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.

Multigenerational Families

The current economy has been affecting families in various ways. My son has friends that have lost their jobs and are moving back home. I have a neighbor whose daughter, husband and 3 kids who may lose their home do to the husbands job loss. Today I read about seniors who are being forced to move in with their sons and daughters. Actually my best walking friends mom may just have to do that. People in their 80's + do not have the time to re-coup their losses. Staying in the work force is the topic of conversation where I work. I am up to renew a 5 year contract and some days I wonder if I will have the energy to work at my same pace for the next 5 years. I love the job security but have to admit I am not as young as I use to be.

Eating Healthy on a Shoestring Budget

I just got back from a walk to the local farmers market. My friend and I love to walk on Saturday mornings and this morning she had a limited time to walk so we went to the farmers market to talk while we shopped. Today they had great looking berries. I picked up some veggies to finish up a three bean soup we are making today and a loaf of fresh baked bread. When I got home I was browsing the web and found an article by CNN correspondent Sean Callebs who has just finished an assignment where he lived on the equivalence of food stamps for a week. The thing he missed most was his diet soda. Amazing after a month without it he lost his taste for the diet drink and felt he may have lost a few pounds and felt pretty good. Cooking meals at home takes some thought and planning. I did have to soak the beans last night and get a few fresh ingredients but the three bean soup should be good for a couple of meals. A child of the 60's I did not eat in a sit down restaurant until I was a senior in high school. The only fast food I had was an occasional White Castle Hamburger. Maybe this generation needs to learn how to cook.

Cutting costs

When the kids were young I clipped food coupons weekly. I gave up the practice when they grew up and our food bills decreased. Well, as a cost cutting move I started clipping coupons again. Last week I saved $42. I don't think I would be able to save this much weekly because my pantry is filled and I have back-up laundry soap, dish soap, tootpaste etc. Yesteday an older women was slowing the line with all her coupons and the person in front of me was getting a little impatient. I made a comment on how much I saved the week before and the woman looked at me for a second and commented "that much". She than proceed to tell me her son graduating this year from college had no job prospects in sight. She was frustrated for him. Yes, our young adult children are suffering from the down ecomony even more than us old timers. We at least had an opportunity to enter the workforce and work our way up in the world. It seems the world as they know it is collapsing. In my opinion we are headed back to the late 1970's to early 80's went interest rates were 12.5% and I sewed my kids clothing and clipped coupons weekly. Maybe we will all benefit from going back to simpler times.

Do Finances Count?

I have 3 children who are all done with school and in the workforce. They graduated from college dept free and are all trying to put some money away each month. We have taught our children to be financially responsible and that their yearly goals should include financial goals. Even in this tight economy people who cut back and save for the future will land on top. This week-end was Valentines day and I saw this clip on CNN about the question: Do Finances Count? I pondered the question for a bit. My husband and I have been married for 31 years and have weathered many a storm (including financial) by setting yearly goals. I am always astounded that women do not financially plan for the future. All three of my kids and our daughter-in-law have IRAs. There have been years that we have had to help them out a little but they have all consistently put money away. Since I teach college I encourage my students to put money away for their future. It is hard to ask the questions about finances during the dating period but I think finances play a huge part in a couples ability to stay married for a long period of time.

Bottle Shock

I have decided during this economic downturn I would continue to support the local businesses in my community. We have a video / DVD store that has survived the arrival and subsequent demise of a Block Buster Video Store. This evening the owner suggested a little movie called Bottle Shock. The movie is directed by Randall Miller and is a story of the early days of California wine making. The movie stars Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman and Chris Pine. So I settled in on this cold rainy California evening with a glass of wine and my big screen TV. What a pleasant surprise. It was uplifting and encouraging for people who want to follow their dreams. Hopefully the huge stimulus package our current government is proposing does not destroy the American Dreams of the small business people.

Flight 1549

I heard the announcement about an airplane down in the Hudson River on Thursday while driving around doing errands. We are frequent flyer's and often request the bulk head or exit rows since they offer a little more room. On a recent flight from Hawaii I was seated right by the exit window and when the steward came by and asked me if I could do the task I said yes. I read the instructions a few times and visualized what I would do if I was called to action. The same day passengers on a flight out of Denver had to open the emergency exits and on Thursday passengers on Flight 1549 had to do the same. I have pondered whether I should volunteer to sit in the strategic aisle on future flights. Size is a factor but so is the ability to keep a cool head. I suspect in the future passengers might be more vigalent about listening to the safery instructions before take-off.

Happy 2009

I for one was quite happy to see 2008 end. I am all about new beginings and hopefully 2009 will be better than the end of 2008. The end of January we will have a new president. Hopefully he will be able to fullfill all the promises he made during the campaign. The stockmarket on January 2 did a little turn around. It sounds like some failing institutions are being purchased by people with money. I do wonder if this would have occured naturally if big government had not stepped in. If the housing market continues its downward spiral maybe our children can actually get into the housing market it 2009 or 2010. I don't do resoolutions. I try to do something positive for myself each year. My goal this year to come out of my comfort zone a little. Not sure what this means yet but I have 352 days to try something new in my life. Stay tuned!