Skinny Jeans

I wear jeans for the mature figure. I have found Jag and NYDJ fit me better than most other jeans. This year my workout has focused more on the abds to get rid of the "muffin" top or "luv handles". Today I found this work out for the women who want to wear skinny jeans. I was getting frustrated with losing inches but no pounds. My daughter linked me up to a program call livestrong and when I entered all my calories per day I was surprized that I was rewarding myself for my hour workouts. Nothing major: a few jelly beans, a glass of wine in the evening, a handful of M&Ms etc. So I was expeding more calories but ingesting just as many as a reward. So I set my mark for one pound per week and I have lost 2.5 pounds. I just have to be careful not to reward myself for the weight loss.

DNA Testing for Talent

In China parents are having their children (only child) screened for talent. I know about testing DNA for disease but I did not know you could also predict talents, temperament, and IQ. This seems like parenting to the extreme. The Video shows little kids being evaluated by a team of people to see what their talents are as toddlers. One segment shows a child about 4 or 5 going through a vigorous work-out for gymnastics. No wonder our gymnasts never have a chance at the Olympics. I wonder how many rebellious teens they are going to have in the future. What ever happened to allow you child to explore and find their gifts?

Health Care like Congress!

The LA Times this weekend had an article about the generous benefits package, subsidized by taxpayers that lawmakers receive. President Obama keeps on placating the public by saying that their health care will be just like theirs. The plan favored by most federal employees costs about #1030 per family. Sounds a bit high? Well we the taxpayer picks up about $700 of that amount. I calculated that if all Americans had that type of plan it would cost 5.2 trillion dollars per year. Interesting!

Cash for Clunkers

Ok, what next? I actually thought about turning in our 1998 Ford F150 pick up truck for cash (and another car), but it did not make good financial sense at this time. The truck is in good condition, it runs well, burns a little gas but we just add a little extra oil as needed. The cost to insure it is about $400 dollars per year. It is driven occasionally by every member of the family. Sometime you just need a pick up truck to haul things around. I read about a guy who traded in his old truck this week. He felt this was his chance to get a new vehicle at a discounted price. He had lost his job and used all of his saving to do this. Of course he did not mention the increased cost of the car insurance of the new vehicle or the fact that he had used all of his savings to purchase it. I guess now he will get unemployment to pay his bills and health care subsidized by working people. What next?

Social Security and Medicare

It seems that two major programs the government is currently in charge of our running out of money. Social Security and Medicare funds will be depleted in 2016 and Medicare will be involvent by 2017. These dates fall in the years when the bulk of the "Baby Boomers" will need the programs. Is this the time for the government to get involved in providing health care for all the able bodies persons in the US? Who is going to fund all this? The children of this generation can't even get into the workforce let alone support all the "Boomers." We have been a generation who have spent freely on real and projected earnings but who will support us. Another story talks about a 50 year old upset because he cannot retire to golf and write a novel in 5 years. The just turning 50 will just have to get in line or find another career path for the golden years. Hopefully the young, energetic eco-boomers and gen X's will solve the problem. The government can't do everything.

Swine Flu

Are you nervous about the potential "pandemic" swine flu alerts? My husband has just finished a book on the plague and we were discussing the book when the next morning our friend sent us an email about the swine flu outbreak. Of course with the news media outlets we have been able to track the new cases on an interactive map. My first inclination was to get provisions and stay indoors. Last week a student and her son had flu like symptoms and fever. She return to class with a cough. Was it really the swine flu? My daughter-in-law had a flu like illness with fever for three days last week, was it the swine flu? Not every person suffering from flu like symptoms seeks health care. So, I thought maybe I have already been exposed to the dreaded swine flu. Today I am wondering if the media is just stirring the pot to make us grateful that President Bush hoarded the medications needed to treat a massive outbreak of the flu. (Yes I did say President Bush)President Obama made it sound like he actually mixed the batches of the medication himself and has subsequently released the miracle drug to the public.

Susan Boyle

I was brought to tears watching a youtube copy of Susan Boyle performing on Britains Got Talent. It is a British version of American Idol. I must admit I have been following American Idol this year. I got tired of all the heavy news about the economy and job loss. I must say I like Simon Cowell. His comments although often caustic are usually right on. The "don't judge a book by the cover" seemed to apply in the case of Susan. Simon was rolling his eyes as she answered the preliminary questions. It appeared that the panel of judges assumed that she would be a "dud" due to her dowdy appearance and 47-years-of age. Being a "Boomer" I loved watching their faces as she belted out a song from Les Miserables. Please enjoy, Susan Boyle.