BOOMER WORLD

Don Cornelius Put Future African American Baby Boomers on the Dance Map

2012-02-01T11:15:00.006-05:00

If you're an African-American baby boomer, you grew up with Don Cornelius and the Soul Train gang.

I was 14-years-old when the show made its debut. Before that I was a fan of American Bandstand and a local dance show out of Cleveland, OH---even though there were very few black faces.

I remember how excited I was to see people who looked like me on Soul Train dancing to the music I heard on the radio. Hearing my hometown music heroes, The O'Jays, singing the theme song and seeing someone I knew from high school dancing on the show kept me glued to my TV set every Saturday at noon.

Don Cornelius and Soul Train not only showcased the big stars, but we were also introduced to the up and coming talent and the blue-eyed soul of acts like Hall and Oates and Average White Band.

Who could forget the soul train scramble board or the dance line, where everyone became a star with their own unique style of dance? Soul Train became so popular at one point that some whites started complaining that they were being discriminated against because none of them were represented on the show.

According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, Soul Train became the longest-running first-run nationally syndicated show in television history, bringing African American music and style to the world for 35 years.

Soul Train put future African-American baby boomers on the dance map in a mighty big way. I am sad to learn of the death of Don Cornelius but as he would say, "I'm Don Cornelius, and as always in parting, we wish you love, peace and SOOOOOUL!

Baby Boomer Obesity and Paula Deen

2012-01-19T10:57:00.005-05:00

In case you haven't heard, baby boomers are becoming known for more than being the "greatest generation." According to the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, a unhealthy percentage of us are being treated for obesity. And who might we have to thank for that?

Some are now pointing their bellies, hips and thighs to the queen of southern cooking: Paula Deen. This week, Deen announced she has Type 2 Diabetes---even though she continues to promote her high fat, high calorie recipes as the "best tasting, finger-lickin' good" food you'd ever want to eat. It's no secret she has made millions off of non-suspecting baby boomers with her products and best selling book, Paula Deen's Southern Cooking Bible.

But now get this: Paula says she is now teaming up with Novo Nordisk to endorse the company's diabetes drug Victoza. Victoza is an injectable drug used with diet and exercise to control blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. She also claims she will be donating a portion to the American Diabetes Association.

I wonder if the portion she plans to donate will be as hefty as those southern "kill me with a heart attack, hypertension, diabetes" dishes she's served up to us gullible boomers.

Should You Age Disgracefully?

2011-12-22T12:57:00.005-05:00

Special Guest Post by Jane Baskin

Jane Baskin, author of Jane of the Jungle, thinks you should.

“People say there’s something to be said for aging gracefully,” says Baskin. “Baloney. Between the longer lifespan and the economy, it’s time to age with attitude.”

• If it sags, lift it. 13.1 million plastic surgery procedures were performed in 2010. Why not?
• If it’s gray, dye it.
• If it’s baggy, throw it out.
• If it’s stuffy-sedate, avoid it.
• If it’s lonely, check out Meetup.com. (this is not a dating site)
• If it’s still lonely, run as fast as you can to the nearest saloon and talk to strangers. It’ll do in a pinch.

To the many seniors crippled by the recession, she says, “If your choices have been cut back, you may be bent, but you don’t have to be broken. Hit the road. Live cheap. Live in an RV, stay with friends, live in your car. Be like you were when you were young and carefree, and thumb your nose at misfortune.”

Mind you, Baskin is not trying to deny aging. “Of course we’re going to get older. But over the hill has become a very long trek these days,” she says. “We have to do it differently.”

Longer lifespans are becoming the norm. Social Security estimates that most baby boomers will live to an average 93 years of age.

“It used to be, you worked ‘til 65 or so, hit the rocking chair, and waited,” says Baskin. “In most cases, it wasn’t that long of a wait. But now, it could be 25 or 30 years or more. That amounts to 2,912,000 rocks for the duration of your retirement. Are you kidding?

“I believe in a whole second stage of life – ‘Life 2.0.’ Rather than becoming sedate, this is the time to kick up your heels. This is the time to not give a tinker’s damn what people think of you. It’s a second childhood, the last one you’ll ever have. If you really want to bake cookies, do it in between adventures.

So, skip the mumu and the rocking chair. Skip the tea parties unless the company is lively and the tea is spiked. Says Baskin, “Gray is for cars and gun barrels. Dye your hair. Lift your face if you want. Work out, run, dance, use it or lose it. With modern medicine, nutritional and exercise science, you can be healthier than some thirty-year olds when you’re in your sixties and beyond. So I ask you, why not?”

“And if some kid in the saloon where you’re playing trivia for free drinks calls you ‘grandpa,’ tell him, ‘Fasten it, kid. I’m old enough to really know this stuff.’ And then go ahead and win the trivia. You could take a snapshot of his face on your cell phone, but that might be nasty.”

About Jane Baskin
Jane Baskin is a former Boston TAB features writer and clinical social worker. She lives in the mountains outside Albuquerque, New Mexico, with her husband and their herd of dogs and cats. For more on the adventures of aging disgracefully, visit Baskin’s blog, Forever Kinda Young, at http://foreverkindayoung.blogspot.com

Seniors and Plastic Surgery

2011-12-14T18:25:00.006-05:00

At one time about 5 years ago, I thought about having breast implants. My husband, however, convinced me I looked fine just the way I was. That's all I needed to hear to keep me from going under the knife. But what about those women 50 years old and older who don't have anyone to convince them breast implants aren't necessary? What about those women who truly believe breast enhancements will make them look younger and as appealing as they did 30 years ago? Certainly we all want to look as good on the outside as we may feel on the inside but what are we willing to risk in order to do it?

According to one cosmetic surgeon, as long as the patient is healthy there are no additional risks to the surgery nor a longer recovery time. As a matter of fact, nearly 85,000 people aged 65 and older are getting plastic surgery these days. Joan Rivers, at 78 years old, is one of them.

Here's my question, what is so bad about growing older? One would think it would be wiser to save your money to live well in retirement---not for the purpose of becoming well-endowed.

Baby Boomers Looking to God for a Hook Up

2011-12-13T16:18:00.001-05:00

If you're over the age and 40 and still single, chances are you have probably considered online dating as an alternative to finding a good mate. But which site(s) do you consider?

The fact that more and more baby boomers have gotten into the online dating game has created a million dollar industry for a number of sites like Match.com and eHarmony.com, to name a couple.

Now it appears another dating site has sprouted up and directly targeting the Christian community. In a recent press release, ChristianMingle.com announced that nearly two million singles joined ChristianMingle this year in hopes of finding God’s match for them. Now, with over 5 million registered members, ChristianMingle is the largest and fastest growing online community for Christian singles.

“ChristianMingle believes that marriage is important, but also that relationships and community are important,” said Matthew Barnett, ChristianMingle Advisory Board member and lead pastor of Angelus Temple. “ChristianMingle serves as a great resource for singles looking for companionship in like-minded Christians who share the same belief system and interests.”

Online dating through ChristianMingle is a targeted, self-selecting experience, based on the premise that Christianity is central to whom a person is and, therefore, the driving force behind what Christians look for in a potential mate.

So whoever thinks the internet is the devil's playground may need to think again.

Baby Boomers at Risk for Hepatitis C

2011-12-03T13:47:00.004-05:00

If you're a baby boomer who used heroin in the 60s, you may be at risk for Hepatitis C. Medical experts from the Montefiore Medical Center in New York are urging the general public to be tested for the Hepatitis C virus, especially baby boomers who, they say, could be most at risk for this disease. Baby boomers are more likely to have been exposed to dangerous risk factors decades ago, such as sharing a drug needle, being tattooed or pierced with unsterilized tools or receiving a tainted blood transfusion.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the most common chronic blood borne infection in the United States, with 35,000 to 185,000 new cases diagnosed per year. Worldwide, 180 million people are chronically infected with Hepatitis C, with an estimated 3-4 million new cases reported each year. The disease particularly affects Hispanics, Asian-Americans and African-Americans.

Unlike Hepatitis B, there is no vaccine to prevent this disease. While the symptoms are similar, distinct differences exist between the two viruses. Hepatitis B is primarily transmitted through sexual intercourse and is less severe.

Dr. Milan Kinkhabwala will be available for a live twitter chat to answer questions about Hepatitis C and liver disease on December 8, 2011 at noon. You can follow @MontefioreNews to discuss #MonteHepC.

How to Celebrate Thanksgiving When Your Nest is Empty

2011-11-23T15:50:00.002-05:00

Special Guest Post by: Kate Forgach, Baby Boomer consumer specialist for Kinoli Inc.

Have your children all flown the coop with nary a look backwards? For some, Thanksgiving is pretty lonely when your own flesh and blood can't make it home for even a brief visit. On the other hand, you might delight in your freedom from turkey tyranny. Either way, if you're a Baby Boomers lacking nestlings for the first time, you'll likely need to adjust holiday plans to better suit your new lifestyle.

After experiencing Thanksgiving without family several years, I came up with several ways to celebrate the holiday without feeling abandoned. Read on for six new Turkey Day traditions that might suit your needs. And Happy Thanksgiving!

1. Host an Orphan's Dinner
It really helps to remember you're not alone in this boat. There are plenty of people who'd greatly appreciate an invitation to socialize while enjoying a touch of turkey. I threw such a party last year and asked everyone to bring a dish to pass. The only thing I had to buy and prepare was the turkey, which made it even easier than being a parental unit in this scenario.

2. Retire to a Restaurant
Celebrate kicking the turkey habit by dining out at one of the many eateries that do all the work for you. You'll enjoy the football games much more if you don't have to leap up every 15 minutes to baste a bird. And, you can take advantage of cheap gift cards at such sites as GiftCardGranny to reduce your bill up to 30 percent.

3. Shop!
Black Friday has lately seceeded space to Grey Thursday. According to an article on FOXBusiness.com, more stores are offering doorbuster sales on Thanksgiving, so you could get some shopping done without facing the mass stampede to follow. Or you might hit the Internet and do some early cyber shopping. You can run price comparisons with a few mouse clicks and have gifts delivered directly to those ungrateful wretches to whom you gave life.

4. Spend the Day at a Shelter
One of my favorite Thanksgiving activities is cooking dinner at our local homeless shelter. Actually, I don't cook the turkey dinner itself, as there are plenty of people willing to do that. Instead, I use the leftovers to create future meals for the shelter. It just seems a huge waste to throw away all those bird bones when the makings for broth and casseroles are readily available. Visit HomelessShelterDirectory.org for a list of volunteer opportunities.

5. Brighten Someone Else's Day
The homeless aren't the only ones who could use your volunteer services. Many nursing homes and hospitals would greatly appreciate a visitor who will bring some friendship into what they may otherwise find a very lonely day. It's a win/win situation and you just might make some new friends. Check out this excellent blog post for some do's and don'ts when visiting hospitals and nursing homes during the holidays.

6. Get Out of Town
A childless couple I know make a point of leaving home for the holidays; usually preferring to spend the long weekend scuba diving. While part of the reason they skip town is to avoid miserable family gatherings, they also miss bad weather and crowds of shoppers. Not all of us can afford a sunny beach vacation, but you might team up with another singleton or couple and rent a cabin, or simply go for a long drive.

Baby Boomers and Obesity

2011-11-07T09:06:00.003-05:00

Nearly one out of every three people ages 50-59 is now considered obese, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control, compared to less than one in every five for people age 18 to 29. In addition, baby boomers are significantly fatter than their parents' generation, according to a study by the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Boomers are struggling to exercise enough to combat their expanding waistlines. But only one in four gets the amount of exercise experts recommend for staying healthy, according to a 2011 poll of nearly 1,500 adults by the Associated Press and LifeGoesStrong.com.

Obesity can lead to serious health problems including diabetes and heart disease and that takes a huge toll on healthcare expenses. For example, a 65-year-old who has been obese since age 45 personally incurs roughly $50,000 more in uninsured Medicare costs than a normal weight 65-year old does, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Medicare and Medicaid end up paying for roughly half of the cost of obesity, which was an estimated $147 billion in 2008, according to a study published in Health Affairs.

So the question is how much will you cost Medicare and Medicaid and what are you doing to stay in shape?

Family is Good for Your Health

2011-11-04T15:07:00.004-05:00

A new survey of 1500 older adults indicates health and well-being may actually depend, in part, on how much time they spend with their extended families.

The survey, commissioned by the National Council on Aging and Humana Inc suggests that family reunions and relationships inspire older adults to stay active and pursue their own well-being. It found that nearly 90 percent of those surveyed say they feel revitalized when they spend time with family and 70 percent say they wish they saw their families more throughout the year.

In addition, one-third of those polled say they see themselves as the "connector" in the family---meaning they believe their role is to encourage communication among other family members and help coordinate family gatherings and reunions.

For more information about this survey, visit www.Humana.com/family

Baby Boomer Criminals on the Rise

2011-10-28T07:48:00.004-05:00

Of course when I saw that headline online, I had to read on. Much to my surprise, the story wasn't about American criminals. This story generated out of Sweden, where it appears baby boomer men over there are causing the crime rate to skyrocket.

In 2001, the number of suspects in criminal investigations over the age of 50 was about 11,000. By last year, the number had increased to 21,000.

Law enforcement officials blame the lawlessness on the fact that the older generation is more active because they're traveling more and getting married later in life. They also grew up during a time of large scale social upheaval with more drugs about and less social control

And check this out: Fishing offenses are at the top of the list of crimes committed by the more mature Swedish criminal at 42 percent.

Meanwhile, 33 percent are suspected of indecent exposure offenses and another 33 percent of drunk driving.

In addition, 28 percent have purchased sex and 19 percent are under suspicion for other various sexual offenses.

Only 1.5 percent of the mature suspects are involved in aggravated robbery and one percent are under suspicion of mugging or burglary.

Only two Swedes over 50 have been caught actively defacing public property.

Well, the Swedish boomers have nothing on the boomers over here. Did you know America's Top CEO's (all boomers) earned $5.4 billion in 2009 as a result of corporate greed?

Here are the Top Ten Highest Pad CEO's according to Forbes magazine:

Richard Fairbank, age 55, Capital One Financial, earned $249 million

Terry Semel, age 63, Yahoo, earned $230.5 million

Henry Silverman, age 65, Cendant, earned $139.9 million

Bruce Karatz, age 60, KB Homes, earned $135.5 million

Richard S Fuld, Jr., age 60, Lehman Bros. Holdings, earned $122.6 million

Ryan R. Irani, age 71, Occidental Petroleum, earned $80.7 million

Lawrence J. Ellison, age 61, Oracle, earned $75.3 million

John W. Thompson, age 57, Symantec, earned $71.8 million

Edwin M. Crawford, age 57, Caremark Rx, earned $69.6 million

Angelo R. Mozilo, age 67, Countrywide Financial, earned $68.85 million

Is there really any comparison?

Boomer Humor

2011-09-22T09:19:00.004-05:00

A man and his ever-nagging wife went on vacation in Jerusalem . While they were there, the wife passed away. The undertaker told the husband, "You can have her buried here in the Holy Land for $150 or we can have her shipped back home for $5,000. The husband thought about it and told the undertaker he would have her shipped back home. The undertaker asked him, "why would you spend $5,000 to have her shipped home when you could have a beautiful burial here, and it would only cost $150????" The husband replied, "Long ago, a man died here, was buried here, and three days later, rose from the dead. I just can’t take that chance!"

Baby Boomers Take The Money and Run

2011-09-15T19:13:00.004-05:00

In a survey of millionaire baby boomers (of which I was NOT included), more than 50 percent said they had no plans to leave an inheritance to their children. One woman was quoted as saying she had made a lot of sacrifices for her children over the years, including paying her daughter's medical tuition.

Yes, we boomers have made sacrifices for our children over the years. I have gone without a new outfit on many occasions in order to make sure my daughter had clothes on her back and food on the table. I have passed up on exotic vacations so I could keep a roof over our heads. I spent my life working jobs I hated, often at the expense of my health or personal relationships.

It's funny---all of MY hard work, didn't make me a millionaire baby boomer.

According to the survey conducted by investment firm, U.S. Trust, some wealthy boomers worry that their kids will squander inheritance money or develop a sense of entitlement.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but many of the children of baby boomers that I've seen grew up believing that had a sense of entitlement because that's what their parents demonstrated. They were spoiled little rich kids who became intolerable young adults.

Perhaps this is a topic I'm not qualified to speak on because I don't fall into the "wealthy boomer" category and I do plan to leave my daughter whatever I have. Yes, I'm the minority--AGAIN.

To read the entire article, click here: No Baby Boomer Inheritance

Birthday Party Boomer Style

2011-08-04T17:32:00.002-05:00

Thinking about what to get for your half-century-old spouse or friend. Why not throw them a birthday party? Baby boomers like to party just like the generations after them. It doesn't have to be anything lavish, according to consumer and money saving expert Andrea Woroch. With the help of Facebook, Andrea says you can throw a back-to-basics bash.

Here are her tips:

1. Discount Decorations
Dollar stores are your go-to place for party decorations. You'll save up to 70-percent off party store prices and the selection is equally nice. Dollar stores also are a great place to finding inexpensive wrapping paper and reusable gift bags.

2. E-invitations
Facebook is one of the best ways to create a simple invitation using the "Event" function, but not everyone uses the social network. Several websites, including evite.com and SmileBox.com, offer free electronic invitations that do the trick while providing RSVP feedback.

3. Serve Finger Food
A four-course meal takes a lot of time, skill and money. Instead, keep guests happy with simple hors' doeuvres created in your kitchen. You'll want to avoid the pre-packaged appetizers from your grocery or specialty store as they'll cost you 40 percent to 60 percent more than homemade.

4. Borrow Your Finery
Stepping out in a new outfit or dress shirt will surely impress your guests, but it'll do little for your budget. Borrow something to wear from a friend for that special birthday-outfit feeling. If that's not possible, check out second-hand stores for a bit of frugal frippery.

5. Booze as Gifts
Instead of bringing gifts to the event, ask guests to contribute booze for the celebration. Alcohol is the most expensive element of any adult party, especially if you've invited a rowdy crowd.

6. Skip the Cake
Store-bought cakes are often expensive and don't always taste the best. Instead, serve simple cupcakes, baked goods, ice cream or -- horrors -- make your own cake from a box mix.

7. Select a Strategic Time Slot
Plan the event for directly after lunch or dinner, when guests will already have eaten and won't expect much in the way of food.

8. Register with CardAvenue.com
Take the burden off friends by having the birthday gal or guy register for gift cards at CardAvenue.com. They can buy discount gift cards for the recipients favorite stores or restaurants and they'll never know the cards were purchased at less than face value.

9. Don't Stress Out
You're less likely to buy extras at the last minute if you don't sweat the small stuff. Your role is to be a good hostess and you can't do that with frayed nerves.

You can party like it's 1979!

Middle Age Texting Codes

2011-07-22T14:30:00.004-05:00

One of the things I love about Facebook is there are quite of few of us baby boomers there sharing all kinds of information that's relevant just to us.

Recently, one of my connections posted on her status page a short list of middle age texting codes. I am sharing them here along with a few more I found along the way.

MIDDLE AGE TEXTING CODES:

ATD...at the doctor.
BFF...best friend fell.
BTW...bring the wheelchair.
FWIW...forgot where I was.
HFA...hot flash alert.
GGPBL..Gotta Go Pacemaker Battery Low.
GHA...Got Heartburn Again.
IMHO...Is My Hearing-Aid On.
LMDO...Laughing My Dentures Out.
ROFLACGU...Rolling On Floor Laughing And Can't Get Up.
TTYL..Talk To You Louder LOL
AARP...

What Happens When Baby Boomers Leave Corporate America For Good

2011-07-15T14:26:00.004-05:00

Baby Boomers in the workforce are being replaced by young people who just don't match up. That's the sentiment of former Federal Reserve chairman, Alan Greenspan, who refers to the boomer generation as "the most productive, highly skilled, educated part of our labor force."

Greenspan blames the problem on the educational system and I am a baby boomer who agrees with him. Personally, I think the entire educational system needs to be re-vamped. We have teachers in Atlanta resorting to cheating to get bonuses and producing kids with no academic skills. Colleges teach "theory" but don't prepare students for the REAL WORK ENVIRONMENT. There's something truly wrong.

Then we have parents who don't take the time to teach their children about manners, etiquette and respect. Oh, wait a minute. Aren't these baby boomers too? The same ones who may have been too busy working in Corporate America to deal with family values? Is this the boomer generation that thought it was cool to be their child's friend instead of a much-needed disciplinarian?

When baby boomers leave corporate america for good maybe they can spend some quality time with their children teaching them how to carry on the torch with dignity.

To read more of what Alan Greenspan has to say about the changing workforce, read here: Boomers

The Highs and Lows of a Baby Boomer Woman

2011-07-14T14:39:00.004-05:00

Although this is the time when baby boomer women should be embracing the second half of their journey, it appears that many of us are finding ourselves struggling with the highs and lows of living.

According to the latest findings of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, the average family caregiver is a woman in her late 40s who still has at least one child at home and works outside the home while providing an average of 20 hours a week of hands-on care for a loved one.

These women are reporting increases in sadness, stress, worry and lost sleep.

And if that isn't enough to depress you---the data also indicates nearly 70 percent of Baby Boomers are providing some financial support to their adult children and grandchildren. They are picking up the pieces as their sons and daughters lose jobs and bail out of over-mortgaged homes. Layer on top of that the cost of long-term health care for their parents, who are living into their 80s and 90s with multiple chronic illnesses.

I am no psychologist but the one thing I do understand at midlife is the following:

1) I can't be all things to all people

2) I am not Bank of America

3) Grown Children don't need hand-outs if they're making NO effort on their own

3) I am no longer going to bite off more than I can chew

4) I must take time for ME

So what advice do you have for someone who is facing similar challenges?

The Highs and Lows of Baby Boomer Women

2011-07-14T13:45:00.002-05:00

At a time when baby boomer women should be embracing the second half of their journey, some of us are finding ourselves struggling with the cost of the travel.

According to the latest findings of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, reveals the toll on emotional health for women in the core group of Boomers -- now in their mid-40s to mid-50s -- has a significant effect on our economy and the health of our nation. An increasing number of women who still have jobs are feeling increasingly dissatisfied with their work environment. These women are reporting increases in sadness, stress, worry and lost sleep.

On top of that you have many boomer women who have taken on the role of family caregiver for aging parents, while . is a woman in her late 40s who still has at least one child at home and works outside the home while providing an average of 20 hours a week of hands-on care for a loved one.

AARP’S National Spelling Bee Winner from Georgia

2011-07-11T17:12:00.004-05:00

Fifty-eight-year-old Tony Johnson (#7 in the photo) is a baby boomer who can spell. His ability to spell earned him $5000 and a five-year AARP membership as he was crowned champion of the 2011 AARP National Spelling Bee held in Cheyenne, WY last month.

Johnson, a practicing psychologist from LaGrange, Georgia, correctly spelled “uakari” in the 39th round of the competition that began with 40 spellers from across America. Johnson’s studying regimen for the last year: “I systematically went through the dictionary from A to Z.”

Sixty-six-year-old Michael Petrina, Jr., from Arlington, VA missed “uncinariasis” to place second, taking home a check for $500 and a 2-year AARP membership. Third place with a prize of $250 and a 1-year AARP membership went to Scott Firebaugh, 57, from Knoxville, TN, who incorrectly spelled the word “aphaeretic.” Spellers ranged in age from 50 to 81.

The 2012 AARP National Spelling Bee will be held Saturday, June 16, 2012, at Little America Hotel in Cheyenne, WY. Complete registration information is available at www.aarp.org/spellingbee or by calling 1-877-926-8300.

Additional finalists in this year's spelling competition include:

4. Norman Zucker, 64, from Petaluma, CA
5. Susan Hartner, 66, from Hillsboro, OR
6. Robert Moy, 54, from New York, NY
7. Jim Sherry, 69, from Troy, AL
8. Roxana Bradley, 62, from Albuquerque, NM
9. Kathleen Cramm, 68, from Parker, CO
10. Ron Lewis, 63, from Missouri City, TX
11. Linda Phillips, 71, from Newport, RI
11. Marlene Harry, 59, from Brownsburg, IN
12. Curtis Beckman, 65, from Denton, TX
12. Mary Ann Fenske, 63, from Wichita, KS
12. Kate Karp, 62, from Long Beach, CA

So what do you think---Can you spell well enough to win $5000?

AARP Internet Radio is a Boomer Hit

2011-07-06T21:33:00.006-05:00

The AARP has decided to add a little pizzazz behind its name with the introduction of AARP Internet Radio.

The free streaming service with 18 channels went online July 3 for US and Canadian residents, offering music programmed for over-50 music fans as an easy-to-access digital music resource.

The online venture, referred to as "radio for grown-ups," is a partnership between AARP and the Concord Music Group and covers a selection of genres, from R&B, Classic Rock, Modern Rock, Jazz, Latin and even an entire channel devoted to Paul Simon.

I tried it. I liked it! So after you tune into my radio show, The Boomer Beat on WCOM Radio, you can keep with more of your favorite music on AARP Internet Radio.

The Boomer Feud Between Tom Joyner and Tavis Smiley

2011-07-05T15:08:00.003-05:00

"Why can't we all just get along?"

When Rodney King uttered those now famous words following his ruthless beating at the hands of police back in 1991, who knew that would be the same question many in the black community are still asking today.

This time President Obama is the one who is taking the whipping and it's coming from two unlikely sources: Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornel West. Here are two respected boomer men who, for whatever reason, have chosen to step outside the box and give plenty of ammunition to Obama-haters with their words---and even sometimes, with their SILENCE.

It's a funy thing about celebrity. Once you get a taste of it, some people will do whatever it takes to hang onto it---to keep their name in the spotlight so they can keep selling their books and making a name for themselves.

Well, it appears Tavis will have to find another media platform to use to smear the President, since he is no longer a part of the Tom Joyner Morning Show as indicated in this blog post by the FlyJock himself:

My New D-Word for Tavis and Cornel

Before I get to Mark Halperin, let me give you a little background.

They say that if you’re angry with someone, you should write a letter, get all the mean stuff out, and then tear it up or delete it. When you’re a little more calm, you write another letter or confront the person face to face.

About a month ago, I wrote a blog about Tavis Smiley and decided to table it because I said some things I didn’t want to publish. You’re probably thinking I went too hard him, but no. In reality, I hadn’t gone hard enough – and I knew it. I said I’d wait until something pissed me off so bad that I would have the words harsh enough to express what I was really feeling about him and his side piece – I mean side kick – Cornel West.

Well, yesterday, when Mark Halperin – a well-respected journalist, employed by a well-respected magazine and a contributor to a well-respected news network – had the audacity to call the president of the United States a dick, that was all I needed.

While I am appalled at Halperin’s statement, I have no expectations of him as a man and know nothing about his character. I am appalled, however, that as editor-at-large of Time magazine, he is responsible for among other things, deciding what stories will be covered in that publication. As the person in charge of political content, it is upsetting to know that he probably has not been objective in his dealings with material I and so many people look forward to (until now) reading each week. Needless to say, I’ve cancelled my subscription to Time magazine and hope you will too.

But I’m even more disgusted with Smiley and West, two brothers who I did have expectations of – and thought I knew. These two have done much worse than what Halperin has done because they set the tone for it, opened the door to it, and must take much of the blame for creating a climate that would make a white, professional journalist feel comfortable verbally and vulgarly attacking the first black president of the United States.

When you think you know a person, when you’ve given a person a forum to present his views, when you’ve had a hand in a person’s success, you want to believe that he is the same person he always was.

Remember THAT Tavis – the one who could take any complicated political story that had an impact on black America and “break it down” for us every Tuesday and Thursday in less than five minutes. The one who coined the phrase “radio advocacy” and alerted us any time anyone – from a private business owner to a politician to a corporate giant – even thought about doing black folks wrong. The Tavis that loved black people so much that he would sometimes, during his commentaries, be moved to tears. Where is that guy? You know, the guy that would have been telling me, “Fly Jock, Halperin has got to go.” For a while, I thought he was still with us, even though people around me (and many of you) tried to convince me otherwise. “Tavis is a hater.” “Tavis is only about himself.” “Tavis is jealous of the president.” I wouldn’t believe any of it. I had so much respect for him before his primary goal became selling books, and, later, selling out.

As we approach the Fourth of July weekend, one that celebrates our freedoms, including freedom of speech, I wish someone would use that as a defense of what Tavis, Cornel and Mark Halperin have said against our president. When dangerous words incite and brew up hatred and violence, there is a line. And these three crossed it.

In case you believe I think Tavis and Cornel called the president an offensive name, I don’t. I think they did something even worse. Any black people with any sense know that racists on the job, at school, at church or on the bus wait for opportunities to feel comfortable enough to spew their evil thoughts. If a black person tells a racist joke in front of a racist or laughs at one, it won’t be long before the racist begins to fire off a couple of his own. Mark Halperin and others are no different. They hate the president because he is black, and Tavis and Cornel, by not having the sense to not give them the opening they waited for, went all in. And this is what we get.

So, yes, MSNBC, fire Mark Halperin. I hope he never works again. I’ve already fired Tavis and Cornel. There’s nothing either can ever do for me or with me again.

I’ve got a new D-word for the two of them: Done.

North Carolina Makes List for Aging Boomers

2011-07-01T12:52:00.004-05:00

According to the Brookings Insitute, Raleigh and Cary in North Carolina are among the 10 most rapidly aging cities in America.

Over the last 10 years, the number of people over the age of 45 grew 18 times faster than those under 45. According to the Census Bureau, every day for the next 19 years, 10,000 boomers in the United States will turn 65. This year in North Carolina, more than 84,000 are expected to pass that threshold. (source: Charlotte Observer

The 10 Most Rapidly Aging Cities in America

10) Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton,Oregon

9) Houston-Sugarland-Baytown, TX

8) Riverside-San Bernadino-Ontario, CA

7) Alburquerque, NM

6) Madison, WI

5) Provo-Orem, UT

4) Colorado Springs, CO

3) Boise City, Nampa, ID

2) Raleigh-Cary, NC

1) Austin-Round Rock, TX

Baby Boomer Women Not Prepared for Retirement

2011-06-27T14:06:00.003-05:00

The financial picture for single baby boomer women is looking bleak. According to the latest research, single female baby boomers are the least-prepared to financially navigate their way through their senior years.

About 40 percent of female baby boomers are single now -- up from 30 percent in 1989. Nationally, there are about 17 million single females ages 46 to 64; about two-thirds of them are separated, divorced, or widowed.

Although many baby boomer women stayed home, at least for a time, to raise their children, the generation brought the first sizable number of women to the workforce. But those who joined the work force earned less than their male counterparts, nationally about 77 cents to the man's dollar.

And many who devoted their prime to motherhood find themselves divorced and returning to a work force that doesn't have space or patience for them. These women have less time to build up their Social Security savings or 401(k) plans.

The Federal Reserve Board found in 2001 that only a third of single women had any sort of retirement savings account; at the same time, fewer than 10 percent of single women had pensions through their jobs.

The AARP says boomer women are ill prepared for long-term-care needs. According to a survey of boomer women, more than half of female baby boomers do not have a long-term-care insurance policy, and two-thirds said they couldn't afford the premiums.

Click here to read more: Boomer women and retirement

Baby Boomer Teachers Wanted

2011-06-17T10:33:00.004-05:00

The Teacher Ambassador Program is looking for a few good baby boomers.

The “Teacher Ambassador Program” will train Americans for English-speaking positions at magnet high schools in 13 Chinese cities. It’ll differ from other programs by training participants in how to:

• Appropriately incorporate American styles of teaching (project-based learning, dialogue, critical thinking, etc.); and

• Identify and pursue culturally appropriate community service opportunities in and out of the classroom.

It’s run by United World College-USA (which operates schools and colleges around the world that’ve brought 40,000 students from 100+ countries to learn together, bond and work towards a more peaceful world) and the Ameson Foundation, a charitable organization in NY that focuses on cultural and education exchanges in China.

China is super hungry right now for American teachers (for various subjects, many of which are AP), and some of their best current teachers (in public schools) are folks in their 60s.

The website, if you’re interested: http://www.uwc-usa.org/tap

Baby Boomers and Infidelity

2011-05-19T20:42:00.004-05:00

Men cheat for a single primary reason: sex. That's the explanation given by the website InfidelityFacts.com

Last week the baby boomer world was in shock when Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver announced they had separated. This week we now know why. It was revealed Schwarzenegger fathered a child more than a decade ago with a woman on his household staff.

And let's not forget about baby boomers Elizabeth and former democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, who also called it quits when it was revealed he fathered a love child while his wife wss dealing with breast cancer.

So what is driving baby boomer men into the arms of someone else?

According to Infidelityfacts.com, some men cheat because of the sense that there has been a breakdown of fun or spontaneity in the relationship. For example, to men in long-term relationships sex will become routine or mechanical. Not an adventure as it once was, but simply as a means to an end. And so they seek that adventure, that adrenaline rush, with another woman (or women).

To get more InfidelityFacts, click here: Baby Boomer Infidelity

Reinvent Yourself at Midlife with a Divorce

2011-05-13T11:33:00.003-05:00

Maria Shriver and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger have become the latest casualties of baby boomer wedded bliss. After being married for 25 years, they have decided to call it quits.

Surprising? Maybe to some because the media always painted a picture of them as a couple who managed to stay happy in spite of their political and, perhaps, social differences.

The truth of the matter is, aging for women brings about more changes than just in the physical sense. Mentally, we go from being a starry-eyed young woman into a fully-bloomed flower, that is no longer content with remaining tight inside the bud. I was married for nearly 18 years before I had my wake up call.

With children grown and husbands paying less attention to our needs, the desire to breakout of that shell becomes even greater for some baby boomer women. The desire to live for yourself, instead of others, tugs at your heartstrings.

The truth of the matter is, not every marriage is God-ordained. Not every marriage has a happily ever after ending but, sadly, there are still wives everywhere hanging on to their marriage vows. Some choose to remain in bad situations because it's easier to stay and tolerate than to pack up and try to start all over again.

I say to hell with that! I would much rather reinvent myself at midlife with a divorce and give myself the opoortunity to travel on a new journey--than to be married and miserable until death do us part.

Here's another great article about baby boomers and divorce: Why are so many baby boomers divorced?

The Impact of Social Media on Baby Boomers

2011-04-30T10:41:00.005-05:00

In case you haven't heard, the baby boomer generation has taken social media by storm. According to a CBS News report, half (47 percent) of internet users aged 50-64 use social media now, an 88 percent growth from the previous year. The number of Facebook users in the U.S. aged 55 and older grew from around 1 million in early 2009 to 10 million in early 2010, according to istrategy.com, a website that tracks Facebook data.

Social Media is having a tremendous impact on just about every aspect of our lives. Check this out:

1.Social Media has overtaken porn as the #1 activity on the Web

2. More than 1.5 million pieces of content (web links, news stories, blog posts, notes, photos, etc.) are shared on Facebook…daily.

3. 1 out of 8 couples married in the U.S. in 2008 year met via social media with baby boomers leading the charge to the altar or Justice of the Peace.

4. 2009 US Department of Education study revealed that on average, online students out performed those receiving face-to-face instruction.

5. 1 in 6 higher education students are enrolled in online curriculum. By getting an online degree baby boomers are discovering they can stay where they are and attend school anywhere they want.

6. Percentage of companies using LinkedIn as a primary tool to find employees….80%

7. The fastest growing segment on Facebook is 55-65 year-old females.

8. Generation Y and Z consider e-mail passé…so if you want to reach out and touch your grandchildren, you better learn how to TEXT MESSAGE.

Baby Boomer Moms Need a Wake Up Call

2011-04-16T12:07:00.004-05:00

There's a new survey out indicating more than half of baby boomer generation mothers support adult children financially. Of the women with children over age 18, nine percent said they had adult children living back home for indefinite periods. Twelve percent were primarily responsible for their adult child or their children's financial well-being and 31 percent said they had children who returned home, relied on them but expected to become independent.

The survey, based out of Orlando, Florida by The Kitchens Group only polled 441 women, which is a very miniscule number when you take into consideration there are nearly 40 million female baby boomers in the United Statessiut

So the question is, is this survey really a reflection of what is happening between boomer women and their grown children or is this a symptom of a weak economy? Or did some boomer parents give their children too much growing up, while failing to teach them how to get out and survive on their own terms?

AARP Calling All Baby Boomer Spellers

2011-04-06T17:08:00.005-05:00

Is your 401K leaving much to be desired these days? If you can spell, you might want to consider a trip to Cheyenne, Wyoming for the 16th annual AARP National Spelling Bee. You could win $5,000 if you beat all of the other boomer spellers.

I was the fourth grade spelling champion at my school. I wonder how far that would get me.

Meanwhile, here's the official press release:

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (April 4, 2011) – Visit Cheyenne for a SPELL while the city hosts the 16th annual AARP National Spelling Bee, June 17– 18, 2011, at The Little America Hotel and Resort. Open to anyone age 50 or older, the Bee attracts spellers from all over the United States who compete for gifts and prizes. New this year, the top speller winnings have increased to $5,000.

In celebration of the competition, Cheyenne is offering city-wide events and attractions all weekend long, as well as a special hotel rate. In addition, a free pre-Bee workshop, Gray Matters: Training the Grownup Brain, will feature interactive sessions that explain the impact of diet, fitness, and relationships on brain health, and answer your questions. The workshop begins Friday at 8:30 a.m., includes lunch, and concludes at 1:00 p.m.

Whether you enjoy reading the dictionary to keep your mind sharp or just to meet other like-minded adults, the AARP National Spelling Bee always proves to be exciting and highly competitive,” said Tim Summers, AARP Wyoming Director. “Many of the spellers prepare year-round for this competition, and we’re pleased to be able to provide the forum for folks to test themselves. And while they are here, they can also enjoy Cheyenne’s many attractions and events that coincide with the Bee.”

In addition to these events, visitors will enjoy exploring historic museums and hotels, and nearby attractions; shopping at western-themed stores; or finding a special treasure among the many art galleries. The Laramie County Library, named Best Library of the Year in 2009 by Library Journal magazine, is a popular attraction for spellers. Visitors will receive a special rate at Little America Hotel and Resort, which includes a free round of golf, by calling the hotel directly at 800-445-6945 (rate NOT available online). Details of all Cheyenne events and attractions, and additional lodging options, are available online at www.cheyenne.org.

About the Spelling BeeThe AARP National Spelling Bee was created in 1996 by a group of AARP members in Cheyenne, Wyoming, who wanted a fun way to challenge their peers to keep their minds sharp as they age. The competition has been held every year since, and always in Cheyenne. A group of dedicated volunteers select the words, write the sentences, organize, and promote the event. Spellers travel from across the United States to showcase a lifetime of knowledge and to celebrate their years of experience.
Registration is available via www.aarp.org/spellingbeee or by calling 1-877-926-8300. Pre-event registration is $40 for spellers and remains open through June 11, 2010. Walk-in registration costs $50. A complete schedule for the two days, sample word lists, contest details and official rules, can be found online or by calling the AARP office in Wyoming at 1-866-663-3290.

U.S. Life Expectancy is on the Rise

2011-03-20T15:17:00.004-05:00

Life expectancy in 1930 was 58 years for men and 62 years for women according to the Social Security Administration.

Nearly 80 years later, the life expectancy has reached an all-time high, according to the Center for Disease Control..

Life expectancy at birth increased to 78.2 years in 2009, up slightly from 78.0 years in 2008, according to a newly released report from the Center for Disease Control.

Of course, this increase may, very well, have to do with the fact that many baby boomers are much more conscientious of living a healthy lifestyle which, in turn, is resulting in a longer life span.

On a not-so-good-news note, life expectancy for black males (70.9 years) and females (77.4 years) remained unchanged in 2009. The gap in life expectancy between the white and black populations was 4.3 years in 2009, two-tenths of a year increase from the gap in 2008 of 4.1 years.

Boomers Can Protect Their Memories With Foreign Languages

2011-03-12T17:39:00.005-05:00

Baby boomers may be able to lower their risk of developing memory problems if they speak more than two languages.

According to a newly released study by researchers at the Center for Health Studies in Luxemborg, people who speak four or more languages were five times less likely to develop cognitive problems compared to those people who only spoke two languages.

The study involved 230 men and women with an average age of 73 who had spoken or currently spoke two to seven languages.

Researchers say based on their findings it appears that speaking more than two languages has a protective effect on memory in older people who practice foreign languages over their lifetime or at the time of the study.

People who spoke four or more languages were five times less likely to develop cognitive problems compared to those people who only spoke two languages.

People who spoke three languages were three times less likely to have cognitive problems compared to bilinguals. In addition, people who currently spoke more than two languages were also four times less likely to have cognitive impairment. The results accounted for the age and the education of the participants.

Come se llama? Me llamo es Beverly. Como estas? After taking Spanish for a total of 3 years, that's as much as I know so I'd better brushen up on my second language skills and add a third language if I want to improve my memory.

To read the entire report, click here: Newswise

Baby Boomer Mom Gives Birth to Her Own Grandson

2011-02-21T12:27:00.006-05:00

Sixty-one-year-old Kristine Casey has a new grandson and it's one she gave birth to herself. The baby boomer mom gave birth to Finnean Lee Connell, her first grandchild, by way of a Cesarean section last week at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Illionois after undergoing special hormone therapy leading up to the in-vitro fertilization.

Casey’s 35-year-old daughter asked her mother if she would carry the embryo she and her husband created from their own egg and sperm after several of her pregnancies failed to come to term.

Casey, who went through menopause 10 years ago, may have unofficially become the oldest woman in Illinois history to give birth after serving as a surrogate for her daughter, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Question is: Would you be a surrogate for your daughter in yur 50s or 60s?

70-Year-Old Busted in Prostitution Ring

2011-02-18T19:13:00.005-05:00

A tip from Crimestoppers in Port Charlotte, Florida has led to the arrest of four women for allegedly being involved in a prostitution ring. Included among them was a 70-year-old woman.

According to authorities, a client would pay a fee at the door of the Mandala Health Spa to enter and then "tip" a woman for alleged sex acts.

The 70-year-old was identified as Elaine Pyzikiewicz, who police say was a licensed massage therapist.

I guess Miss Elaine must have been giving very special massages.

The other women arrested were 22, 28, and 37.

The Obesity Epidemic Requires New Dietary Guidelines

2011-02-08T17:16:00.005-05:00

More than one-third of children and more than two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight or obese, according to the latest information from the Department of Health and Human Services. As a result, we have been given new guildelines to follow in order to cut the fat.

I guess this is where I should say "Thanks mom and dad for contributing to my weight issues. I remember all those times you told me to eat ALL the food on my plate and I was forced to obey."

The new 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans focus on balancing calories with physical activity, and encourage Americans to consume more healthy foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free and low-fat dairy products, and seafood, and to consume less sodium, saturated and trans fats, added sugars, and refined grains.

The new guidelines offers these tips:

Enjoy your food, but eat less.
• Avoid oversized portions.
• Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.
• Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.
• Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals – and choose the foods with lower numbers.
• Drink water instead of sugary drinks.

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines is available at www.dietaryguidelines.gov.

What You need to Know About Medicare in 2011

2011-01-31T15:09:00.008-05:00

Special Guest Post By: Ross Blair, CEO, PlanPrescriber.com

Whether you enrolled in a new Medicare Advantage plan this year, or you didn’t change the plan you had last year, now is the time to review your coverage and be sure it meets your needs.

In 2011, people eligible for Medicare have just six weeks (January 1 through February 14) — last year it was three months — to be sure the coverage fits their needs and maximizes their cost savings.

There are also fewer options for changing coverage during the new Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period (“MADP”) if you’re unhappy. Here are the changes you can make:

- People with a Medicare Advantage plan or a MA-PD plan (Medicare Advantage with prescription drug coverage) can switch to original Medicare and enroll in a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan (PDP). If you go without the PDP, you’ll pay a penalty if you ever try to enroll in a PDP during another enrollment period.
- People cannot switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another. This is new for 2011.
- People with a Medicare Advantage plan and a stand-alone PDP can switch to original Medicare, but they must keep their PDP.
- People already covered by original Medicare and a PDP cannot make any changes.

It’s enough to make anyone’s head spin, but anyone on Medicare who doesn’t take the time to research their options and choose the plan that best fits their needs could leave hundreds of dollars in annual premium savings on the table. In fact, according to a recent study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, only about 10 percent of Medicare participants change plans annually1.

Keep in mind that deductibles, co-pays, and prescription drug coverage can change every year, so even if you didn’t change your plan this year, your plan may have changed on you. Staying put and not investigating your options could impact your yearly health care costs.

Here are a few tips to help you determine whether or not you have the best plan already, or if you should look in to available options:

1) Watch the calendar: In the past, Medicare gave you from Jan. 1 - March 31 to change your Medicare coverage. In 2011, those three months have been cut down to just six weeks, and the deadline to make a change in 2011 is Feb. 14, unless you qualify for a special election period.

2) Check it before you wreck it: Before you drop a Medicare Advantage plan, be sure the coverage you’re considering provides the benefits you need. Medicare Advantage often covers a portion of your doctor visits, as well as eye exams and other services. Also, make sure your doctor will accept the new coverage to which you’re switching.

3) Review your prescriptions: Compare the cost of a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan that covers your medications with the Medicare Advantage plan you’re currently on. It’s critical to make sure your monthly budget can handle the cost of drugs on your new plan versus your old plan. It’s easy and free to compare plans side-by-side on a website like PlanPrescriber.com.

4) Consider Medicare supplemental policies: Original Medicare has cost-sharing requirements and other benefit gaps, so some people who enroll in Original Medicare also purchase Medicare supplemental policies, also called Medigap. Medigap is offered through standardized plans, labeled A-N. Plans offered by different health insurers with the same letters offer the same benefits, but the costs can vary widely depending on age, community, inflation and other factors.

5) Don’t put off filling prescriptions: The drugs that are covered and how much they cost can change each year on a Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. If you’re ordering 90-day supplies of medications to save money, or having them sent to you through the mail, be sure you see the bill for a new order placed in 2011 before Feb. 14. Don’t find out too late that one of the drugs you’re taking is no longer covered or that the co-pay has increased.

You may be able to get Extra Help to pay for your prescription drug premiums and costs. To see if you qualify for Extra Help, call: 1-800-MEDICARE (1800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week; the Social Security Office at 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. TTY users should call, 1-800-325-0778; or Your Medicaid Office (only required for pieces referencing Part D benefits or cost-sharing).

In general, beneficiaries must use network pharmacies to access their prescription drug benefit, except in non-routine circumstances, and quantity limitations and restrictions may apply.

1 RWJF-Funded Study Finds Medicare Part D Too Complex for Many Doctors: Published Jul 29, 2010

Ross Blair is president and CEO of Plan Prescriber, Inc. www.PlanPrescriber.com ), a leading provider of comparison tools and educational materials for Medicare-related insurance products. PlanPrescriber.com offers free and unbiased online advisor tools to help you find the optimal plan and save money.

Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed this information

Baby Boomer Women are Not Perfect

2011-01-30T16:47:00.005-05:00

According to a new survey, baby boomer women have a clear and distinct advantage over the women of Generation Y. For those of you who don't know, baby boomer women were born between 1946 and 1964, while the women of Generation Y, also known as Millennials, were born between 1983 and 1997. The women in this group are the children from my generation.

Okay, so now that we have that straight here's what the survey says: Generation Y women are unable to master the chores their mothers and grandmothers did daily.

Only 51% of women under 30 can cook a roast, compared with 82% of baby boomers.

Traditional skills outside the kitchen are also slipping with only 23 percent of Generation Y women able to grow a plant and only 54% know how to sew.

I might add here that this survey was generated out of Australia by social researcher Mark McCrindle so it's very possible that those numbers would be even lower in the United States.

If the younger women don't have these skills, the question is why? Didn't their mothers pass on the knowledge that was passed on to them as they were growing up?

Amazing how some boomer women spend thousands of dollars for a perfect cosmetic look but fall short when it comes to teaching their own daughters a thing or two about life.

Silence May Be Hazardous to the Health of Boomer Women

2011-01-24T18:06:00.004-05:00

A new survey indicates too many baby boomer women may be giving their doctors the silent treatment when it comes to talking about their health.

Although boomer women find themselves with increased personal health needs as they enter midlife and beyond, only 16 percent indicated they are likely to discuss those symptoms with a doctor, according to the new Boomer Women's Health survey of women aged 45 and older in North America sponsored by SCA, the maker of bladder protection products and services under the globally-leading TENA® brand (www.tena.us) and conducted by Harris Interactive.

The survey also revealed that over two-thirds of baby boomer women (67 percent) are less likely to see a physician if they think the symptoms they are experiencing are a "normal part of aging" and therefore may not seek solutions which can improve their quality of life. Furthermore, over a quarter (26 percent) feels uncomfortable, embarrassed or judged when discussing even common personal health issues with their doctors.

Women, however, aren't the only ones being quiet. The survey also demonstrated that doctors are not initiating conversations with women about these "sensitive" health topics either. Although bladder weakness and low sex drive were ranked as the top two most embarrassing topics to discuss with your doctor, they also ranked as the two issues that had been brought up the least by their physicians.

We, as women, owe it to our doctors to tell them what's going on.

You can read more about the lie I told my doctor that almost cost me my life in my new book, Don't Ask and I Won't Have to Lie available on Amazon.

The State of the Baby Boomer Union Address

2011-01-03T19:46:00.006-05:00

I wonder how long it will be before the President of the United States will hold a live news conference to tell us the plight of the baby boomer generation. I imagine it will go something like this:

Good evening my fellow Americans. I come before you this evening to shed light on an epidemic that we have identified as a Silver Tsunami. We have known about this for quite some time but failed to act. As result of this tidal wave, we are facing the following disasters:

#1 As of January 1, 2011, 10,000 baby boomers will reach age 65 every day for the next 19 years.

#2 According to one recent survey, 36 percent of Americans say that they don’t contribute anything at all to retirement savings.

#3 35% of Americans already over the age of 65 rely almost entirely on Social Security payments alone.

#4 According to another recent survey, 24% of U.S. workers admit that they have postponed their planned retirement age at least once during the past year.

#5 Approximately 3 out of 4 Americans start claiming Social Security benefits the moment they are eligible at age 62. Most are doing this out of necessity. However, by claiming Social Security early they get locked in at a much lower amount than if they would have waited.

#6 The Healthcare System is overloaded as a result of all of the cosmetic surgery that is now catching up with the boomers.

Ladies and gentlemen, brace yourselves because this is just the tip of the iceburg. Good night and may God bless America and the baby boomers.

Baby Boomer Men Not Sold on Going Green

2010-12-28T16:07:00.003-05:00

Baby boomer women have a clear edge over baby boomer men when it comes to understanding what it means to "go green."

According to Crowd Science's Just Ask! opinion survey men over the age of 55 are nearly twice as likely to believe that shopping "green" makes no difference. They are also much less likely to check that their purchases come from "ethical" companies than women (30% vs. 42%) and twice as likely to believe that the green movement is just a marketing ploy (16% vs. 8%).

The survey also concluded that education plays a key role in understanding green behavior, as 21% of those with a post-graduate education will pay substantially more for green products as opposed to 12% of those with a basic undergraduate background or less.

So is this where I'm supposed to say women are just smarter than men?

New Year Brings New Changes for Baby Boomers

2010-12-27T13:40:00.007-05:00

The first wave of baby boomers will be turning 65 in 2011. The National Council on Aging is offering a free online screening service to help boomers learn more about Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage, as well as to get information for over 2,000 federal, state, and local benefits programs for which they may be eligible.

The NCOA believes it’s a good time to use BenefitsCheckUp to find out about available prescription drug benefits, including Medicare Part D, and if you qualify for the Low-Income Subsidy (Extra Help). Using the online service, baby boomers can also discover whether they are eligible for additional benefits that help pay for healthcare, energy bills, food, and other household costs.

You can begin by completing an online questionnaire at www.benefitscheckup.org

Baby Boomers and Unhealthy Eating in North Carolina

2010-12-23T23:59:00.004-05:00

I have discovered that I live in what is known as a "stroke belt state." People living in the “stroke belt” states eat more fried fish than people living in the rest of the country, which may contribute to the high rate of death from stroke in those states, according to a study published in the December 22, 2010, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Although we've been told omega-3 fatty acids in fish, especially fatty fish, may reduce the risk of stroke, other research suggests that frying fish leads to the loss of those natural fatty acids.

The study also found that blacks living in the stroke belt eat more fried fish than whites. The stroke belt includes the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana. People living in the stroke belt are more likely to die from a stroke than people living in other parts of the country.

The data gathered for this study was gathered using participants across the United States, age 45 or older.

I eat fried fish at least once a month and am over the age of 50.

Who Wants Grandma's Money?

2010-12-05T17:19:00.007-05:00

It's that time of year again when grandparents everywhere are shopping around to find the perfect gifts for their grandchildren.

There are 78 million of us baby boomers out here--many who probably have grandchildren AND money. We spend an average of $500 annually on our grandchildren and, collectively, the total amount spent by grandparents nationwide is in the billions.

According to The Grandparent Study 2002 Report from AARP, the top reasons grandparents spend money on their children are birthday gifts (97 percent), holiday gifts such as Christmas, Hanukah, or Kwanzaa (96 percent), because they enjoy buying things for grandchildren (93 percent) and to entertain or have fun with their grandchildren (90 percent).

Back in 2006, KB Toys attempted to capitalize on the booming grandparent market by offering a Grandparents Rewards Club. Anyone at least 50 years old could save 10 percent off their entire purchase at KB Toys every Tuesday, all year long just by singing up.

KB Toys has since gone out of business. Perhaps they just didn't know how to court us.

I wonder whose hit list we'll be on next this holiday season.

Baby Boomers and HIV/AIDS

2010-11-12T16:37:00.003-05:00

The number of HIV/AIDS cases for the 50 and older crowd appears to be on the rise. Not only are baby boomers reportedly engaging in more casual sex, but they're also doing it at the risk of contracting more sexual diseases.

Currently, about 19 percent of all people with HIV/AIDS in the United States are age 50 and older according to a report from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

In an analysis of National Health Interview data, a researcher found that almost half of women over age 50 were totally uninformed about HIV, compared with only 14 percent of younger adults.

SHAME and EMBARRASSMENT has led to silence and that has contributed to an upsurge of HIV cases among individuals 50 and older over the course of the epidemic.

To read more about this study, please click on the headline "Baby Boomers and HIV/AIDS"

Baby Boomers Need Social Media

2010-11-04T20:20:00.006-05:00

The Tsunami of old age is going to going to come crashing through very soon. What is the world going to do with nearly 80 million baby boomers?

Geriatrician Dr. Phil Wood says baby boomers can be proactive by taking measures to enjoy life well into the golden years. Boomers can do this by remembering that whatever is good for the heart is good for the brain, so fruit and vegetables should form part of a healthy diet and the more colorful the fruit and vegetables, the better.

He also adds baby boomers should be active in the social networks to stimulate their brain activity. The use of brain and exercise together are very important.

Start blogging, join a community forum, get active on Facebook and/or Twitter.

In other words, use your retiring years to remain active, increase your social networks and eat sensibly.

The use of brain and exercise together are very important.

What's Driving Baby Boomers to Drink?

2010-10-23T11:18:00.005-05:00

Kids, depression, loneliness, anxiety, divorce, grief, feeling unworthy....these are just a few of the reasons that may explain why more and more baby boomers and the elderly are turning to the bottle to drown their sorrows. Alcoholism is on the rise for some in this age group.

Of course, the average person who may have a drinking problem probably isn't going to admit it. They would rather call themselves a "social drinker"--which means their doctors may be none the wiser--even though it presents an escalating health risk as we age. The theory, Don't Ask and I Won't Have to Lie , probably rings true for many.

According to an article in the Los Angeles Times earlier this year, a new study found that among men and women 50 to 64 years old, almost 1 in 4 men and 1 in 10 women were described as a "binge" drinker - meaning that at some point in the last 30days, he or she has downed four (for women) or five (for men) servings of alcohol in a single two-hour sitting. This is defined as the amount needed to attain a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 (the level at which most states consider a driver intoxicated).

So instead of asking, "What's in your wallet?"---someone might ask, "What's in your liquor cabinet?"

Mel Gibson Blames Behavior on Menopause

2010-09-28T19:15:00.006-05:00

Mood Swings and depression are just two of the symptoms associated with menopause. Now actor Mel Gibson thinks he may have been suffering from it when he said and did those horrible things to the mother of his child.

In a handwritten letter obtained by TMZ, Gibson is quoted as saying:

"I haven't really got a grip at the moment....I don't know why I'm so whacky and depressed but I need to get well and re-enter life...Maybe it's some kind of male menopause..."

Wouldn't it be nice if every woman, entering this stage of life, could just blame her bad behavior on menopause? We could curse and scream and be as mean as hell in one moment--and in the next breath say, "Oh excuse me--I was having a menopausal moment."

We could call someone every rotten, dirty name under the sun--including the "N" word that Mel used--and then ask for forgiveness because we're whacked out and depressed at the world.

Menopause: It's not just for women anymore.

Suicide Rates are Up for Baby Boomers

2010-09-27T19:39:00.006-05:00

Suicide rates for middle-aged people are on the rise-- particularly for white men without college degrees -- and a combination of poor health and a poor economy may be driving it, according to a new study.

Sociologists from Rutgers University in New Jersey and Emory University in Atlanta found that suicide rates have climbed since 1988 for males aged 40-49 years, and since 1999 for females aged 40-59 years and males aged 50-59 years.

Men and women with a high school degree or less are more likely to commit suicide. Rates in men with a high school diploma went up 11.7 percent in the 40 to 49 age group and 27 percent in the 50 to 59 age group. Women in those groups saw their suicide rates increase by 15 and 17 percent, respectively.

In 1979 the suicide rate for men aged 40 to 49 was 21.8 per 100,000. It rose to as high as 24 per 100,000 in 1996 and to 25 by 2005. For men 50 to 59 it was 23.9 in 1979, fell to 20.4 per 100,000 in 1999 and rose again to nearly 23.8 in 2005.

Another interesting note is the fact that the study seems to indicate the risk of suicide was substantially larger for unmarried than for married people, with unmarried middle-aged men 3.5 times as likely to commit suicide as married middle-aged men.

Personally,I would've thought just the opposite.

9/11 Should be a Day of Remembrance and Tolerance

2010-09-11T08:30:00.005-05:00

Nine years ago today thousands of people lost their lives in an attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It has been called the worst terrorist attack in our nation's history.

There's no doubt that what happened was a tragedy and should never be forgotten. But what we ought to forget are the bigots and other idiots who have used this day to fuel the flames of hatred against others: Folks like Terry Jones, who calls himself a Reverand in Florida. For the past couple of weeks, this man has generated tons of media coverage for threatening to burn the Quran--a man with a congregation of about 50 people. This act alone should make everyone question whether Jones was called to the pulpit by a Higher Power or if he called himself. One could argue that he, too, is a terrorist threat.

9/11 should be a day of remembrance---but also of tolerance for others who may not worship as we do. Not every Muslim is a terrorist and those who believe that are small-minded.

Instead of focusing so much on the things that divide us--why not work on healing those wounds and proving to the rest of the world that America is great for something other than war.

Burn Baby Boomers Burn with Jane Fonda

2010-09-01T19:34:00.005-05:00

It doesn't matter that she's 72-years-old or that her photo has either been photoshopped or she's spent tens of thousands of dollars on cosmetic surgery. Whatever the case might be, former actress Jane Fonda has managed to put back on her leotards and get moving again.

Fonda is preparing to release two new DVDs specifically for the tired and shiftless baby boomers. She's gonna help us put back the pep in our step.

She did the same thing nearly 30 years ago when she released her first workout tapes and got women excited about working their bodies.

If she still moves as good as she looks in this photo, the DVD will be worth our hard earned baby boomer dollars.

The Scandal Behind the Egg Recall

2010-08-28T13:10:00.004-05:00

Just about everyone has heard about the egg recall. Twenty-three states and a half a million eggs affected. What you may not have heard are the details behind this recall. The majority of the recalled eggs have come from Wright County Eggs, putting the focus on the company's owner 75-year-old Jack DeCoster.

This pre-boomer is no stranger to controversy. He's been involved in legal cases that have forced him to settle with the federal government for hiring illegal immigrants, for tolerating sexual harassment at his company, and has faced a litany of animal cruelty charges. DeCoster has also paid millions of dollars in fines and settlements over the years stemming from complaints about the health violations at his farms.

In 1996, for example, the egg farmer was forced to pay more than $3 million in fines after the U.S. Labor Department found dead chickens being picked up by workers with bare hands. The complaint also stated that DeCoster's workers also lived beside manure and rat-infested trailers, according to the Associated Press. The complaint led to a boycott of DeCoster's eggs by several major supermarkets.

In 2000, the Iowa attorney general dubbed DeCoster a "habitual violator" of the state's environmental laws and ordered him to pay a $150,000 fine for failing to properly dispose of the hog and chicken manure and had let it run into a nearby creek.

Earlier this year, DeCoster pleaded guilty to 10 counts of animal cruelty over his company's treatment of its chickens. In June, DeCoster was ordered to pay more than more than $100,000 in fines and restitution.

The charges and subsequent guilty plea came after an undercover investigation by Mercy For Animals, a national non-profit animal protection organization, that said they witnessed live birds being thrown in the trash, employees whipping birds by their necks in an attempt to kill them, and hens living in cages so small that their wings could not be lifted without getting snagged on wires.

With all of these violations, don't you think more drastic measures should've been taken--like SHUTTING DOWN HIS OPERATION?

States Not Prepared for Aging Baby Boomer Drivers

2010-08-22T15:53:00.007-05:00

If your doctor suggests you give up driving at the age of 70 due to age and weakened motor skills, will you follow doctor's orders? More importantly, will that information be passed on to your state's Department of Motor Vehicles so they will know NOT to renew your license?

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety believes all states should have medical advisory boards to review driver capabilities. In addition, state licensing policies and practices should put into place standard reporting laws that provide civil immunity for clinicians, law enforcement, and licensing personnel who report people they believe may be medically unfit to drive.

So does that mean if I have a "lead foot" and get a speeding ticket for driving 10 miles over the speed limit, a police officer can declare me unfit to drive? Or what about all of the older drivers who drive below the speed limit?

By 2025, people aged 65 and older will account for 25 percent of all U.S. drivers.

Will You Outlive Your Money?

2010-08-15T14:23:00.003-05:00

If you were to retire today, how much longer could you survive before your money runs out?

That's a question some of us don't think about or don't want to think about but the truth of the matter is the future is going to look gloomy for many baby boomers and they know it.

In a survey, people between the ages of 44 and 75 were asked what they feared more: death or running out of money.

61 percent said they feared running out of money
39 percent said death

56 percent said they are afraid they won’t be able to cover their basic living expenses in retirement.

36 percent said they had no idea whether their nest egg was sufficient

Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America, conducted the poll of 3,257 people.

Blacks and Cancer

2010-08-03T07:48:00.003-05:00

Blacks with cancer are up to twice as likely as other races to die from the disease, according to researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Center.

Why?

According to the study, blacks are often diagnosed with more advanced cancer are are more likely to have other underlying health problems, such as hypertension or diabetes. That problem could probably be resolved, somewhat, if more blacks made routine check-ups as a part of their overall health care--instead of going to the doctor only when "something hurts," and the pain becomes unbearable.

Another reason cited is the fact that black patients are less likely to be advised about cancer screenings and less likely to receive surgery or chemotherapy. That is another problem that could also be resolved if physicians and other health care providers treated ALL patients equally. And then, it would be our responsibility to follow up on those screenings and surgeries.

Hospitals that treat primarily black patients tend to have fewer resources and offer lower quality care. No surprise there.

The study also concludes that blacks tend to trust their doctors less, the care received is often not as good and in some cases they may be unable to pay.

**information courtesy of Newswise **

How to Age Successfully

2010-07-24T16:47:00.005-05:00

There's a saying that what you do in the dark will eventually come to the light. For some baby boomers who survived the drug crazed 60s, that might be a frightening thought.

Now it appears that what you do before the age of 50 will determine how well you age. Who knew?

According to researchers from the New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging, people are more likely to be successful to age successfully if:

1) They are educated,

2) Never been in prison,

3) Married

4) Drink in moderation or not at all

5) Work for pay or do volunteer work.

The lead author of the research study, Dr. Rachel Pruchino, says "Our research shows how aging is a lifelong process. The person you become at a very old age is really a function of how you lived your earlier years."

Funny, there's nothing in the research that talks about exercise or eating healthy.

The Price of Living Longer

2010-07-18T09:40:00.003-05:00

Living longer is going to cost many baby boomers, according to a recent study conducted by The Employee Benefit Research Institute.

A third of middle-income workers will likely run out of money after 20 years of retirement and significantly more lower-income workers will deplete their savings after 10 years, according to the new study.

The nonpartisan research group based in Washington says its retirement readiness study found that living longer, saving too little and inadequate planning for health care costs will leave many retirees short of money to pay basic living expenses.

The study finds that 64 percent of workers earning less than $30,000 a year will run out of money within 10 years of retiring. About a third of workers making between $30,000 and $70,000 will run out of money after 20 years of retirement. One in 10 workers making more than $70,000 won't have enough money.

"Early" baby boomers, meaning people who now aged 56 to 62, have a 47 percent chance of not having enough money to pay basic retirement costs and uninsured medical expenses, the study concluded.

"Late" boomers aged 46 to 55, as well as Generation X workers aged 36 to 45, have about a 45 percent chance of running short on cash.

Jack VanDerhei, research director for EBRI and author of the study, says baby boomers need to stop deceiving themselves into thinking they are going to have enough money for retirement.

Many workers will likely be forced to continue working beyond retirement age.

Time Flies in Boomer World

2010-07-07T08:27:00.004-05:00

Today is Ringo Starr's birthday. The oldest of The Beatles turns 70. Hard to believe that the drummer of the young English rock group that took America by storm in the 60s is a member of the post boomer generation.

In my mind, The Beatles have never aged. I still see them as four handsome young musicians with the bowl-type haircuts playing for millions of screaming, adoring fans. I was seven years old when I sat glued to my TV set watching them on the Ed Sullivan Show.

Ringo's birthday is a reminder that I, too, am getting older.

They say time flies when you're having fun. I say time flies whether you're having fun or not. Ask Ringo.

By the way, what was your all-time favorite Beatles' song?

To learn more about what Ringo is doing on his birthday, click on the title of this blog post.

Are You Wearing Grannies Panties?

2010-06-12T16:05:00.006-05:00

Twenty or thirty years ago, I would never have any problem deciding what to wear on a hot day like today. Tube top and bikini shots, along with my sandals and some cool shades. But now at 50-something, that attire is definitely out.

So what's a poor baby boomer woman to do when she wants to look cute and cool for the summer even though she's having to deal with a little middle-age spread?

Lifestyle writer Aliceann Toole offers her thoughts on fashion for boomer women. She says, "Just because we reach that certain age, we don’t throw our fashion sense out the window. Just because our bodies have changed over the years, we aren’t ready for shapeless “granny” clothes … even if we’re grannies."

I agree with her synopsis but then the question becomes, "Did I have any fashion sense to begin with?"

I still have the right to wear grannies panties, if I want to, don't I?

How has your fashion changed over the years?

Senior Tips on Making Whoopee

2010-05-24T12:24:00.002-05:00

1. Wear your glasses to make sure your partner is really there.

2. Set timer for 3 minutes, in case you doze off in the middle.

3. Set the mood with lighting. (Turn them ALL OFF!)

4. Make sure you put 911 on your speed dial before you begin.

5. Write partner's name on your hand in case you can't remember.

6. Use extra poly-grip so your teeth don't end up under the bed.

7. Have Tylenol ready in case you actually complete the act..

8. Make all the noise you want....the neighbors are deaf, too.

9. If it works, call everyone you know with the good news!!

10. Don't even think about trying it twice.

***I love emails like this that make their way into my mailbox***

The Very Next Time...Consider This

2010-05-22T10:00:00.002-05:00

This morning I received a blessing in a blog post. It came from my Fabulously 40 and Facebook friend, Tori Fisher. She reminded me of how important it is for us not to be so quick to pass judgement on others and to be thankful for what we have.

Seeing this post this morning reaffirms how important social media has become in my life---where someone I've never met who lives hundreds of miles away can touch my life in a special, positive way.

Here's a portion of her blog post:

The very next time you get upset because someone cut you off in traffic; consider that they might be rushing to get to a loved one who needs them…

The very next time a clerk is rude to you at a grocery store, consider that they just received their paycheck and it’s been confirmed that they simply cannot feed their children…

The very next time you say something hurtful, mean or just downright ignorant to someone, consider how that might make you feel if someone said it to you or your mother…

THANKS TORI!

To read her entire post, please click on the title of this post and it will take you directly to her blog.

Gym Etiquette for Baby Boomer Women

2010-05-18T11:44:00.003-05:00

In my aerobics class today, one of the women broke her beaded bracelet while swinging her arms to the beat of the music. As a result, beads flew all across the floor, creating a possible hazard for anyone who would've stepped on them during our dance step routine. As she proceeded to pick them up she said, "I knew this would happen." I thought to myself, "Then why did you wear it in the first place?"

I am always amazed at the boomer women who come into the Duke Center for Living for a workout. As a fellow boomer, I feel I must've missed the memo on the appropriate attire to wear because I am no where near looking like they do. Nearly every women who comes in has on make-up and is loaded down with very nice jewelry. It's almost as if they're afraid to be seen in public without being made up and they fear robbery if they leave their valuables at home.

I even saw one woman in the locker room actually putting on eyeliner BEFORE she began the aerobics class.

The purpose of going to the gym is to get a good workout so you can increase your endurance and burn some calories. It's not about what you look like going in....but rather what you feel like after the workout.

Besides, makeup and sweat just don't mix.

The Image of Bill Cosby

2010-05-10T16:03:00.007-05:00

Let me start off by saying, I am NOT an image consultant but I do feel qualified to say what I think looks good and what doesn't.

That brings me to the reason for this post and my thoughts on the attire comedian Bill Cosby chose to wear while speaking to the graduating class at Shaw University in Raleigh, NC this past weekend.

I did not attend the graduation but I did see a news clip and I was stunned at his appearance. He wore a long sleeve tee-shirt and sweat pants. I was so shocked by his dress that I had difficulty listening to his message. It looked as if he had just gotten off a plane and ran right over to the Stadium without time to change. I'm not sure what message he was trying to send but it wasn't a good one in my opinion.

Here is a man who is constantly speaking out about the negative images in the black community and how parents must take reponsibility for their children's behavior. I totally agree with him on that, however, Mr. Cosby must own up to what he says by portraying a positive role model for young people. Dressing down may meet them on their level but it sends a wrong message.

Someone suggested to me that maybe he dressed that way as a joke. If that was the case then the reporter failed to do her job in explaining that.

Would Mr. Cosby have gone to Duke, Temple or Princeton dressed like that? Maybe so, but the point is no matter who you are you should set a positive example to young people who look up to you---and not just with your money.

Maybe I am really out of touch but I can't imagine speaking to any group of young people in similar attire---unless we were on some type of outing event. What do you say?

Shame on Lawrence Taylor and the State of New York

2010-05-08T07:23:00.004-05:00

I don't know which is more shocking----the fact that former NFL player Lawrence Taylor would allegedly have sex with an underage girl or at the laws in the state of New York.

For those of you who have been living in outer space for the past couple of days, media reports allege the former NY Giants star paid a 16-year-old girl to have sex with him in his hotel room. The girl, according to reports, was delivered to his hotel room by a pimp.

She had been reported missing by her uncle, who called the New York Police Department saying he had received a text message from her. That message led police to an address in the Bronx where the 36-year-old alleged pimp was arrested and charged in the case.

Not long afterwards, Taylor was also arrested at his hotel room.

The 51-year-old faces a maximum of one year in prison on the solicitation charge, which is considered a misdemeanor. The maximum sentence for third-degree rape, a felony, is four years.

I don't know whether this baby boomer is guilty or not, however, my second thought when I heard the news was why would he need to stay in a hotel if he owned a home nearby--especially since his wife was staying at their second home in Florida?

My first thought was how could the State of New York think a convicted rapist of a CHILD should only receive the maximum sentence of four years in prison?

Perhaps that's why we have so many perverts running around.

Parenting Your Parents

2010-05-01T08:06:00.006-05:00

If you are not already, you may someday find yourself taking care of your aging parents. It is not an easy task by any means, but one that is necessary in order to ensure their quality of life remains intact---especially if they become disabled. As primary caregivers for our parents, my husband and I have gone through a crash course on the subject.

I'd like to offer some tips on elderly care:

If you are not in a position to take care of your parents, make sure you do as much research as you can on nursing homes/assisted living facilities. They are NOT all the same.

Stay on top of your parent's nursing home and medical care. Visit as often as you can to let staff know you care about what's going on. Sadly, many elderly are "dumped" into nursing homes by family members, who rarely come back to visit them.

Know what medicines are being prescribed. If you don't know what they're for, ASK.

Know the medicare and medicaid laws as it relates to your state. What we discovered is some laws are different from state-to-state. This is especially important to know if you must transport your loved one to a different state.

Don't be afraid to challenge the system. When my mother-in-law sustained some bruises that no one could explain, we filed a grievance with the County Social Services and then the State. As a result, one nurse was fired---another resigned and my mother-in-law was watched much more closely. Of course, we weren't the most liked family after that but you do what you have to do in order to protect your loved one and ensure their safety and well being.

Know your parent's history. I think this is especially important if you're loved one has dementia because they won't be in a position to answer for themselves. When my husband tranferred his mom from one facility to another, he was asked a lot of questions about her and her family history. Some of it he knew--some he didn't.

Keep a journal. Don't count on your memory to remind you of things. Write it down and you'll know for sure and be sure to always get names of people involved in your parent's care.

If you have anything else to add, please feel free to do so.

Beauty is Only Skin Deep for Many Baby Boomers

2010-04-13T18:27:00.006-05:00

Anti-aging procedures are on the rise according to a recent survey by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and they have baby boomers to thank for that.

AACS President Dr. Mark Berman says even though baby boomers are getting older they want to look younger, which would account for the significant number of facelifts among the group between 2008 and 2009.

According to the AACS numbers:
•Facelifts rose 44 percent from 2008 to 2009 in procedures by AACS members, totaling 34,455 in 2009.
•Blepharoplasty procedures (eyelid lifts) went up 42 percent, from 42,602 to 60,507.
•Mon-invasive anti-aging procedures such as Botox (up 157 percent) and fillers (up 245 percent) also rose.

•Average age of facelift patients is 54.1 years.
•Average age of blepharoplasty patients is 52.3
•Average age for Botox is 46.6
•Average age for fillers is 46.8

It would appear that aging gracefully has taken on a whole new meaning.

Baby Boomers Can Connect to Medicare Online

2010-03-29T20:18:00.004-05:00

The Federal Government is doing its part to get baby boomers up to speed when it comes to dealing with technology. The Social Security Administration is now making it possible for you to register for Medicare benefits ONLINE, even if you are not ready to sign up for your monthly Social Security check.

The new online application, which takes less than 10 minutes to complete, is for people reaching the Medicare eligibility age of 65 who want to delay filing for Social Security retirement benefits

To apply online for Medicare do the following.
● go to www.socialsecurity.gov and
● choose Retirement/Medicare under the header, “Select Below To Apply For.”

You will be asked a brief series of questions.

If you have a question or need additional information, there are “more info” links.

When you’re done, just select the “Sign Now” button to submit the application.

There are no paper forms to sign, and usually no additional documents are required. If more information is needed, Social Security will contact you by phone or letter.

Make sure you ***tweet this*** to let all of your baby boomer friends on Twitter know.

Baby Boomers and the Tea Party

2010-03-27T15:06:00.004-05:00

Despite what I may have been led to believe, the so-called Tea Party Movement is not made up of uneducated red necks from the trailer park. According to research conducted by CNN, tea partiers are mostly college educated white, male baby boomers, who earn more than $50,000 a year, live in rural areas, and identify themselves as conservatives.

These baby boomers---so-called activists---let it be known that they did not want to see the Health Care Reform Bill pass and their actions were nothing short of despicable. For example, a crowd of them shouted the "n word" at Congressman John Lewis, They yelled homophobic epithets at Rep. Barney Frank, an openly gay congressman. And one protester actually spat on a Black member of Congress.

But they didn't stop there. Death threats were issued to Democrats who voted for reform—one had a coffin left on his lawn and another was told snipers would kill the children of lawmakers who voted yes. Several Democrats had their district offices vandalized, and a gas line was cut at a home that tea partiers mistakenly believed belonged to Rep. Tom Perriello.

Who said baby boomers were the most diverse generation?

Where are the Baby Boomers Located

2010-03-17T11:28:00.005-05:00

It should come as no surprise that the majority of baby boomers reside in the largest states. According to data recorded by the US Census in 2008, here is how the top states ranked for baby boomers:

California 8,809,263
Texas 5,637,468
NY 5,081,366
Florida 4,647,133
Pennsylvania 3,372,858
Ohio 3,056,377

Meanwhile, according to the AARP, here are the top places for baby boomers to reinvent themselves in retirement:

1) Loveland, Colorado
2) Las Cruces, NM
3) Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
4) Portland, Oregon
5) Greenville, SC
6) Sarasota, FL
7) Ann Arbor, MI
8) Tuscon, AZ
9) Montpelier, VT
10) Honolulu, HI

How many of these cities have you visited and what do you think of them? I've been to Greenville, SC and as a baby boomer I can definitely say it is NOT a place for African-American baby boomers to spend the rest of their lives.

Baby Boomer Women Out Number Baby Boomer Men

2010-03-16T14:21:00.006-05:00

It's no longer a man's world when it comes to baby boomers. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau in 2008, women outnumber men by nearly two million. Women also outnumber men in every state but the following:

Alaska
Minnesota
Nevada
North Carolina
North Dakota
South Dakota
Wisconsin
Wyoming

According to the data, there are 77,329,698 baby boomers (men and women born between 1946 and 1964). Men account for 37,854,617; women 39,475,081.

Does this surprise you?

What We Want in a Man

2010-03-09T15:06:00.002-05:00

Isn't it interesting how our ideas of what we want in a man changes as we age.

When we're in our 20's.....

1. Handsome
2. Charming
3. Financially successful
4. A caring listener
5. Witty
6. In good shape
7. Dresses with style
8. Appreciates finer things
9. Full of thoughtful surprises

When we're in our 30's....

1. Nice looking
2. Opens car doors, holds chairs
3. Has enough money for a nice dinner
4. Listens more than talks
5. Laughs at my jokes
6. Carries bags of groceries with ease
7. Owns at least one tie
8. Appreciates a good home-cooked meal
9. Remembers birthdays and anniversaries

Our 40's........

1. Not too ugly
2. Doesn't drive off until I'm in the car
3. Works steady - splurges on dinner out occasionally
4. Nods head when I'm talking
5. Usually remembers punch lines of jokes
6. Is in good enough shape to rearrange the furniture
7. Wears a shirt that covers his stomach
8. Knows not to buy champagne with screw-top lids
9. Remembers to put the toilet seat down
10. Shaves most weekends

Our 50's......

1. Keeps hair in nose and ears trimmed
2. Doesn't belch or scratch in public
3. Doesn't borrow money too often
4. Doesn't nod off to sleep when I'm venting
5. Doesn't re-tell the same joke too many times
6. Is in good enough shape to get off the couch on weekends
7. Usually wears matching socks and fresh underwear
8. Appreciates a good TV dinner
9. Remembers your name on occasion
10. Shaves some weekends

Our 60's......

1. Doesn't scare small children
2. Remembers where bathroom is
3. Doesn't require much money for upkeep
4. Only snores lightly when asleep
5. Remembers why he's laughing
6. Is in good enough shape to stand up by himself
7. Usually wears some clothes
8. Likes soft foods
9. Remembers where he left his teeth
10. Remembers that it's the weekend

The 70's.......

1. Breathing.
2. Doesn't miss the toilet.

Just a little humor from my girlfriend Maria.

Tom Brokaw and The Boomer Report

2010-03-05T18:33:00.008-05:00

On Thursday night, Tom Brokaw did a report called BOOMERS on CNBC. It was of great interest to me because I was born in 1957---which means I am a part of the baby boomer generation.

Part of Brokaw's report was done at the University of Michigan. I'm not sure why. If I had been doing that report I would've gone back to Kent State University because that is where four young people (who would be baby boomers today)were gunned down by the police while protesting agains the Vietnam War. But that's just me.

Much attention is being paid to baby boomers these days as the first wave of us moves towards retirement and social security. Brokaw attempted to give us a 50 year look at the boomers in a two-hour period.

Yes, we were the first generation to grow up with television; many of us lived through the civil rights era and the Vietnam War. But the “real” image of a baby boomer is what I question. Brokaw failed to show the true diversity of us as a group. We are not all white kids who grew up in the suburbs watching the Mickey Mouse Club. He referred to us as the most diverse generation but the fact of the matter is some of us actually grew up in a separate and unequal society and according to a Duke University study, diversity has not led to equality. Brokaw didn't talk about that. Instead, he showed us how one black man in America was living a life he never dreamed of. The fact of the matter is many blacks in the boomer generation are no better off relative to whites than their parents and grandparents. Many older southern baby boomers can still tell you stories about the Jim Crow laws and the impact it had on their lives.

We have also been called the wealthiest generation but despite what some would have you believe, we are not all living in the land of milk and honey. Some of us may have plenty of disposable income but, according to the Duke Study, quite a few of us are struggling financially.

One thing I will agree with in the report is a comment made by author J. Walker Smith. He said baby boomers became more focused on self and a promise of economic prosperity as they grew up. They became more focused on "things", and tried to live beyond their means. Greed and ego were also the order of our generation.

Maybe that explains some of the financial mess we're in. You think?

Baby Boomer Men Are Just Happier People

2010-02-21T16:16:00.004-05:00

· If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah.
· If Mike, Dave and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla and Four-eyes.

EATING OUT·
When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave and John will each throw in $20, even though it’s only for 32.50.
None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.
· When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.

MONEY
· A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
· A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn’t need but it’s on sale.

BATHROOMS
· A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel ..
· The average number of items in the typical woman’s bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items.

ARGUMENTS·
A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

FUTURE·
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
· A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.

SUCCESS
· A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
· A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

MARRIAGE
· A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn’t.
· A man marries a woman expecting that she won’t change, but she does.

DRESSING UP
· A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the trash, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.
· A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.

NATURAL
· Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
· Women somehow deteriorate during the night.

OFFSPRING
· Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favourite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams.
· A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
A married man should forget his mistakes. There’s no use in two people remembering the same thing!

~Author Unknown…but I found it via BabyBoomerTalkOnline.com

Baby Boomers Don't Read Blogs

2010-01-31T15:26:00.005-05:00

I'm a baby boomer and I write blogs. As a matter of fact, I have more than one active blog. I also read blogs written by fellow boomers but, according to the latest research, I am in the MINORITY because the majority of baby boomers don't read blogs. The study claims the number of blog reader/writers is below 10%. Although 49% of boomers use online reviews and recommendations on a retailer’s site to make their purchase, only 9% looked to other blogs or communities for recommendations.

Another interesting statistic involves Twitter. The study also showed that Twitter is not very popular with us boomers either---only 10 percent of us are "tweeting."

Meanwhile, Lisa E. Phillips, eMarketer senior analyst and author of the new report, “Boomers and Social Media” says about 47% of online boomers maintain a profile on at least one social network, and Facebook was, by far, the most popular with 73 percent of boomers maintaining a profile.

So what do you think of this study? Is it pretty much on the money or totally off base? Also, if you are a baby boomer with a blog, please post it here.

Baby Boomers Give a Thumbs Up to Fox News

2010-01-28T20:16:00.004-05:00

More than 1100 baby boomers nationwide say they watch and trust Fox News more than any other news network.

According to a new poll by Public Policy Polling, 52 percent of Baby Boomers say they trust Fox as an informed source for news--while CNN comes in a distant second at 33 percent.

Why do you think that is?

Unfortunately, this survey does not break down the numbers to determine the number of white males polled versus women and other ethnic groups. I will point out that 1151 people surveyed nationwide is merely a small drop in the a very, very large bucket but I'm sure FOX News will get mileage out of it.

Another interesting fact in this survey is CBS and ABC News were last in the polls. Does this have anything to do with the fact that both networks have female anchors.

Hmmmmm...............................

Baby Boomers Beware of Free Trial Offers

2010-01-12T17:00:00.006-05:00

Have you ever been the victim of a "free trial offer"? This is where a company offers you a sample of their product or service for a limited period of time.

Not long ago, I had to cancel my credit card and have another one re-issued because I became a victim of the free trial offer. I heard about a particular product on the radio targeted for baby boomer women and decided to try it out. All I had to do, they said, was give them my credt card number to cover the nominal cost of shipping and handling. I was also advised to call them within 30 days if I was no longer interested in receiving additional product. No problem, I thought.

After trying the product, I decided I wasn't interested...but guess what? I got busy---lost track of the 30-day trial period and failed to notify the company. As a result, I received more product the following month and a nice $49.95 added to my credit card. I immediately called the company to cancel and returned the product unopened. The following month I didn't receive any more product but another charge for $49.95 showed up on my credit card bill. I called the company again. I was told they had not received the product I returned to them and it takes awhile for the cancellation process to go through. My bank advised me to cancel the card.

When signing up for these trial periods, make sure you know the following information:

1) You should be aware that by accepting a free trial offer, you might be agreeing to buy additional products and services, if you do not cancel within a specified period of time.

2) Consumers don’t realize that by providing their card number, they may effectively be signing a contract allowing the merchant to automatically bill them for further merchandise and other things like shipping at the regular price after the trial period is over.

3) Reading the fine print is key to staying clear of trial offer traps. More often than not, if you’re not interested, it’s your responsibility to cancel the product or service to avoid any further charges from the merchant after the prescribed trial date.

4) If you have a problem with a trial offer, try to resolve it with the seller first. If you are dissatisfied with the response, contact the Better Business Bureau Federal Trade Commission or your local consumer protection agency.

Sex and the Single Baby Boomer Woman

2010-01-06T18:39:00.005-05:00

The Shady Lady Ranch in Nevada has been given the go ahead to hire the state's first legal male sex workers. As a matter of fact, this is the first time in the history of the world that male prostituion is being made legal.

Brothel owner Bobbi Davis was quoted as saying, "I personally feel, as do the many other women who have made contact with me since I started this, that this is a service whose time has come."

No word yet on the MO of the women she will market to however here's a statistic that might help her:

57 million American women 45 and up, nearly half—25 million—are unmarried.

And there's also the unhappily married women who would , perhaps, love a "getaway weekend" on the ranch.

So what do you think about offering legalized male prostitution in a controlled and confined enviroment?

My Weird News Stories of 2009

2009-12-29T22:21:00.004-05:00

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1. Man Sends Pictures of Himself Dressed in Birthday Suit to all of his Former Girlfriends for Christmas

2. Free Funeral Arrangements for Georgia Residents
Planning to drink and drive this New Year's? A north Georgia funeral home has a deal for you. Between now and noon Thursday, drivers can visit McGuire, Jennings and Miller Funeral Home in Rome to sign a contract stating they plan to drink or take drugs and then drive on New Year's Eve. If they die in a wreck that day, the funeral home will give them a free burial. Services included in the package are a casket, grave, limousine and preparation of remains. Funeral home officials said the program is designed to save lives by making partygoers think twice about drinking and driving.

3. Now who's Krazy?
A 37-year-old Wisconsin man went to a motel room for what he thought was going to be a romantic tryst but instead was assaulted by four women who used Krazy Glue to attach his privates to his stomach. Police say it was all part of a bizarre plot to punish him for a lover's quadrangle gone bad.

4.Call on Jesus for Jury Duty
Jesus Christ was called for jury duty in Alabama but was sent home for being disruptive. The 59-year-old Birmingham woman, who previously went by Dorothy Lola Killingworth, assured the presiding judge that was her name. She had her name changed in the Probate Court, and she presented her driver's license. Christ was sent to a courtroom for a criminal case, but was excused because she was disruptive, court officials said.

5.Philly ER Patient Dies in Waiting Room, Watch Stolen
A security camera was rolling when Joaquin Rivera, 63, brought his hand to his chest and died in the busy emergency room at Aria Health's Frankford campus in Philadelphia, about 11 minutes after complaining to ER personnel of pains in his left side. Rivera's death did not go completely unnoticed, however. The security tape shows that 39 minutes after his passing, another person in the ER stole his watch. Hospital workers walked by him several times, but did not notice that he appeared to be dead until 50 minutes after he'd stopped moving.

6. KKK Member Turns Over New Leaf
A former officer of the Ku Klux Klan has changed his ways and was ordained in San Diego so he could serve as a minister in one of the country's largest black denominations. Former imperial wizard Johnny Lee Clary said in a statement he was authorized by the Church of God in Christ to participate in the ministry of racial healing and conduct evangelism campaigns, according to reports. Clark joined the KKK Youth when he was younger, then later became a national spokesman for the White Knights of the KKK. According to Clary's web site, he started reevaluating his life and eventually embraced religion. Clary changed his view on the world and racism.

7. Getting More than a Happy Meal at McDonald's
An Arkansas man left a cell phone -- which contained nude photos of his wife -- inside of a McDonald's. Then, after said nude photos ended up on the Internet, Phillip Sherman sued the Mickey D's for $3 million, claiming he and his wife had to move to a new town to escape from her smitten stalkers.

8. Maxed out Credit Card?
A man in Spokane, Wash., who had just pumped 90 dollars worth of gas at a Conoco, got quite a shock when he received an automated call from his credit card company stating a payment of $81,400,836,908 dollars to the gas station had just been pre-authorized.

9. Woman Tries to Shoot Down Plane for Being Too Noisy
A 69-year-old Missouri woman, apparently fed up that ultra-light planes had been doing test runs close to her home, went to the local air terminal armed with a hand gun and said she was going to shoot down the offending planes. Then, to the surprise of everyone, she started firing. No plane was hit, although one had to abort a landing, and the woman was arrested.

10. 34 Hospitalized after Co-Worker Sprays Perfume
When almost 150 people at a Texas bank call center became ill, reporting dizziness and shortness of breath, officials suspected carbon monoxide or some other toxic fume was the culprit. But when two people complained about dizziness after a co-worker sprayed perfume and then others began to feel sick, it was discovered that the perfume was to blame. Thirty-four people were taken to hospitals, 12 by ambulance, and 110 people were treated on the scene. No one knows what type of perfume was sprayed. (MSNBC.com)

Baby Boomer Celebrity Deaths in 2009

2009-12-27T21:44:00.003-05:00

The media lost its most trusted journalist this year while the entertainment industry lost quite a few notable baby boomers and beyond. Did you know the majority of people on this list died from some form of cancer? The second leading cause was heart disease.

Here is the list of celebrity deaths from January 1, 2009 to today's date, December 27.

JANUARY

88-year-old Actor Ricardo Montalban Fantasy Island

69-year-old Bob May--played Mr. Smith on Lost in Space

FEBRUARY

70-year-old Soap Opera Actor Clint Ritchie--played Clint Buchanan on One Life to Live

Soap Opera Actor Phil Carey--played Asa Buchanan on One Life to Life

87-year-old Actor James Whitmore

MARCH

45-year-old Actress Natasha Richardson

61-year-old Singer Dan Seals--"I Really Want to See You Tonight"

APRIL

86-year-old Actress Bea Arthur-- Golden Girls

MAY

56-year-old Former Porn Star Marilyn Chambers

75-year-old Comedian Dom Deluise

JUNE

62-year-old Actress Farrah Fawcett

50-year-old Singer Michael Jackson

72-year-old Actor David Caradine

50-year-old Informercial Pitchman Billy May

JULY

92-YEAR-OLD Newsman Walter Cronkite

AUGUST

61-year-old Black SuperModel Naomi Sims

SEPTEMBER

57-year-old Actor Patrick Swayze

73-year-old comedian Henry Gibson--from Laugh In

OCTOBER

83-year-old Comedian Soupy Sales

NOVEMBER

69-year-old Actor Dennis Cole

79-year-old Actor Edward Woodward--played The Equalizer

DECEMBER

63-year-old Actress Alaina Reed Hall--from Sesame Street and "227"

79-year-old Actress Connie Hines--played Carol Post on "Mr. Ed"

90-year-old Actor Gene Barry--from Burke's Law

If I missed anyone, please feel free to add.

Stealing in the Name of the Lord?

2009-12-23T09:08:00.004-05:00

One of the ten commandments in the Bible tells us "Thou Shall NOT Steal", but there's at least one clergyman who says it's OK under certain circumstances and depnding on where you steal from.

In a recent sermon, Father Tim Jones told his British congregation, "My advice, as a Christian priest, is to shoplift. I do not offer such advice because I think that stealing is a good thing, or because I think it is harmless, for it is neither. I would ask that they do not steal from small, family businesses, but from large national businesses, knowing that the costs are ultimately passed on to the rest of us in the form of higher prices. I would ask them not to take any more than they need, for any longer than they need."

Meanwhile, here are the top 50 items shoplifted in the US in 2009:

Advil tablet 50 ct
Advil tablet 100 ct
Aleve caplet 100 ct
EPT Pregnancy Test single
Gillette Sensor 10 ct
Kodak 200 24 exp
Similac w/iron powder - case
Similac w/iron powder - single can
Preparation H 12 ct
Primatene tablet 24 ct
Sudafed caplet 24 ct
Tylenol caplet 100 ct
Advil caplet 100 ct
Aleve caplet 50 ct
Correctol tablet 60 ct
Excedrin tablet 100 ct
Gillette Sensor/Excel 10 ct
Gillette Sensor 15 ct
Monistat 3
Preparation H Ointment 1 oz
Similac w/iron concentrate 13 oz
Tavist-D decongestant tablet 16 ct
Trojan ENZ 12 ct
Tylenol gelcap 50 ct
Tylenol gelcap 100 ct
Tylenol tablet 100 ct
Vagistat 1
Advil caplet 50 ct
Advil gelcap 50 ct
Advil gelcap 24 ct
Advil tablet 50 ct
Aleve tablet 50 ct
Anacin tablet 100 ct
Centrum tablet 60 ct
DayQuil liquicaps 20 ct
Dimetap tablet 12 ct
Duracell AA 4 pk
Ecotrin tablet 100 ct
Ecotrin tablet 60 ct
Energizer AA 4 pk
Excedrin tablet 50 ct
Femstat 3 app
Gillette Atra 10 ct
Gyne-Lotrimin 3 app
Monistat 7
Motrin caplet 50 ct
Motrin tablet 24 ct
Oil of Olay 4 oz
Preparation H Ointment 2 oz
Schick Tracer FX 10 ct
Gillette Sensor/Women 10 ct
Sudafed tablet 24 ct
Visine drops 1 oz

Baby Boomers and Obesity

2009-12-22T15:30:00.005-05:00

The baby boomer generation is outlasting all previous generations when it comes to living longer---but are we living any healthier?

A new study indicates that obesity could become a major cause of disability among today’s baby boomers.

Researchers from the University of California recently used survey information to compare disability rates among people in their sixties from two different time periods. They found that the group in the more recent time period had higher obesity rates and were far more likely to have problems walking or even getting out of bed.

Obesity can have a direct negative effect on joints and the cardiovascular system, and both of these problems can lead to disability as we age.

No explanation was given in the study as to why obesity and disability were higher among boomers. Could the expanding age of technology be the cause of our expanding waistlines and beyond? Coud this lead to more and more boomers going under the knife for a tummy tuck or liposuction?

What do you think?

Spending Your Life in Tears for One Reason or Another

2009-11-23T19:22:00.006-05:00

Did you know women spend one year and four months of their lives in tears. According to a recent survey researchers found that from birth to the age of 78, a woman will be find herself crying for at least 12,013 hours.

Here are some reasons baby boomer women might cry:

menopause
weight gain
divorce
cheating husband
adult children who return home

OK...so how many times did you cry today?

Do you cry when you look in the mirror? Another survey indicates women are constantly concerned by their appearance and worries about aging. Woman worry about their bodies 252 times a week on an average. One hundred women aged 35 to 69 were given clickers in an experiment to register each time they worried about the ageing process.

Over seven days, the average number of clicks was 252.

The survey showed that on average women had negative thoughts 36 times a day.

One woman, who had a facelift ten years ago, clicked 1,400 times over seven days but admitted she thought it would be more. In her waking hours, she said she experienced a negative thought about herself approximately every three minutes.

So how many negative thoughts went through your head while reading this?

Oprah Does it Her Way

2009-11-21T17:30:00.004-05:00

When the queen of Daytime TV announced this week that she would end her show on September 9, 2011 after 25 years on the air, it came as no surprise to me. I actually knew this information several months ago---thanks to an interview I did with a woman who spent a year on the Oprah Show back in 2006. Lisa Bradley told me back in May that Oprah was ending her show in 2011 and she said it again when she spoke as the Luncheon Keynote Speaker for the kick-off of our Boomer Diva Nation Conference just last month.

For a quarter of a century, Oprah has introduced us to some of the most interesting guests. She has also given us an up close and personal look into the lives of some of our favorite celebrities. The Talk Show Diva has also proven that she can turn an average person into a household name (Iyanla Van Zant, Dr. Oz, Dr. Phil) and turn writers into best selling authors---even when they didn't deserve it (remember James Frey?)

Meanwhile, her critics are saying she's lost much of her appeal--due largely in part to the fact that she endorsed Barack Obama for President. Some in the African-American community have accused her of selling out to please White America. Well, you can say what you want about Oprah but the truth of the matter is, her name is associated with power and influence and this baby boomer EARNED every bit of it without a government bailout.

Noisy Sex Gets a Conviction

2009-11-10T22:46:00.004-05:00

I think you and I will agree that it's a good thing when a husband and wife can really turn each other on at midlife, right? But should your neighbors have first hand knowledge of what's going on in your home?

It seems as though a 48-year-old baby boomer woman from the UK was convicted for making too much noise during her love-making sessions with her husband. The noise was so bad that everyone from the neighbors to the postman heard their escapades.

A next door neighbor of the couple told the court she was frequently late for work because she overslept having been awake most of the night because of the noise.

She said: "The noise sounds like they are both in considerable pain. I cannot describe the noise. I have never ever heard anything like it."

An actual recording of their love-making sessions was also played for the court.

OK....so is this a cheap thrill or is someone jealous?

To read the whole article, click on the title at the top of the page.

Why We Vote

2009-11-03T20:34:00.004-05:00

I didn't realize it was election day until I drove past a neighborhood church and saw "Vote Here Today" signs on the lawn.

To tell you the truth, I didn't see the point in voting. I mean, I spent all of my energy last year on the most important election of my lifetime and now that it's over, what's the point? Well, obviously there were many others who felt the same way as me. In a precinct that has more than 2000 registered voters, I ended up being voter #115. Pretty sad.

THE POINT IS EVERY ELECTION SHOULD BE DEEMED AS IMPORTANT.

The country was so focused on getting the Republicans out of office on a national and state level but what many of us fail to realize is, it starts on the LOCAL level. That means your county commissioners, city council, school boards, etc are just as important because their decisions will have an immediate impact on you.

Voting is a privilege and a right. If you don't exercise it, you have absolutely nothing to complain about so I don't expect to see your gripes on Twitter, Facebook or wherever!

Walmart Saving You Money in Death

2009-10-29T19:48:00.004-05:00

Walmart wants to make sure they get your last dollar--literally. The leading discount store has announced it is now selling coffins online. This is good news for baby boomers who may be looking to save money for retirement and beyond. Prices for the caskets range from $999 to $1,699.

Surprisingly, Walmart isn't the first to sell caskets. Costco led the way and has a whole website dedicated to the handling of this delicate matter. Here are some of the Q&A's on their site:

Q: Why is Costco Wholesale selling caskets?
As a service to our members.

Q: If members have more questions, where do they get answers?
First, call Universal Casket Company toll free at 866.458.2800. This customer service number is staffed by qualified representatives who will be able to answer any product, shipping and delivery questions.

Additionally you can call Costco’s Call Center at 1-800-955-2292 or email customerservice@costo.com.

Q: Will funeral homes accept the casket that we order?
Yes, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires funeral homes to accept any casket purchased from an outside source. However it is recommended that the purchaser notify the funeral home of their Costco.com casket order within 1 business day.

Currently, caskets can only be purchased from and shipped to addresses in the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Q: If my bill to address is in a state not listed above, but the ship to address is, will my order be valid?
No, at this time your bill-to and ship-to addresses must both be within the 34 states listed above, otherwise your order will be cancelled.

Q: How long before I receive the casket?
Expedited and Standard shipping is available.

Before placing an order for Expedited Delivery, you must call Universal Casket Company directly at 866-458-2800, or your order will not be processed. Expedited Delivery orders must be placed by 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). A casket ordered for expedited delivery will arrive by 5 p.m. (your local time) the following day (Monday-Friday, excluding holidays). For example: if an order is placed on Monday at 2 p.m. EST, the casket will be delivered by Tuesday by 5 p.m. (your local time); however, if the order is placed on Monday at 2:01 p.m. EST, the casket will deliver by Wednesday. Expedited delivery is not available in all areas.

Standard delivery orders may be placed directly through Costco.com without prior authorization from Universal Casket Company.

A casket ordered on Costco.com with standard shipping will be delivered within three business days (Monday through Friday, excluding holidays) from the date the order is placed (for exceptions see below). If your order is placed by 12:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST), that is considered as one business day. For example, for an order placed on Monday at 12:00 p.m. EST, the casket will be delivered by Wednesday, however if the order is placed on Monday at 12:01 p.m. EST, the casket will deliver by Thursday. Standard orders will be delivered by 5 p.m. (your local time) on scheduled delivery date.

Q: Do I need to be at the funeral home to receive the casket?

Universal Casket Company delivers during normal business hours. You do not have to be present at the time of delivery. A funeral provider’s refusal to use third party merchandise until the consumer has inspected it may place an unreasonable burden on consumer choice, in violation of Section 453.4(b)(1) of the FTC Funeral Rule.

Q: Do I need to be at the delivery location if the casket is being delivered to a facility other than a funeral home?

Yes, if the casket is being delivered to a location other than a funeral home, the carrier will call for a delivery appointment. In this case, someone must be present to accept delivery.

Q: Can you order a casket for preplanning purposes?
Yes, as long as the casket is being shipped to a member's home or storage facility of choice. The order will ship within the stated delivery parameters on the site. However, due to regulations and restrictions, we cannot hold on to any orders for future delivery.

Walmart Execs are also hoping people will start planning ahead. Walmart.com is allowing people to pay for the caskets over a period of 12 months for no interest.

Baby Boomers, Need a Tax Write off for 2009?

2009-10-23T19:29:00.004-05:00

I stumbled across an interesting article recently called the 10 Wackiest Tax Write Offs of 2008. The author called them wacky--but upon reading the list, I thought some of the write-offs had some merit. Take the lawyer, for example, who wrote off a $50,000 deduction for a party he gave in which many of his former and present clients were invited. Certainly they were talking business while sipping on the finest champagne and eating filet mignon.

After careful thought I decided to create my own list to give my fellow baby boomers some ideas on how to stick it to Uncle Sam this year:

Single Boomer Business Owners: Here's your chance to claim a huge deduction as well as a happily ever after. Get re-married---preferably to another business owner--invite every customer you've ever dealt with (including those who got on your last nerve), talk a little shop at the reception and then write it off as a business meeting. The key here is to make sure you come in contact with each and every client you ever dealt with and say something about your business dealings with them. This would also be a grand opportunity to make more deals.

If you get more than one speeding ticket in the year, write it off as a donation to the Highway Patrol Benevolence Fund.

You've got a dog--which is technically your dependant. Your dog just had a little of pups and they all live with you. Wah-la!

Prostitution: For all of you Cougers out there: Your body is considered business property so why not claim a deduction for depreciation of value.

Got any more suggestions to add to this list? Please share, and be sure to click on the title of this blog post to read the Ten Wackiest Write-Offs of 2008.

Why Chicago Didn't Get the Olympics Bid

2009-10-09T21:10:00.004-05:00

Let me start off by giving you this poll:

Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in America 2008

New Orleans
Camden, NJ
Detroit
St. Louis
Oakland
Flint, Mich.
Gary, Ind.
Birmingham, Ala.
Richmond, Calif.
North Charleston, SC

Clearly, Chicago isn't on the list but, no doubt, it ought to be. Did you know the number of people murdered in Chicago during 2008 was larger than the number of U.S. soldier deaths in Iraq during the same period?

314 U.S. soldiers died in Iraq;
509 people were murdered in Chicago

Who would want to go to a city where their safety would possibly be in jeopardy?

Do you think Mayor Richard Daley has any answers or is he just another baby boomer who has closed his eyes to the real issues that plague his city and our nation?

Is President Barack Obama's eyes also closed?

Jesus on Twitter?

2009-09-24T14:20:00.005-05:00

When I saw this headline the other day: What Would Jesus Tweet?---it immediately caught my attention. I went on to read the article---which was one preacher's take on using social media to spread the Word of God.

Since Twitter has become all the rave, more and more people are coming up with interesting ways to tie the social media site to their own agenda. But I do think connecting Jesus to Twitter is over the top. Asking what would Jesus tweet means every time we write 140 characters, we should ask ourselves if this is a message Jesus would put out there. Would Jesus be an IN YOUR FACE kind of person or would those spiritual tweets be redundant messages full of love and inspiration? What would Jesus tweet to us baby boomers? WWJT

I am connected to several pastors on Twitter and Facebook because I want to be. I do appreciate the inspirational messages they put forth. I also like to see that they're real human beings and not some self-absorbed, I can do no wrong man or woman of God on their self-made pedestal.

So what do you think? Does using social networking tools put the gospel message at risk? Can anything of real and lasting value come from technology that limits information to a mere 140 characters?

To read the entire article What Would Jesus Tweet click on the blog title.

Baby Boomers and Health Care Reform

2009-09-18T17:40:00.004-05:00

A lot has been said about health care reform but I think the biggest statement came this week when it was announced by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality that more than $55 billion dollars was spent on baby boomer health care in 2007.

Another interesting finding in this report is the fact that nearly one-third (29.0 percent) of hospital stays for baby boomers were elective. Procedures that were more likely to be elective, such as knee replacement, back surgery, spinal fusion and hip replacement, had the highest rates among privately insured patients aged 55-64.

What wasn't addressed in this report, and what I believe is a key factor, are the number of needless elective surgeries baby boomers undergo like: liposuction, breast implants, facelifts, etc.

There is no doubt in my mind that we need health care reform and I am personally sick of the media giving credence to these "staged" town hall meetings where people are complaining about government interference. Sadly, some people are being "spoon fed" a bill of goods and are getting all riled up without really knowing or understanding all of the facts. If you trust the word of a Glenn Beck, then I know you're clueless because he's not even a bonafide journalist. DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

If you want to get riled up about something, get mad at the government for not cracking down on the cheaters in the insurance industry. Get mad because the pharmaceutical companies are causing your medication to be triple the cost. Get angry about the number of needless and ridiculous referrals some doctors make on behalf their patients--and then turn around a bill medicare some outrageous fee. If I have a back problem, why send me to a neurologist?

Get mad at your government because you can no longer wait for them to clean up the waste and fraud.

Or is this really a black man being President???

Labor Day Facts

2009-09-07T10:09:00.003-05:00

When the minimum wage was implemented under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, workers received $.025 per hour. It increased to $1.00 in 1956. Twenty years later the minimum wage went to $2.30. As of July 2009, the wage now stands at $7.25.

The following states pay ABOVE minimum wage:

Washington $8.55; California, Illinois & Massachusetts $8.00; Vermont $8.06; Oregon $8.40; Rhode Island & Michigan $7.40; Maine & New Mexico $7.50; Ohio $7.30; Colorado $7.28; District of Columbia $8.25

These states pay BELOW minimum wage:

Arkansas $6.25; Wyoming $5.15; Georgia $5.15; Minnesota $6.15; Kansas $2.65

There are 7.7 million workers who hold down more than one job.

Obviously you can understand why with minimum wage not keeping up with today's cost of living.

**Statistics provided by the U.S. Department of Labor**

The Kennedy Impact Was Far Reaching

2009-08-29T09:24:00.004-05:00

It's one thing to talk the talk--but how many people actually walk the walk of their talk? We all know Senator Ted Kennedy did a lot of talking during his 40 plus years in politics. We also know he followed up that talk with action.

During his years in the United States Senate, Kennedy fought many battles for the rights of others.

In 1964, for example, he gave the first speech to the Senate urging passage of the Civil Rights Act and outlawing segregation in public accommodations. He also supported the Economic Opportunity Act, which established programs like Head Start and the Job Corps.

Ten years later, Kennedy introduced comprehensive legislation for national health insurance. Then in 1975, he sponsored the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, which later became the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, requiring a free and appropriate public education for children with disabilities in every state.

In 1979, as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he encouraged selection of women and minorities in judicial nominations.

Nearly 20 years later, his home state of Massachusetts, appointed it's first African-American to the State Supreme Court. Judge Roderick Ireland became the first African-American to sit on this bench in its over three hundred year history. That's one appointment I am personally giving Senator Kennedy credit for.

Judge Ireland also happens to be my daughter's godfather.

TV 101 - MORE Magazine

2009-08-25T16:40:00.001-05:00

TV 101 - MORE Magazine

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Baby Boomers Need to Beware of Spam

2009-08-24T12:26:00.003-05:00

Just like me, I'm sure you get your share of unwanted or unwelcome emails. It's called SPAM. Spam is flooding the Internet with many copies of the same message, in an attempt to force the message on people who would not otherwise choose to receive it.

Did you get the email about winning the Euro Sweepstakes for millions of dollars---only to discover you had to send a couple thousand dollars of your hard earned money to get NOTHING in return?

Or what about the fake check sent--with instructions to go to the bank and cash it and then send the a portion of the proceeds back to a fictitious address? I can't believe the number of people who fell for that one.

But the email I received today caught my attention because I recognized the name of the sender. It came from a fellow baby boomer who lives in my area. We're not good friends but I know her and would try to help her if she needed it. The email read:

This had to come in haste, and it left me in a catastrophic state. I am in a terrible situation and I'm really in need of your help urgently. Yesterday, suddenly, I went to Africa for a program ...

That was my first red flag. The fact that she went to Africa SUDDENLY. Who takes a trip half-way around the world on a moment's notice?

Then the email went on to say:

Just wanted to seek your help on something very important, you are the only person I could reach at this point and I hope you come to my aid. Because something terrible is happening to me now, I need a favor from you. Right now,I am stranded in Nigeria because I forgot my little bag in a taxi where my money and passports were kept on my way to the Hotel were i stay, I have no money with me. I lost almost everything I have with me (which included my cash, diaries and credit cards). I am now owning a hotel bill of $550 and they wanted me to pay the bills soon else they will have to seize my bag and hand me over to the Hotel Management,I do not want to make a scene of this which is why I did not call the office or my house, this is embarrassing enough.please I need some help from you urgently to help me back home,and I need you to help me with the hotel bill and i will also need $950 to feed and help myself back home so please can you help me with a sum of $1500 to sort out this problems here. I need this help so much and on time because i am in a terrible and tight situation here,please understand how urgent i need your help.

At the end of the email, she promised to pay me back upon her return home.

In addition to the poor spelling and grammatical errors, I also noticed a few very important things. The email was not personally addressed to me and it wasn't signed by her. The closing said:

Thanks and get back to me soon.

Regards.

Don't allow yourself to get bamboozled and hoodwinked by a scam like this.

Baby Boomers Gettin' High on More than Life

2009-08-19T14:08:00.005-05:00

When the Beatles sang "Gonna get high with a little help from my friends..." back in 1967, who knew that song would have significant meaning more than 40 years later?

It seems that the percentage of American baby boomers age 50-59 who reported use of illicit drugs within a year nearly doubled between 2002 and 2007, from 5.1 percent to 9.4 percent, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported Wednesday.

The agency said that percentage rose because baby boomers — born between 1946 and 1964 — continued to use drugs as they got older.

The rates of people aged 50 to 59 who admit to using illicit drugs in the past year nearly doubled while rates among all other age groups are the same or decreasing.

So whatever happened to getting high on life?

To refresh your memory, here's that Beatles tune from the 60s.

When All Else Fails-be Positive - MORE Magazine

2009-08-17T14:23:00.001-05:00

When All Else Fails-be Positive - MORE Magazine

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How to Keep Your Job in Corporate America

2009-08-15T17:34:00.003-05:00

Earlier this year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported nearly 1.85 million people age 55 and older were out of work, and the jobless rate for that group rose to 6.4 percent.

Why? Because Employers would rather pay less to younger workers eager to get a foot in the door than to pay top dollar for experience.

If you're a baby boomer still employed in Corporate America, here are some simple Employer guidelines to follow to keep your job:

1. Never say you can't do a job because they'll make you do it anyway and add more to it to force you out.

2. Never say it's easy because they'll just make it harder and force you out.

3. Never complain because they never listen (but they will take good notes about the complaints you made and bring it back in your face at review time).

4. Never look like you enjoy it because they'll put a stop to it an create a more challenging task to force you out.

5. Never say "take this job and shove it" because they will!

What Goes on in South Carolina Should STAY There

2009-08-08T22:29:00.004-05:00

What is it about South Carolina and its people? Although I've never lived in the Palmetto State, I've been there several times and nothing about it really impresses me.

If you read my last blog post, you read about the 50-year-old S.C. man who got caught having sex with a horse---yes, a horse---not once, but twice!

The Governor of S.C. got caught too--not for having sex with a horse---but he was having an affair with a woman in Argentina. You may recall Mark Sanford disappeared for nearly a week in late June to see his Argentine lover, Maria Belen Chapur, leaving his staff, his wife and the rest of the state in the dark about his whereabouts. Initially, his office told reporters that Mr. Sanford was hiking on the Appalachian Trail.

Once he got busted, he decided to confess because according to him, God will forgive him of his sin if he confesses. But will his wife forgive?

Well, as of Friday the First Lady of S.C., Jenny Sanford, decided to move out of the Governor's mansion. What does this mean? It means she refuses to allow herself to be caught up in a messy scandal created by her husband who just won't stop talking about trying to repair his marriage even though the other woman is his "soul mate."

You can't have your cake and eat it too, Governor Sanford, and maybe it would be a good idea to stop talking and just lay low. You give all decent baby boomer men a bad name.

Baby Boomer Caught in Unusual Sex Act

2009-08-04T16:24:00.003-05:00

For the life of me, I can't begin to understand what would possess a 50-year-old man to go have sex with a horse. Have I missed something? I know baby boomers are known for setting trends---but sex with animals isn't trendy at all. It's just downright crazy and stupid! It appears that Roddell Vereen (no relation Ben, I hope) decided to have a romp in the hay with a real stud--or maybe it was a female horse. I'm not sure. The whole thing was caught on video tape by the horse's owner.

But what makes this story worse and beyond bizarre is the fact that this South Carolina man was caught before with the SAME horse last year! He was placed on probation for that incident---along with his name being added to the sex offenders list.

His family maintains he has a mental issue. I sure hope that is the case. The horse's owner, meanwhile, says she thought about shooting Vereen both times, but didn't want to go to prison.

What would you have done?

Cops Hate Journalists Too

2009-07-24T20:14:00.005-05:00

One night back in 2000 I was driving home from my job at NBC17 in Raleigh, N.C. It was around 11:45am. As I was driving down Glenwood Avenue, I noticed some police activity. Of course, the journalist in me had to know what was going on. It may have been "breaking news" and certainly I wanted to be the first to report it.

As I drove up on the scene, I saw a police officer directing and re-routing traffic. I pulled over to him and asked what was going on. He told me to keep going and that it was none of my concern. I then identified myself as a journalist with NBC17----at which time he told me he didn't care who I was and I had better move along "right now!" He then put his hand on his weapon. I told him I was going to report him. He replied, "Just get the hell on!" I then drove up to the next officer and asked (very nicely) if he could give me the officer's name. Since they weren't near each other, he had no idea of what had just transpired. He was very polite and gave me the officer's name. I might also add this particular officer was black. The other officer was white.

True to my word, I contacted the Raleigh Police Internal Affairs Unit on Monday and reported the incident. I explained I was on my way home and thought I had come up on some breaking news. Certainly the officer could've handled the situation differently and there was absolutely no need for him to go for his gun. I was just an innocent, non-threatening black female journalist in a car trying to get home.

A police investigator came to my job and took a statement. They probably did it to verify that I was who I said I was and they certainly didn't want to give the impression that they were going to dismiss my complaint.

A few months later, I received a letter in the mail indicating the officer had been reprimanded for his behavior.

I wonder now if I had been a white woman would the officer have been as rude as he was. But I choose to believe the cops don't like journalists either and on that particular dark night the word "journalist" was written all over my black face.

Relying on the Kindness of Others - MORE Magazine

2009-07-14T12:19:00.001-05:00

Relying on the Kindness of Others - MORE Magazine

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What Happened to the Content of His Character?

2009-07-14T08:57:00.009-05:00

In his famous "I Have a Dream" Speech, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said we should be judged by the "content of our character" and not "by the color of our skin."

It's sad to think that in 2009 the patrons of the All-White Huntington Valley Swim Club don't appreciate that message.

I'm sure you've heard the story by now: two weeks ago outside Philadelphia, more than 60 children from a summer camp tried to go swimming at a club that their camp had a contract to use. They paid $1900 for the privilege, but apparently the people at the club didn't know that the group of kids was predominantly Black.

When the campers entered the pool, white parents allegedly took their kids out of the water, and the swimming club's staff asked the campers to leave. The next day, the club told the summer camp that their membership would be canceled and that their payment would be refunded.

The President of the Valley Swim Club, John G. Duesler, now says he and his family are receiving hate email and phone calls to his home. After the incident he commented that the reason the black campers were tossed was that they would “change the complexion of the club” and they couldn’t come back.

But the most telling comment Duesler made was that “this is a terrible misrepresentation of everything I stand for”. You know why he said that? Because he was one of President Barack Obama's staunchest supporters during the presidential campaign. He rallied the suburbanites to jump on the Obama bandwagon and that they did.

So how does Duesler go from supporting a black man to lead an entire nation to blocking access to little black children who just wanted to cool off and have a day of fun?

What is the true content of his character?

If you click on the title of this post, you can find Duesler's Twitter page.

Banks Have Gone Totally Mad Since Bailout

2009-07-08T17:45:00.004-05:00

If you've followed the banking mess and their call for a financial handout---I mean bailout---you know that some of these fat cats made out like bandits. Take Citigroup, for example, which reportedly received at least $45 billion in bailout funds. Bank of America, which ranks #1 on my Customer Hall of Shame List, also got $45 billion.

But I guess that just wasn't enough because now it appears some of these same banks are dipping into our personal accounts to take even more money---although they say they'll give it back in a little while.

Today I went to the gas station and saw this interesting note on the pump:

VALUABLE INFORMATION FOR DEBIT CARD USERS

"When using a debit card, please be aware that your financial institution may place a hold on your account that may exceed the amount of your purchase. Shell is not responsible for placing and removing debt holds. Please contact your financial institution if you would like more information."

THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUSINESS....

Yes, it appears these banks keep giving us all the business.