Hobby for Us

I've been writing and uploading my novels and non fiction to e-book providers like Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.

If you've heard about the Kindle or Nook readers, you know that its all the rage. Books are cheaper, delivered wirelessly and don't take up a ton of room in the house. You can even lend them. The books I've done so far are:

My Journey to Freedom and Ultralight Backpacking-


Everything Except Corn Pasta- this is also non fiction, and is a cook book full of recipes and trail stories. Its for the do it yourselfer, cook, camper and frugalist.

I've seen a lot and read a lot about end of the world, apocalyptic scenarios. I live way out in the boonies, so I pondered what that would mean for us, baring a sun falling from the sky end of days thing. The series, End of Days is the result of my in depth look at the grid going down.
There are three books in this "trilogy", or series. You don't hear the word trilogy so much anymore. I guess its going to end up as a series anyways, cause I'm already thinking of the next book.

A Measured Response (Book 1:End of Days)


Journey North (Book 2 :End of Days)


The Calendar Keeper (Book 3: End of Days)


Writing e-books is an easy hobby in that it doesn't take a lot of fancy equipment or require workouts that will leave you wounded.
I love the mental challenges of finding words to use instead of "said". My list reads something like:
repeated, told, replied, asked, revealed, laughed, chuckled, quipped, speculated, argued, protested, snorted, sniggered, wondered, pondered, and added.

There are many more examples of synonym searches. I figure it helps prevent Alzheimer's. Keeps me off the streets as well.

Anyone can write a book using their word program, upload and market it. Create a book cover in your paint program. Its fun, and who knows, you may be the next Stephen King.




The Kindle application which makes this possible is free and found at Amazon.com.
Download for PC There are no shipping or handling fees, and it doesn't matter which country you live in. Within minutes you can be reading e-books.



Check out
Book Reviews and behind the scenes details at my website. Please e-mail any reviews you have. Thanks!

What He Said

My man has a way of delivering one liners that bring Rant to an art form.

I suggested he start a blog and just post one a day. He said, well, I better not write it.

I usually agree with him. He's older and sometimes wiser.

We like the same movies in general, although I admit when the bloody stuff comes on, the gory slashing and explosive body cavities, I cover my eyes and plead, "Just give me the bottom line, he's dead, right?"

We're enjoying Breaking Bad, The Survivors (a British series of 12 episodes) , The Walking Dead (a zombie series filmed in Atlanta) and Bones. Yeah, we found it on Netflix and no commercials.

Works for us. I'm sick of heart wrenching scenes being interrupted by Gieco's If you only took 15 minutes, Viagra and knock off brands telling him to be ready for when the time is right, and stupid Enjoy the Wilderness in the Smoky Mts and not a single scene is mountains, its all water slides and mini golf!

ok, thats my rant for the day

All My Heroes are Dying

One by one all my heroes are dying.

I can't get into these new celebs. Sorry, who was Kim Kardashian anyways? Does she do some soap opera, or play golf, or something?

I've heard "the Kardashian sisters" so many times I could puke. Did America install a monarchy while I was sleeping the other night? A new royal princess, home grown, that we are supposed to give a royal F&*_*K about?

Sorry, had to get that out.

Late night guru Jay Leno needs to stop wasting the first precious 5 minutes of  his monologue on these girls. I don't care, my beauty rest is waiting. When I hear those K names, I kiss my man good night and head to bed and call it a day.

My post was about all the people I grew up loving, hating, watching make whoopee on movies, like the beautiful and controversial Elizabeth Taylor. Like the amazing master brain Steve Jobs. Like our
Andy Rooney who talked to us about every subject imaginable.

So I guess I'm going to have to pay attention to who is out there now, like this Justin Beiber guy. I heard he's a great singer, but he's such a kid!

Seniors Behaving Badly

From our News Blotter in the local paper, a 61 year old woman accused her 65 year old husband of cheating with a woman named Powder Puff, in a nearby town. 

The wife also took exception to the fact her husband bought a car and accused him of wanting to be a race car driver, then attempted to put a juvenile sized helmet on his head. The cops were called to stop this domestic violence.

Come on seniors, aren't you embarrassed?

Pull Up the Pants, Granny

Last night they did a news clip featuring an artist posting random signs in New York promoting   etticate.

Things like Pull Up Your Pants, no one wants to see your underwear.

Don't flip cigarette butts into the street.

Clean up after your horse.

While I don't have a solution for the last two, I do for the first one.

As cornerstones and future ancestors of the present youth, it falls upon us to set an example. If all senior citizens start wearing their pants at or below the crotch line we will soon be done with the bare butt I see your under britches dilemma.
Please, cotton boxers are required underneath, and a belt of some sort to be sure said xxL pants don't fall all the way to one's knees.

We know, as seasoned adults that once we start duplicating any "youth" activity, it becomes way uncool and becomes geezer. For instance, multiple ear piercings became regulation bad girl, now they are old lady.
Over size necklaces used to be hippie wear, now are anchor lady.

Don't make me think up more examples, my part timers may kick in. Words have followed the same path, like Rad, Serious, Groovy, Dude, have been replaced by way cooler words, which I haven't learned yet, but things like "dawg", and "fly", and being "down" with something are just a few.

I was trying out my new look and the guy in my life says it sends a wrong message. And he's right, no doubt. After all, its the young males doing it, so old gents, its up to you. Instead of the belt around your chest, put it down by your cheeks, you may need a safety cord just in case.

But my message is simple: Looks Stupid! Pull your pants up, kids. It looks stupid.

What is Up With That?

I read two articles that totally tell us what is important to banks:

The scandal of 528 Million Bucks going to a Solar Power company now in bankruptcy whereby the initial loan should never have been made to a company so on the brink of disaster. They say its us taxpayers who will be left holding the proverbial bag:

http://my.yahoo.com/;_ylt=AnW.PTKtwO9jOWTBfJlV7zWxulI6

and then, the story of a 101 year old lady being put out of her home in foreclosure, along with her 65 year old son, all for the want of a few housing payments and back taxes.

http://my.yahoo.com/;_ylt=AnW.PTKtwO9jOWTBfJlV7zWxulI6

Officials are now trying to help this poor family, I mean this is bad press. They claim the moral of the story is not to stick your foreclosed head in the sand. After all, the son had warnings, and notices of pending doom.

Please. The guy is keeping his sweet little mother out of a nursing home, living in a the same place she lived in for nearly 6 decades. If that isn't providing neighbor hood stability, what is? They should have their home just honorarily given to them, like a diploma is awarded by reason of pure merit.

Instead, the feds are bailing out banks, loaning out to mismanaged companies, loosing millions of dollars every day to god knows where. And this little old lady has her stuff put on the street, out of her own home. I don't get it.

When the home payments didn't appear on time, an interventionist, financial expert for little old ladies, should have appeared. The holder of this mortgage could have said, oh my goodness, we need to look into this situation.

I don't get it. Priorities, I guess.

As a taxpayer, if I'm going to be holding any bags, I prefer it to be for real people.

Love This!

Found this over at a great site for Senior Humor:

http://seniorcitizenhumor.blogspot.com/p/blog-buddies.html

Funny thing, he has my photo on another persons blogroll, and my blog has a bird! Which one of these tweets applies? WTF?

Love ya, thanks for linking me :D

Is That How We Look?

I don't rant often, least I like to think I don't. Watching some of these new reality shows, or new Hollywood stuff, I'm a bit put out.

I mean, is that how we look? Us Older folk, do we look so feeble, treacherous, devieous, helpless, pitiful, and unable to put a decent outfit together?

I watched the movie Devil. The premise is five people all get on an elevator in an upscale part of New York, and of course the thing breaks down. The technical advisors for the group are excellent. We see realistic methods used to monitor, evaluate and attempt to rescue the people. The lights go on and off in the elevator, one by one they are murdered.

Without spoiling the ending, my gripe is about the little old lady in there. She constantly complains, wears an ugly brown pant suit and is a wallet snatcher. Now that's not the gripe. The fact an old lady could be anything but an old lady seems to amaze everyone.

Have we seen anything favoring older folks? I say we need a reality show about Retirement Centers where by once a week someone could be put on probation for wearing mismatched stuff, bringing the marshmallow bread pudding to the potluck, or fighting with the neighbors. People can be voted in or voted out of the group home. We could have make overs and sweep stakes.

What I'm saying is, with all the bad press, how are we supposed to want to grow old?

Dress for Good Deals

The other day I headed into town dressed up. I was meeting a store owner with hopes of consigning my art work. Yes, I dressed up, put on makeup, wore nice shoes.

Then, just because I was in town, I also hit some thrift stores. I know, never never go into a thrift store dressed up. They take one look and the price quote goes up. How come I always find stuff without a price tag already on it?

I also got my hair cut at the salon by a young girl. She looked young to me, every year I get older and these kids just stay the same. I can't do the nose ring thing. Just too weird. Once I asked a girl how she deals when she gets a runny nose. She looked at me like my Mars space ship went and left without me.

Just Can't Remember My Rant for the Day

I had a thing I wanted to write about today.  I thought of it while I was on my daily walk. Honest. It was good too.

Wished I could remember what it was. Now, some of you might say, why don't you take a notebook with you? Cause then I have to stop and there goes my target heart rate. It takes awhile to get that up and running.

Might have been something about the national debt ceiling needing to be risen cause other wise my friends won't be getting their social security checks. Without them, spending is going to really sink.

Well, if I think of it, I'll be sure and sign on to post it.

Ask an Elder

I'm reading this free magazine, free because I picked it up at a thrift store in town. I'd never seen it before. Success is very well written by men and women who've made it. A lot of them give speeches, making tons of money.

One guy wrote about making a fortune and loosing it by the time he was 30. Then instead of asking advice from other rich kids, he said he'd ask an older guy for advice, someone who had not only made their fortune, but had hung on to it as well.

Most of the sage advice in the magazine is tried and true. Stuff our grandparents grew up with. Live within your means. You don't have to keep up with the Jones. You can drive that beater.

None of this seems embarrassing to me. I know kids have a harder time with their image. Guess I'm old enough to have my image established.

My image on the outside says "Matching. Put together". Those that really know me say I'm frugal.
If I can't be eccentric at this age, when do I get to be?

Invisable or Hilarious

It finally dawned on me that its just time to quit trying to be cool.

The world is full of young people that just don't get us.

 And really, some of us baby boomers are just not moving on, not moving forward.

One of the strangest sights is an old man on a big tricked out bike wearing leather with a long white pony tail and bald head. The guy has a ring in his ear lobe, a massive tattoo on the arm.
Is that cool?
or the old woman with a short skirt, hot legs and a big beer tummy with enough make up to disguise the wrinkles sagging into new wrinkles. But Please.

we dress like Old People and we turn invisible. We don't get waited on, helped at the hardware store, noticed at the restaurant. We get no respect

I just want to be me, regardless of what kids are thinking. And I realize, be prepared to be hilarious or invisible. I may not feel my age but it shows.

Over 40 ?

This guy posted on the forum for Coolworks.com that maybe some employees were unhappy cause they were just sitting in their rooms, moping, not making friends, or they were over 40.

I beg your pardon.
What does being over 40 have to do with happiness, unhappiness or sitting in your room?

Anyways, I got out a lot while working in the Grand Tetons. It was the height of the experience.
That and working in the bake shop with all these kids.
Now, don't get me wrong, they were between the ages of 20 and 30, but they seemed to think their culinary schooling, upwards of $30,000 , yes thats right, thirty thousand dollars for a cordon blue certificate, gained them seniority, respect or deference.

Sorry, but let me see what you can do away from the classroom. Don't be spouting all your stuff and burning bread. Don't be theorizing on frosting then use dam shortening instead of real butter.

Kids are kids, and maybe some just don't have to grow up too soon. Then the chef, who is 22 and barely out of college made the big mistake of letting the others know how old he was. Now, he's getting no respect, and personally, when he said I was in charge of the rice crispy treats cause his mom always made them and he didn't have a recipe, I started to wonder as well.
He could make some mighty fine sugar concoctions, however.

At any rate, I'm home now, outta there, cause this ol' gal don't like dormitory living where the housing manager comes busting in looking for spare beds.

That's my rant, sorry for being so long.

Respect Your Elders

I don't care if you've been to culinary school. Resect your elders.
Smile, I know I have something to contribute, if nothing else, how to fix stuff when mistakes happen.

You know they will. That's just life, you silly child.

My co workers here in the bake shop at Grand Tetons are wonderful. They seem to know, after demonstrations, that I can cook with the best of them. Sure, I haven't done the sugar sculptures, but by god, I'd handle it just fine given some play time.

The Pastry Chef sees that, I feel, cause he will say , "Come here, the both of you" and show us tricks of the trade.

I'm loving it. Sometimes I feel my lack of culinary schooling. Its occurred to me to go get some schooling.
Then I think, maybe not.

What Kinda Game

They started these special nights for people over 50. All women showed up, and two guys.
The activities offered are bingo, backama, mexican dominos or some such, and just your low level interaction.
Kids don't need games like this, they just hang out.
Maybe us olders need a boost.

I'm wishing I didn't so obviously look like I fit in the over 50 group. It could be worse. I could look like I belong in a reality show.
For Real. Like Make Over My Ma.

I'm Not Old, Just Road Weary

After driving cross country to work in the Grand Tetons, I find myself disoriented.
Not much, just you know, having to repeat stuff to aid in the memory retention.

I'll be cooking all summer in this national park, a view to die for.
There's a room mate, but she's older than me, so we're going to get along just fine.
Sorta scoping out the place, trying to be cool with all new employees arriving hourly.
I love my job description, Pastry Cook.

All I ask is for no one to act like I'm old.
I will blow your socks away once this road exhaustion wears off.
I promise you.

I Will Facebook for Grandkids

Happy Mother's Day y'all.
I logged on this morning to check up on the family. Facebook makes this possible.
My daughters post regularly. I watched my oldest granddaughter playing the backing rack as a guitar while singing a gospel song.
I read about my daughter shopping in a nearby town while hubby held the fort.

I read favorite recipes, watched a puppy video, and took a survey.
Facebook is hilarious.
Youtube is right up there too.
I don't own a dog, but the Internet is nearly as good. Don't have to take it for a walk, worry about stained carpeting, or if I can bring it on my road trip.

On the other hand, my computer doesn't sleep on my bed, watch the latest episode of Jay Leno with me, or require compassion and caretaking.
Not usually. Unless some crazy ad is trying to pop up, and I want to smash it.
That's a whole nother story.
Anyways, if you're not on Facebook yet, try it.

New Rants Possible

I'm about to head cross country to work in a National Park. I'm a gal who loves cooking in large quantities, making beautiful food.

I get my jobs through http://coolworks.com
It has groups called Older and Bolder, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons etc. Join one or all, chat, post questions, read job offers.

Every time I head across the country, I stay in motels, meet youngsters and interact with really different people. In my head, I'm this youngish mature woman, who does not  look her age, who has it going on.

Strange when I get asked for my AARP card, if I want the senior discount, or if I need to take a break.
Why would anyone even think that?

Whatever.
I feel older when I'm around my grandkids, true. I feel marvelously young when hiking the back country alone, pepper spray and day pack of emergency stuff at the ready.

How does one gal feel all of that and not want to banish mirrors? With enough ibuprofen I can do anything.

A Good Day

Today is a good day for America.

People are rejoicing in the streets.

We see our President strong and decisive.

Recovery is underway for our people in the South.

Hope is being revived. I love it.

While a pacifist, I strongly believe in self defense. Try to walk away, but if someone brings the attack, by all means defend yourself.

Ok, I'm Gonna Say It

Good thing about being a senior, or nearly one, is the ability to just say it. Lay it out there, let the chips fall where they may.

The one good thing about Donald Trump and his republican debut is we no longer have to suffer with so much Sara Palin. The woman makes me nuts.

I love a good debate, especially one with smart people talking real facts. It's down right painful to have to sift through the lies and hyperbole to arrive at some semblance of reality.

Please, quit all that silly jargon, Sara. Just can't take listening to that "hopey changey stuff" you throw out at the American Public.

So, I've said it. I voted for Obama, and he's had a long hard road. Handed two wars, a trashed economy rife with scandals, bail outs, and fraud, a health care system for the rich and a mess of international affairs, the guy is trying.
It's a crazy recession, one they try to tell us actually ended. Well, I'm not feeling it.
So, bottom line, Donald, you are entertaining and preventing the Palin from gaining traction.

What a comic relief, if nothing else.
And that's my rant for today.
Happy Easter and Royal Wedding.

Keep Your Hands Off Social Security

We keep hearing about the budget, the main drains being Medicare, Social Security and Defense.

We know somethings got to be done, but what I want them to know, them being rich politicians who sure as hell wouldn't take a pay cut, a furlough with out pay, cut in benifits, loss of perks or any other such sacrifice we are expected to make in the name of a sane affordable future for our kids.


What kills me is the word "entitlements". Anyone nearing the gold years of collecting some social security knows they've paid in to the system. Every pay check, every year you raised kids, paid taxes, voted, volunteered for civil projects, we baby boomers are expecting to get back some of that.

I know AARP has stats on this, but what percentage of seniors are living solely on social security?

What percentage of seniors need this social security as a vital part of their budget?

We baby boomers are a huge voting block. Don't go taking away our hope of a decent life when we retire by choice or default.

Now that they've gotten us used to no cost of living increase, we're hearing there is actually inflation going on.

It's time to demand some respect. Baby Boomers, Seniors, social security is the investment we've made over 60 years of life time. We want it. We're not donating it to pay off the bail outs of bankers and corporations who don't even pay taxes, who boast billion dollar quarterly profits.

I get it, some youngsters collecting on the social security disablement clause could get a little more scrutiny. Those making huge bucks need to continue paying a percentage into the fund, forget about a cap on taxing their gross income.

If you take away money from seniors, it has to come some other way. We won't be going out to dinner, buying clothes, going on trips, giving grandkids presents.

Is that what politicians want to see happen?

And thats my rant for today.

That Huge Easter Basket

With Easter right around the corner Wal Mart's got the Easter baskets in the main aisle. Those prefab, wrapped gift baskets look like they belong at Birthdays or Christmas.

I mean, when you were growing up, did you get a fluffy 20 inch stuffed bunny in your basket. One had a basket ball in it!
These baskets are going for ten to twenty bucks.
I remember the small colorful wicker basket with plastic grass, ninety percent jelly beans, a few chunky white filled eggs, a real hard boiled egg, one or two fabulous chocolate cream filled eggs, maybe a Peep, rarely, I 'm saying very rarely a chocolate 3 inch bunny.

What has happened here?
Every holiday is overwhelmed with junk. Driving into town I see actual plastic eggs hanging off a deciduous tree. Please, have mercy.

Time for us to down size and get back to the Basic Basket. No toys, no electronics. Just good old fashioned candy, of manageable size.
How can we keep up with the Jones if the Jones are constantly buying all the biggest baskets for kids who have so much crap, anyways? Continually upping the gifting is going to bite in the long haul.

Just saying.

Liev Schreiber is Fantastic

I truly enjoyed Liev Schreiber's work in Defiance, a true story of the Jewish resistance during World War II. I know I've seen his work before. Wikipedia to the rescue returned stunning information. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liev_Schreiber Like many artists, his family has some wonderfully weird history. Not your domestic tranquility or boring American family. Free Love, lobotomy, LSD, all the makings of interesting lineage. Recently I saw Sum of All Fears. Liev is brilliant here as well. He's got that don't mess with me, totally capable warrior thing going on. I love it. I'm not a celebrity groupie. I don't care what anyone does in their off time. But this guy's bio caught my attention because he just does his stuff so believably. That is important in good film. If the actor isn't believable, the story falls apart. Thats my take, anyways.

The Japanese call it Ikigai

Reading the latest issue of AARP, yes, I qualify to be a member, we find the good Doctor Mehmet Oz reminding us that it's important to stay active in senior-hood.

I really enjoy Doctor Oz's approach to life, an exploration of possibilities and laughter.
He writes: Instead of treating retirement as a time to take it easy, I purpose a different path. In Japan they call it ikigai, which means "the reason for which we wake up in the morning."

Doctor, I get up each morning because it hurts too much to lay there any more. All the aches, pains, and stiffness that goes with staying in one position too long make me approach mornings with zest.
I get up , brew some coffee, read , and plan the day's adventures. Stretching helps.
Not wanting to overdo the Tylenol, I take the natural path.

Does that count?
Use it or lose it applies to cognition as well as large muscle groups. Keeping plenty of options open is my strategy:
hike to the river, or hike to the cave,or hike to the spring,or hike to the road.

Life doesn't have to be boring. Some days I get out of bed on the right side.
Some days I choose the left.

What's Up With Elf Ears?

I don't get it.
Why would a person be allowed to mutilate another person's ears?
I understand why kids would do it: get a rise out of us oldsters, be part of the herd while making a bold statement, turn heads, cry for help without cutting their wrists.

I met several kids working in Yellowstone who had enormous, we're talking two inch diameter, rings embedded in their ear lobes instead of your every day pierced ears. Sort of African Bush.

Kids forget one day they'll be looking over a senior coffee, reading the town blotter, fighting a spreading waiste line, drawing on eye brows and plucking rouge hairs.
Like the rest of us.

Then, how are they gonna feel about the ears that were clipped at the top, sewn back together, allowed to heal in a definitely pointed Elfshape?
Body art, common tattoos and multiple piercings just don't rate anymore cause us Near Senior-hoods are doing it too. Clearly the way to discourage stupid behavior.

So, my solution?
All of us with less than half a century of life expectancy go get your ears mutilated.
That will stop this trend dead in its tracks.

Five R Survival Strategy

The Five Rs I've identified for the Survivalist are:

Reduce the clutter, the obligations, the amount of stuff you own.

Reuse the things you have until they are worn completely out.

Repair the things you have to prolong their use.

Recycle everything you can by remaking it into personal use items, donating them to a thrift store, or to a recycle center.

Redefine the things you need in life for comfort, safety and emotional well being.

Redefining your needs is a long term project if you've been raised in a middle or upper class environment. I take it one day at a time. It doesn't mean buying cheap stuff. Maybe it means buying one good thing, and spending more on it.

These skills are earth friendly and lower your carbon footprint.
In a true survival situation that wouldn't be the primary concern. Right now I can afford to care about the planet.


Each of these Rs will have a day of its own to be really explored. Please stay tuned, share and comment.

Drugs for Seniors

I read an article that dealth with older folks getting on so many medications they were causing complications leading to dementia, feebleness, and depression.

Its depressing enough just being on one drug. Right now I'm taking metrodidazole, a generic form of Flagal.
The list of side effects range from blindness to nausea, bowel problems, dizziness, persistent nerve problems, loss of appetite, and more.

Nausea and dizziness are acceptable. A person's got to get an infection under control. But Blindness?

Got me scared. My appetite is fine, thanks. No dizziness, but if I wake up screaming cause I went blind, the shtf, if you know what I mean.

Dummy Pills-the Dumbing Down of Language

"... also appeared to be less common in women who'd taken estrogen than among those on dummy pills. An editorial accompanying the study notes that those findings contrast with many studies linking estrogen"--from an article on Estrogen studies.

Dummy Pills?
What's up with that? In my day they were called Placebo, a pill without drugs used to do comparison studies with other drugs. A placebo tests the "mind" affect, the possiblity that a person's belief that they are receiving medication will actually give them the same benifits as the actual drug.

Our bodies are amazing. Given the right atmosphere, the right foods and emotional support, they will heal. The article talks about using drugs to alliviate symptoms. How about we try natural things like flax seed (found in the baking aisle), sunshine (vitamin D is found to reduce cancer, stroke and a host of other problems), exercise (improves mood, flexibility, joint pains).
I'm all for taking personal responsibility for our own health, and limiting drug exposure. Sometimes you got to do it, I understand.

So why can't we use the proper words? Have American's become so dumb that they need the easiest word, words even a two year old can understand?

This excellent article had a lot of useful information, but using the term "dummy pills" repeatedly turned me off. This is medical information. Can't we use real terms and quit dumbing down the English Language?

O.K. I'll take a deep breath.
That's my rant for today.

Sex and the City 2- A Movie Review

Samantha is a whopping 52 year old going through menopause with a bucket of pills and creams to ease the journey.

Kari is having marriage issues with Big, who we now can know as "John" and as a rookie in the game, must be cut some slack.

Miranda changes jobs to be more appreciated and learns arabic.

Charlotte has a braless nanny worth her weight in gold because of her talent for the ever crying two year old.

This movie is two and a half hours of make believe. I watched the series when the girl friends were out on the town, facing real life as they saw it in a Shoe Filled world. Bad examples, they slept with random men, even on the first date. In my day, it was scandolous to even kiss a guy, much less let him get to second base.

What are the messages here? You gotta love the cast of guys, husbands, loving and tolerant of these spoiled fancy pants women.

I'm not your typical gal approaching senior-hood. I'm way more basic and down to earth. You'll not catch me running around the house in four inch heels, don't care how cute as kittens they are.
A dress, on your day off? You're kidding me. I feel about dresses the way a guy feels about a suit coat. I feel about nylons and heels the way a guy feels about a tie.
Its for special occassions.
We fell in love with our four gals on the HBO Hit Series Sex and the City.
Not so much on these last two movies.
But, what ever, I'll still watch them when I get around to it. Not something I would buy, rent or see twice, however.
Just me.

FaceBook Skills

Everything I know about my grandkids, my kids, their friends, their LIKES, I learned on Facebook.

Its not really That bad, but interestingly each morning I turn on the computer, I can see new photos of the grandkids playing with toys, wearing each others shoes, saying silly things.

The cutest ever.
And, my kids will post stuff about coffee preferences, stuff they bought at the thrift store, who they're watching on t-v, all sorts of things you'd never imagine.

Its easy to join Facebook. Keep your privacy levels for friends only, don't put out your personal travel schedule, or post addresses or phone numbers online, and you're good to go.

I know, this new web thing can get intimidating. I read sucessful people never say they hate the internet.
I can see a love-hate relationship, for sure, kinda like the hubby.

True Confessions-I Read AARP

Reading the AARP magazine, I came across the article about people our age needing to stay "relevant" in to days work place. I admit, I never thought I became irrelevant. I have skills. As a cook with no "paper work" some say I can't claim chef. Non-cooks will call me a chef, seeing baked goods and fabulous platings as a sure sign of mastery. I've cooked in various kitchens, had to learn by the seat of my pants, and taught young culinary graduates how to make homemade soup. But that's OK, I understand. Face the stove. Some things come by experience. You can't get it all from reading. So, relevance. Apparently, you can go to http://onlineidcalculator.com

and find out what your Google Quotient is. Once I get brave enough, I'll try it. Its supposed to tell me how personal BRAND, meaning myself, is rated. The author of this AARP article found our he was Digitally Sidtinc, as opposed to Digitally Dissed. Hum. I'm getting some strong coffee, and trying it. After all, I may find out I'm not the person I thought I was.

Acronyms and Other Stuff

Webster defines and acronym as a word formed from the initial letter of each of the successive parts or major parts of a compound term.

For instance, MADD= pronounced as mad = mom's against drunk drivers

NINJA= no income, no jobs or assets.
Ninjas were given home loans. This seems silly cause anyone should know if you don't have a way to pay for something, you probably won't be able to pay for it. Resulting foreclosure crisis is the result of this silliness.

NIMBY = Not in my back yard.
Nimbists would love to have cheap nuclear energy, just don't put a reactor in their back yard, in their neighborhood, in their home state, hell, on their side of the country.

TEOTWAWKI = The end of the world as we know it.
I saw this word on a web site, which got me to thinking about "acronamics" to begin with. I pronounce it (probably wrong, who's to say?) Tee-oh-twaw-key
Preparations for this event range from outfitting travel trailers on private "junk land", storing tons of beans and rice, learning weaponry, and basically anything frugal. I'm a survivalist, I guess, more mobile though.

EGADS = Eating gross and disgusting stuff.
Yup, I made this one up when reading survival blogs about all the crap we may end up eating, so get used to it, and try some today.

Those of us approaching senior hood have seen a lot of bad stuff in our days. We lived through the horrible Vietnam Era, and if you'd asked me, I never thought we'd get ourselves swamped in another such war. But, whatever.
Things are different, more desperate, more deadly. This whole radiation thing needs solving.
Kids,got any ideas?
Maybe if we poured vinegar on the whole mess. Or baking soda.
That stuff seems to work for a bunch of stuff.

Threau Said Some Stuff!

H.D Thoreau is always worth quoting. Even if you don't have a clue what he was saying, you end up sounding educated and profound.

His works and views never got much press, until the 70s. No doubt many of you know what I mean: that hippy era during our coming of age.

Here's a quote I never remembered:
Do what you love. Know your own bone: gnaw at it, bury it, unearth it, and gnaw it still.

and

Let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred, or a thousand.

Both of these point to minimalism, which of course he was famous for, if he ever was famous at all.

Streamlining stuff, not getting overly invested in other people's agendas (hey, how about that bake sale?) and knowing thyself.

I like that. My good friend says he doesn't like a lot of stuff, but the stuff he does like, he likes a lot of it.
Sounds minimalist to me. Finding that good chew toy that you love, and just love the pieces out of it.

I'm not going to be buying that new fangled lavendar purse, do don't even try it. I like some good solid royal blue, ranger green, basic black, pure white, outrageous red. Too many colors going on mean too many things that don't match, in my books.

Thats my bone for today.

Because We Can

I just finished reading an Outside magazine story of a guy taking his 94 year old grandma on a road trip down the Oregon Coast.

Her 60 year old "caretaker" accompanies them, giving grandson the total freedom to drive and chat with this sweet lady.

I love the freedom elders get once they reach that ripe age. We can just say anything we want, you can just listen to stories decades old winding history into our reminising.

Why do we older folks say outragous stuff?
Because we can!
And don't think we don't see your shock, we're just loving it.



Three travel tips evolve from this experience, which I'll share for posterity's sake:

Tip #1 Don't sweat the food. As granny says, "you're eating to exist, not to get fat". So what if its PB sandwhiches all day?


Tip #2 Stop wherever the hell you want. As grandson worries they may have missed the last RV camping park (they're renting a 30 footer), grandma states " We'll just pull over where ever we want. Don't need reservations for anything!"


Tip #3 Slow down and check out everything. Its ok to stop at a view, a mile marker, a McDonalds. Its about the journey, and how can you remember the journey if you don't see anything?

Next time an elder starts telling a rambling story, don't worry what our point is, or how come we're telling it. We tell because we can.

Thats a perk of senior hood.

Pretty Passionate About My Stuff

I get pretty passionate about my beliefs.
Take Japan for instance.
They are having a really hard time over there.
People are being housed in bulk form, no food and little water.

The sweet little angel faces of children make our hearts yearn.
Yet.
Yet, natural disasters happen. This one wouldn't be near as bad if there weren't so many nuclear reactors involved. We have radiation leakage of levels unknown for lengths of time. Desperate measures including water cannons and fire trucks, sea water and spewing steam to avert complete blow up.

Holy cow. Is it time to cash in the IRA and go on a spending spree? The first thing I would buy is a truck load of food and water. Bottom line, you can't live with out that.

I know the world has gone through wars, famines, plagues, and Lady Diane's auto accident.
This just seems way different.
Seems like we are being lied to at every level, and told not to worry.

I bought a big chocolate candy bar today. I ate it all. Not gonna worry.

Time to Grow the Hell Up

ok so i lost my debit card today , i started praying LORD please let me find my card. looked in the kids room and there it was .Esther had got in my purse last night.so glad GOD is mindful of the big and small things.he is always there when we call on him.


This is an actual post I read on Face book today, my daughter's friend posted this.
Yes, after Japan has experienced a major earthquake, suffered tsunami, and explosion at one of its Nuclear plants.

God cares about a debit card.
Please!

Can you be any more trivial, lady? If you would put your purse away in the first place, "ester" wouldn't be getting into it. She might find other things in that purse as well, like pennies to swallow, medications, sharp objects. This borders on child abuse or neglect.

I think its time to get real about whatever god you think you're serving.
Even more disturbing is her friends chiming in that they feel the same way, this same stuff happens to them. Their god answers these "tragic" emergency cries for help.

Can we all grow up and put in a word for Japan?

Study on Condoms for Seniors

The article was entitled, " Boomer's Bed Habits" and the graph accompanying it showed percentages of males and females who used condoms. You can see the graph in the Reader's Digest, March 2011, page 23.

This study was done at Indiana University and they found that while kids age 14-17 used condoms 80% of the time, whether in a monogamous relationship, male or female, by the time they reached 50, men only used them 40% of the time when with causal partners. Otherwise, no, not until they reached 70.

I looked at the female patterns, and although it declined as well, nothing was used after the age of 70. Guys, for some reason, decided to start using them again, whether they were in relationships or just causual.

Questions:
Are these old guys doing it with youngsters, so don't want to get them pregnant?
Are these old guys thinking its pretty awesome they still have the wherewithal to even get one on?

Are these old women not worried about pregnancy, aids or anything else cause you gotta die sometime?
Are women over 70 just not getting any?


I'll be wracking my brain over these questions, so please leave me a comment. I'd love to hear your take.

Too Ugly for Mom

This Mother's Day, be kind.

I saw a whole page in a Men's Journal dedicated to the Mom in your life.

A pair of white pajamas loaded down with red cherries print.

A bracelet with all the kids names spelled out.

A canvas art piece where photos of the kids were printed on it, then custom framed.

Tooth whitening product. anti aging serum.

Please. We'll take care of our anti aging program, advertise how many kids we birthed, or hang family photos on our over hung walls.

I hate prints, especially dorky ones. Maybe I sleep nude, ever thought of that?

For mom's day, some gourmet chocolates, a gift certificate to amazon.com or even walmart is fine. A card. Money is optional.

Not every woman wants to advertise how many kids she's had, swap out coveted art pieces for family collages, or try new Youth Promises in a Jar.

A spa date with the daughters? That could be fun.

We still have style. Try not to give mom anything that screams Nursing Home.

That's my rant for today.

Thanks for listening.

I Love Toby Maguire

Reading the May 2007 edition of the Men's Journal
Number one, he was 32 that year, which makes him about 36 now (depending on his birth month). Not a kid, yet not quite a boomer, still he has some great qualities.

First, who the hell is Toby Magire?
A few of his awesome movies are Cider House Rules, Spider man I and Spider man II, Seabisuit, and Brothers. He plays hero and villain equally well. You just want to give him a big hug to get him through the pain.

Frugal enough to take coach. OCD enough to admit to a journalist, "I have an addictive nature, an obsessive-compulsive nature. I go to addictive extremes...". Private enough to require thought before blurting out an answer for print.

These are admirable traits in any artist.


I love a person who is so Themselves without regret or apology.
If everyone on the block is getting tattoos, stay the hell away from them.

If red is the new black, never wear red.
You get my drift.

Is this a Grandma Print?

Funny how something can look so hot on a model and look like a grandma print on us.

I thought animal prints were in. Or, that shimmery holiday shirt. A pastel print. Heavens, no flowers or holiday motifs.
Turns out it looks old lady.
The only thing that looks great anymore are intense solids, like royal blue, hot pink, black, red, violet purple, white.
So, sorting the wardrobe, I promise myself, no matter what, never buy another print.

I love the green foliage look.
Grandma.

I love the neon rainbow tie dye shirt.
Grandma.

Now, nothing against grandma. But, I ask myself, "what would Tina Turner wear?"
Check out My Hero page, liked to this blog. She's one of them, aging hot and sexy.

Getting my closet under control means throwing the hell away anything I won't wear.
Grandma prints.

Any Prints.

What Is Minimalism?

I'm what you'd call a minimalist.
Thats a word with potentially many meanings.

Sorta frugal, sorta downsized, sorta hate clutter.

But its more than that. It pisses me off that our economy is based on consumerism. And when we're not buying a bunch of stuff, consumer confidence is said to be low.

Maybe we just don't need anything right now. Maybe we're getting those last miles out of the Geo, and this laptop will do until the MacAffey is up for renewal. I spent Twenty nine bucks on this virus protection and I want my full year's subscription.

Its time consuming looking for matching socks in a drawer full of singles. So, sort them out, downsize and save gray matter for more important things like taxes and Facebook.

Too many magazines just get on my nerve. I read them and recycle. If anything needs saving, I cut that article out, paste it in a tiny notebook. Yup, you're right. By the time I have to do all that, the article just doesn't seem that profound anymore.

I qualify as a minimalist. I believe we need to look at what we have in the closet before heading out to improve the Economy by shopping. That attitude helps My Personal economy, and gives me time to write this blog.

A girl's gotta have a hobby!

Facing My Reality

The memories I thought would never fade have already been replaced by my favorite delusions.

This reality has finally sunk in.

I still feel young, strong, hot.
When ever I go shopping, cute clothes jump in my cart. Animal prints, clingy shirts, short shorts, I even looked a bikinis.

I seem to forget that the last time I tried on clothes nothing looked right. A mom-body was looking back at me from the dressing room mirror.
When did this happen? When did the mom-body emerge from the babe-body?

Facing this reality is going to save me money, weeping and knashing of teeth. Don't even buy that stuff. Clear out the closet of anything that looks wannabe.

As long as I stay away from mirrors, I'll be O.K.

Three Million to Figure Out Why?

In the local paper, we find the Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan went to North Carolina State University to bestow a grant to develop an obesity prevention program. The researcher Sarah Bowen "will work to gain a better understanding how the "food environment" affects patterns of obesity.

Haven't we done this before? Does it take $3,026,939 taxpayer dollars to figure out that too many calories, too little exercise, food laden with crap and a neighborhood filled with fat people turns our little kids into fat people too?

Ask a senior. This is easy stuff. For $1,000 I will write an entire book on the subject. Not like every magazine on the rack doesn't offer a new diet, new exercises, new recipes to get us back on the lean track. Studies show if you hang out with fat friends, you tend to get fat yourself. Its accepted.

Dr. Oz, http://doctoroz.com

is constantly showing us more ways to move our collective butts, eat better, and how the food we scarf today will affect the way we enjoy life tomorrow.

Bring back the garden! Doctor Oz tells us we need more vitamin D. Free from the sun.
Get some good vegetables coming out of the earth. Have kids learn how to plant, pull weeds, harvest, shuck corn. Bring back the block baseball teams, the playing tag in the front lawn.

I don't think more money is needed to study anything. We need commitment as role models. Check out our food misconceptions. Every family gathering is full of buffet tables and the stuff is available. Drawers are full of "goodies". Skip that. Bring back the fruit bowl, or just regular meals.

Our portions are out of control.
Commitment to be the best role models we can be.
The information is already out there.

Outside Mag-Get Real, Boys

Don't you just hate these kids getting into extreme sports and acting like elitist big shots? Dissing older folks like we're golf course material, stay off Their river?

Well, the Word to you all....been there, done that, no big whoop.

You can always go home to momma.
How about those explorers, L & Clark, heading out to check out the Louisiana Purchase, Major Powel running the mighty Colorado, or before that, ol' Daniel Boone? If they got in over their heads, no one would scrape them off the pavement.

Their stuff was all home made. Did they care how tight or loose or how much butt crack was showing? God no. Stay warm, stay in the boat, keep your powder dry. Ain't no momma expecting you tonight.

How about some diversity? Can we all play nice, accept who ever shows up, regardless of age, gender, t-shirt color or design, cog-count, or new techie gadgets?

Just sayin'

And that's my rant for today.

Moms Are People Too

I like to play in the woods.
From the time I was a kid building forts has always been fun.

Some people call this a "nesting" instinct.

Could be. Could be its just the sunshine, the rustling leaves, making something new.

This shelter was made with long branches and leaves. Its something you could do with your grandkids. I have a page at this blog called "Grandkids" that talks about other things I like to do with them as well.

Things that are down home, and inexpensive. Not the amusement park kind of stuff.

Sometimes when my kids are reminiscing about their childhood, I'm amazed at the crazy stuff they remember. With six kids, there was always lots of energy. We'd divide up chores, everything from unloading the car from a camping trip to making supper and dishes. It teaches life skills and kept them from boredom.

They knew if they complained about being bored I'd have a job for them.

I laugh, and sometimes blush, when they tell our stories. Hey, I had to get through it someway. After all, moms are people too!

Other Web Places for Fun

This page

http://www.seniorcitizenhumor.blogspot.com/

has a lot of good stuff to make the day brighter.
The page's welcome mat says "Welcome to Geezer Planet". There's comics, funny photos, and jokes. I especially enjoy reading the blog located via link Arthur Ritis. Hilarious stuff.

I found
http://www.seniorcitizenweblog.com/
during one of my websurfing days.
This quote I found on the opening page:

"SeniorCitizenWebLog.com is a ‘Blog’. A Chronological Stream of Thoughts and Ideas that Interest the Author, a Senior Citizen. Concerns: Direction of Our Country. Reshaping America along European Socialist lines. Our Political Ruling Class: Our ‘Nomenclature’.* National Health Care targeting Medicare for Cuts to Pay for It. Senior Organizations, e.g. AARP that appear to be in bed with the Gov’t."

showed me that there would plenty of good material there.

I love the internet!

Cosmopolitan Mag-Rag

Reading the Cosmopolitan Magazine I'm struck by how Generation Whatever it is.

So much Guy Views, and fashion nothings, then there's trash talking. You can get an update on the new vocabulary : spinners (short legged girls who can....well, we won't say) midbooty (middle of getting it on), and frenemy (that one's obvious...that two faced player).

I pick up a wide assortment of free magazines at this thrift store. Thats how I ended up reading and reviewing this one.
Oh my god, it even told about how Different the 30's are from the 20s. Don't worry, gals, you're not getting older, you're getting better.

You're just a sprout. Don't even think you're half way to better yet.

What Do You Bring to the Table

Experts recommend resumes which detail skills which are transferable.
No longer is "team player" the catch phrase it once was.

Instead, we're instructed to talk about What We Bring to The Table.

OK. I can do that.

But, I'm over 50. And I have friends who are over 60 looking for a seasonal job.
They've been bringing stuff to the table for over 40 years. Its pretty good if they just get to the table, don't worry about bringing Anything.

The mere fact we made it to this ripe old age, can read and write fluently, probably have vacationed around the globe, raised kids, kept clothes on every one's back (and clean ones, at that) should speak to our desirability as employees.

Check our credit scores! Go ahead, we're pretty solvent, if not resourceful.

Check our background references. At our age, if they're still alive, we wouldn't list them unless we already know they'll say good things.

I'm coming to the table. Bringing everything I got. That's old school. How we been raised. How we raised our kids. How we hope our kids raise our grand kids, with pride in their work and themselves.

What do I put down on that resume? I bring enthusiasm and passion. You can teach skills til the cows come home, but you can't teach passion.

That's it for today's rant. See you tomorrow.

Seniors are People Too

I have a lot of interests.
Two other blogs:
http://thefemalesurvivalist.blogspot.com
and
http://brawnyview.blogspot.com
I've been writing for awhile. You'll find tons of adventures, videos, mishaps, and views on outdoor stuff.


I guess that's one reason I need this space, too. The mom side of me, the grandma needs a place to share. A place to write about crazy happenings occurring to me as I get some age on me.

When I go to Lowe's or Home Depot, I learned to wear heels, tight jeans and makeup. A lot more help seems to be available to hunt down those weird hard wear contraptions. If I'm wearing sweats, guess it looks like I know what I'm doing. Not the case.


My home page is http://trailquest.net/BRindex.html
There you can read about all the trails I've hiked, things I've made, read advice on going light weight and even extreme ultralight backpacking . Its been a passion of mine for many years.


I'm pretty independent and encourage women to be that way. Carry your own baggage. Men got enough of their own, I always say.

Sometimes my kids are surprised to find out what I'm up to. I posted to Facebook "Everything I know about my kids I learned on Facebook". Ain't it the truth. That goes for grandkids, in-laws, and exes.


Guess they got to surf a little to find out about the real me, too.

God Is Not a Woman

There's just no way god's a woman. If that were the case, our aging would be a beautiful process.

We wouldn't have hairs getting misdirected from places they belong, to places of distress.



We wouldn't have sleepless nights and hot flashes as we near the peak of our wisdom.

Our bosoms would stay in place, without wrinkles. Age spots,those nasty brown blotches, would be for bananas only. Period.
But, kicking and screaming, we head to the current state of affairs.



Women of Age must either be content with a negative beauty quotient, or fight like a Salmon heading upstream to spawn, employing every resource and investigative procedure to find out what works for them.


Yes, guys have the same problems. Men of Age have hairs appearing in the craziest of places. Their stuff doesn't function as readily as it once did.

Like us, they start being all torso, sinking into puffer-fish-dom: a couple spindly arms and legs springing from a roundish body.


Working out helps some. But it used to be way easier, and more rewards for the effort.


The advantage of having your life partner, significant other, mate, spouse, or "boyfriend" being the same age or even older, is there is tolerance.

I'm still the "hot young chick" for my man. He's older, wiser, and a definite stud muffin.

He always says it takes two of us to watch a movie. His good eyes, my better hearing.
Together, presuming we can catch the flick from the start, we figure out what is going on.

The Senior Coffee

I'm starting this blog cause there's gotta be a place we can rant about senior hood.

It all started when my life partner came home to tell me about his experience at McDonald's.

Wanting just a cup of coffee, and a few moments respite from the town day, he orders up the coffee, and the employee says, "That will be a dollar seven."

"What?" my man asks," I thought it was forty five cents?"

"Oh, you want the Senior Coffee" he loudly replied, stunned that anyone would actually admit to being a senior, I guess.

After my man told me this, I was insulted. Last time I was in McDonald's, they just automatically gave me the Senior Coffee!

I don't look that old.

And besides, when does senior hood start?

Is it fifty, fifty five, sixty two when you can get social security?

I love a good discount, but feel free to card me. And, keep your voice down, young man, when you ask if I want the senior anything.