Not Just for Seniors

Fashionable Scrubs for Men at Blue Sky Scrubs

2011-11-29T16:24:00.000-06:00

Health care uniform companies are becoming more and more aware of the needs of the health care worker. Not only do uniforms have to be utilitarian but they also must have good fit. Companies such as http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/Scrubs-for-Men/ utilize Teflon coated wrinkle resistant cotton for their scrubs and mens lab coats.

Blue Sky Scrubs is the brain child of Dr. Shelby Marquardt, an anesthesiologist who wanted to add some color to the drab scrub hats worn in the operating room. She designed her own scrub hat and soon she was spending her free time sewing scrub hats for other employees who found the different patterns more interesting. Blue Sky Scrubs was born.

Hospital and medical office uniforms have to be loose but comfortable with convenient pockets. They are usually wrinkle resistant and easy to launder. Except for operating room scrubs which have to stay in the OR and may not be worn elsewhere, most employees wear their scrub pants and tops as regular work attire. This has given rise to creative design and brighter colors than the old plain green and blue. Health care providers who work with children, for instance, now have various kid friendly designs to choose from. Dental office assistants can have tooth and toothbrush motifs if they tire of the white uniform. Yes, fashion is coming to health care.

First Home

2011-11-28T16:27:00.000-06:00

This guest post from Doris Dillon

My husband and I just purchased our very first home and we could not be more excited! From decorating to remodeling, we have a big new hobby that we work at constantly and fills up a majority of our free time. We really lucked out with the house and found an old, cottage-style home right in the neighborhood we wanted for quite the deal. I can’t believe that this entire house will be ours for the long haul. Since we both lived in condos and apartments before the move, we decided to install a new BEST home SeCURITY system to make us feel safe while we are at home or away. My husband travels a good bit with work, so a security system will give me piece of mind while staying at the house alone. Although we have a large yellow lab to help scare away any intruders, she can sometimes be more friendly and playful than a guard dog. With the new security system in place, I feel like our house is coming together and just needs the finishing touches.

Nature's Inspiration

2011-09-14T18:33:00.000-05:00

Nature's Inspiration

Comparison Shop at Become.com

2011-02-25T01:35:00.001-06:00

Shopping online is here to stay and sites that allow the customer to compare products from different sellers is a time saving way of shopping. Become.com is a convenient website where you can do just that.

I stumbled across this site as I was looking for affordable apartment furniture and was pleasantly surprised at the variety of stores I could access without leaving the site. There were several stores selling sectional couches to choose from for a small conversational area as well as lift top coffee tables to double duty for storage and entertainment. I was even surprised to find an entire line of Candice Olson furnishings. There is a an entire wallpaper section from zebra wallpaper print to velvet textures. I could find just about anything to furnish my apartment.

You can, of course, find electronics, jewelry, home and garden products, and many other things all in one place, compare prices, read reviews and recommendations with fewer clicks of the mouse. Now how convenient is that?

Become.com has powerful search engines and advanced search technology that allows comparative shopping at the click of a mouse. There are product reviews, shopping tips and other relevant consumer product information as well as coupons and discounts. It has international capabilities which expose the consumer to products from different countries.

It was quite a pleasant experience to shop at Become.com.

Get Carried Away with HGTV

2011-02-25T00:20:00.004-06:00

I must admit, I have been hooked on HGTV for sometime now. There is just something about vicariously enjoying nice houses in far away places or finding a solution to that crowded furniture look or the non-existent curb appeal.

There is no space Candice Olson cannot transform into a classy abode.I am certain she can do a lot even a with zebra wallpaper,( not my first choice for wallpaper but it is for someone.) There is no home that Lisa Laporte cannot renovate, redecorate on a budget and get ready to sell. She can re-purpose sectional couches into separate conversation areas and make the look new again. How about tips to unclutter that home office like storage in lift top coffee tables to maximize space. And John Gidding can make the path to your front door very inviting.

Sectional Makes Good Conversation Space

HGTV is a virtual feast and an armchair travelogue. I enjoy looking for houses for the first time home buyer as well as for the high end condo dweller in New York City or learning from Holmes about all the pitfalls of shoddy and shady contractors. I have fun traveling to different countries house hunting for just the right place.

Yes, I do love HGTV for taking me away to homes and places I could pretend to be mine.

Wounded Warriors in Transition

2010-11-11T15:01:00.000-06:00

In 2004, the US Army reformed the way it took care of its wounded soldiers. In the past, while medical treatments and resources were available, it was often left up to the soldier and his family to find and utilize them, not an easy task when the soldier is not well and is in unfamiliar duty station. The Warriors in Transition Program sought to change this by forming a team around the wounded soldier so that there is coordinated care from start to finish. This is known as the Army Wounded Warriors in Transition Program. (AW2)

AW2 is set up to "care for all wounded, ill, injured military members and veterans wherever they are located, regardless of military status, and for as long as it takes.” Wounded and ill soldiers are assigned to a Warrior in Transition Battalion (WTB) also called Warriors in Transition Unit (WTU) where they receive a triad of care consisting of a squad leader or platoon sergeant to lead the wounded soldiers, a case manager who coordinates the soldier’s care through its various phases and the primary care physician who coordinates complex multiple treatment modalities. There are over 100 Warriors in Transition Units all over the country. Each branch of the military sets up their own way of caring for the wounded warrior. The AW2 program takes care of members of the regular Army, the Army reserves and the Army National Guard.

For As Long As It Takes
Link to video

AW2 is headed by Col Gregory D. Gadson, a highly decorated hero of several wars who in his 2007 deployment lost both legs and injured his right arm to an IED. In 2009, there were some 6,000 severely injured, wounded and ill soldiers in the AW2 program.

Key to success of the program is the case management provided by an advocate to the soldier and his family through the different phases of recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration. During his time in the WTB, the soldier’s main job is to heal himself so that he can decide the best future for him between successful continued service in the active Army, Army reserves or successful transition to veteran service in the community. During this process the soldier also may undergo medical evaluation board (MEB) and/or physical evaluation board (PEB) to determine the percentage of disability. About 70 per cent of WTB soldiers are medically retired. Some soldiers return to their unit in deployment. Some remain as active duty soldiers in a different capacity. The advocate is there to assist in whatever decision the soldier makes.

Another important commitment of the Department of Defense is providing care for as long as it takes. Before a soldier is medically retired, the team ensures that he has improved as far as he can before he is transitioned to the veterans affairs system. Members of the AW2 triad of care are highly dedicated and committed to the soldiers they serve.The Wounded Warriors in Transition Program is one way America pays its debt to the American soldier.

I am a Warrior in Transition.
My job is to heal as I transition back to duty
or to continue serving my nation
as a veteran in the community.
This is not a status but a mission.
I will succeed in this mission
Because I am a Warrior
And I am Army Warrior strong.

Wounded Soldier and Family Hotline: 1-800-984-8523 or visit www.warriorcare.mil

First published in Qondio

Contributor's Note A Veteran's Day tribute to those who keep the peace and guard our freedom.

External Links

Army Wounded Warrior Program | http://www.aw2.army.mil/news/videos/foraslong.html

Audie Murphy: America’s Most Decorated World War II Hero

2010-11-10T20:58:00.001-06:00

Before James Dean and Elvis Presley and my late husband, Felix, I loved Audie Murphy. I saw some of his movies more than once. I even watched his autobiographical movie, To Hell and Back. (I know now he was not a very good actor but at the time, I was an enduring fan.) I was sad and morose for a week when he died in a plane crash in 1971. So, imagine my pleasant surprise when I saw part of a wall in the d-fac (dining facility) of the army hospital I work in, dedicated to the memory of Audie Murphy.

Audie Leon Murphy was born into a poor sharecropper family in Texas. One of nine children, he worked to help his parents feed his siblings. He was said to have learned to be a sharp shooter with the rifle from hunting game for his family. When World War II broke, 18 year old Murphy tried to enlist in the Marines and the Paratroopers, both of which turned him down for being too small. At enlistment, he was 5’4” tall and weighed 110 pounds. He persisted, was eventually signed into the US Army and was almost relegated to a clerk job when he fainted in his first week of basic training.

Murphy saw action in Europe where he earned his numerous medals in between hospitalizations for malaria and war injury. He earned most of his rank promotions on the field from enlisted man to Major. He led his troops to battle in North Africa, Italy, Germany and participated in the liberation of the south of France. Murphy received every possible medal of valor awarded by the United States, among others, the highest US award, the Medal of Honor, 3 Purple Hearts, the French Legion of Honor, one of five awards bestowed by France and one from Belgium. His autobiography, To Hell and Back, chronicled the war effort and his experiences, careful to emphasize the contributions of his soldiers and fallen comrades rather than placing the spot light on himself.

Murphy’s war hero status led him to Hollywood at the invitation of James Cagney. He starred in several Western B movies and was a mediocre actor until he starred in John Houston’s Red Badge of Courage and when in 1955 he played himself in To Hell and Back. This movie grossed ten million dollars in its first release, the highest box office grossing movie eventually topped only by the movie, Jaws by Steven Spielberg in 1975. Murphy was also a song writer and poet.

This war hero was plagued by the emotional ravages of war. Like many soldiers returning from combat, adjusting to life in the civilian world was not easy. Murphy was insomniac and beset by nightmares of scenes of war. He was hypervigilant and was said to sleep with a pistol under his pillow. He became addicted to the sleeping pill, Placidyl. When he realized this, he locked himself in a hotel room for days until he kicked the habit. At the time, little was known about post-traumatic stress disorder which was then called “battle fatigue.” Understanding his own experience, Murphy lobbied tirelessly for the better treatment of Vietnam veterans who came home to insensitive often disrespectful countrymen.

It is sad that Audie Murphy is no longer in our collective memory. He fought for the freedom of Europe and the mandate of his country, doing his duty without question. He is the American soldier. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, as he wished, in a no frills grave indistinguishable from other fallen soldiers.

Arlington National Cemetery

As a young girl, I was infatuated with his good looks and movie star status. As an old woman, I understand now why I loved him and I am grateful.

First published in Qondio

The Warrior Ethos/ The Warrior Creed

I am an American soldier.
I am a warrior and a member of a team.
I serve the people of the United States and live the Army values.
       I will always place the mission first.
   I will never accept defeat.
       I will never quit.
       I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and a professional.
I am an American soldier.

Kidney Walk: Walking for Felix Again

2010-11-01T21:42:00.001-05:00

The National Kidney Foundation- Kansas City holds its annual kidney walk in October every year. My husband, Felix, died of kidney failure last year and my family and I joined the kidney walk last year and again this year. This event is a fundraiser meant to bring awareness to the early detection and prevention of kidney disease and to promote organ donation. There are some 100 centers across the United States holding kidney walks.

This year’s walk was held at the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus. It started out as a cool day which gradually got too warm. The UMKC campus with its hilly terrain was perfect for the walk ,giving everyone a good work-out. Teams of walkers fall into different groups, those who walk in memory of a loved one, those who are kidney disease sufferers and transplant recipients, and those who care for these patients. There were more walkers this year and there was entertainment for all from music and dancing to hot dogs and chips to face painting for the children. The kidney walk is a celebration of life.

Felix developed end stage renal disease, (known as ESRD, a condition where kidney function falls to 10% or less) due to diabetes complications, one of the most common causes of kidney disease. Other causes include high blood pressure, birth defects such as polycystic kidney, auto-immune disease such as lupus erythematosus, kidney infections, glomerulonephritis, injury or trauma, drugs and toxic substances, and other kidney disease. Stubborn man that Felix was, he ignored symptoms, doctor’s advice and family’s (of which there are six physicians and four nurses)pleas to get his diabetes under control until it was too late. Twenty six million Americans suffer from chronic kidney disease. More are at risk.

Once ESRD sets in, the patient must undergo kidney dialysis three times a week in a dialysis center or daily in their home otherwise, he dies because the body cannot get rid of toxins and excess fluids. One of 355.000 Americans who rely on dialysis for their life, Felix underwent dialysis for seven years. When I was a medical student in the Philippines in the 60’s, all we had available was peritoneal dialysis (dialysis done through the lining of the abdomen) with its constant risk of infection called peritonitis. Technology has so improved that this risk is much lower for those who opt for peritoneal dialysis and those who have hemodialysis (exchange of fluids through a fistula on the arm where a vein and an artery are connected and rerouted) can even do it themselves. The whole process still takes about 4 hours each time. Felix used to call it his second job because he went to dialysis after work. Dialysis allows the person with ESRD to live as normal a life as possible such as having a full time job or homemaking. There are reciprocal dialysis centers in the US and all around the globe allowing the individual to travel for work or pleasure. When our extended family went on an Alaskan cruise one year, we chose a sailing that had dialysis on board. The staff of these dialysis centers is exceptionally committed and treats their patients like family. I am very grateful for how they prolonged my husband’s life.

Felix got a kidney transplant towards the end of his life. Some 104,000 Americans are still waiting for a kidney transplant. One day, while recuperating from his transplant surgery, we watched a documentary about people waiting on a kidney transplant. I recall seeing my husband, a grown stoic man, weep for the staggering numbers of people waiting and the realization of the enormity of the gift he had been given.

And so our family will walk next year again. We will walk for Felix and for the many people with ESRD waiting for a second chance.

Seen on the back of a Tee shirt of one of the team walkers:

What Kidney Disease Cannot Do

It cannot cripple love.

It cannot shatter hope.

It cannot corrode faith.

It cannot destroy peace.

It cannot kill friendship.

It cannot suppress memories.

It cannot invade the soul.

It cannot steal eternal life.

It cannot conquer the spirit.

Team Quiason

Sign the organ donation line on your driver's license. "Heaven knows your organs are better needed on earth."

This article first posted on Qondio:

A Weekend in St. Louis, Dinner at Nora's

2010-10-10T14:32:00.002-05:00

In our family, September is a month of many birthday celebrations. Nephews Brian, Michael and Jacob turned 21 this year. Niece Rachel turned 18, daughter Emilie is 40 something, Vic is getting older, and Jonas is a senior citizen. This year, instead of the usual potluck, I had the bright idea of the family driving to St. Louis, Missouri and celebrating September birthdays with dinner at Nora’s. Everyone took me up on it. Daughter, Melissa and family even flew in from Seattle. It turned out to be a fun weekend.

Stock photo from Up in the Air, Cheshire Lodge in background

I reserved rooms at the Cheshire Lodge, an old world themed hotel. (It is featured in the George Clooney movie Up in the Air.) It is old but charming with authentic hundred year old furnishings from olde England. The rooms need updating but the rent was right and the staff friendly. It is a couple of blocks away from Forest Park so the exercise aficionados in the family had a scenic place to jog early in the morning. The hotel had a sumptuous continental breakfast spread. Embarrassing to say but the family just about occupied the whole lobby each morning. (In our defense, it was not a very big lobby.) The young and not so young occupied a good portion of the hotel's Fox and Hound Bar at night as well. The older of the group stayed up till closing, striking up conversations with the bar maid, also named Nora, and other hotel guests while the young adults decided they needed sleep more than conversation and drinks and gave up early, party poopers that they were.

Saturday was spent at the St. Louis Zoo. We all went, young kids, teens, young and old adults and senior citizens. It was the weekend of the hot air balloon race and I picked the weekend for that purpose. Alas, there were not very many balloons to be seen. I did not see any but Vic had pictures to show it was, indeed, the right weekend.

Dinner at Nora’s was on Saturday night. Nora’s is my son, Robert’s brainchild. It is a deli at 1136 Tamm Ave in the Dogtown district of St. Louis, Missouri. It is two doors down from a restaurant named Felix’s. Rob closed shop early to make room for Quiason family and friends birthday party. For appetizer, Lola Pulido from Seattle brought her special, you can’t eat just one, chicharones (pork rinds.) You could feel the cholesterol settling in your arteries. It was that good. The entrees were smoked ribs and beef tenderloin. The smoked ribs was meat falling off the bone tender, tasty, not too salty and seasoned so well that adding barbecue sauce would have been a crime. The beef tenderloin was cooked just right for every family member’s preference from rare, medium rare and well done. The best part of the evening, of course, was again, just conversation. Our family never seems to tire of this no matter how often we see each other. There are so many of us that there is always something new to talk about. Most of the time, however, we reminisce about the same old things over and over and smile and laugh like we were hearing it for the first time.

Rob, owner, proprietor and cook of Nora’s, is my youngest son. He has successfully defied the family stereotype (and expectation ) of being some kind of professional with a home in the suburbs, one or two cars, a wonderful spouse, and one to three children. He beats to the drummer within and insists on being his own person. Until he had Nora’s, he owned nothing and owed no one. He did not own a car unless it was a hand me down from parent or uncles. He walked, took the bus or begged rides from friends. He does not own a house. Like me, he shops at thrift stores. It takes very little to make him happy. He loves good food and good wine. He loves us. He knows no stranger and his friends love him. His friends brag about him, and when I hear how good a person he is, my heart swells. After all, my one wish for my children is that they become good kind people and they are. Anything beyond is just gravy. Our family does not really know Rob. We heard that he is an Elvis impersonator and he sometimes plays with a band, but no one in our family has heard him sing. At family gatherings, he shares very little of himself and stays mysterious. He gives glimpses of himself like bringing gourmet appetizers and introducing us to good inexpensive wine. Aunts and uncles still give him money for Christmas forgetting that he is no longer one of the unemployed college kids.

I am glad we had September birthdays in St. Louis, had the family see Rob in his own element and know how good he is at what he does. The food business is most difficult and unforgiving. Rob is still very poor. He works long tiring hours, but he is doing what he loves. Nora’s is getting good reviews and I have no doubt that in time, it will be a thriving business. Who knows, one of these days, there could be a Nora's near you. I envy Rob the simplicity of his take on life. I am trying to be more and more like him.

Nora's

1136 Tamm Ave
St. Louis, MO 63139
Neighborhood: Dogtown

(314) 645-2706

www.norasindogtown.com/

A Year of Living Alone

2010-09-08T16:13:00.000-05:00

My husband, Felix, died a year ago today. Losing someone I had awakened with day after day for 43 years was a life changing event. But for the love and support of my family, immediate, extended, adopted, in my work places and around the globe, the loss would have been too much to bear. You all know who you are and I thank you profoundly. I am truly blessed.

Immediate family a year ago

Time flies, indeed. Felix used to say I should travel when he was no longer around. He, of course, loved travel. In our younger days, we took the kids across America and Canada in our apple green Volkswagen camp mobile. After years of faithful service and neglect, an eye sore on our driveway, I sold it for $300.00 and he never forgave me for it. Never mind that the muffler could be heard miles away or that it stalled on the railroad tracks with my brother-in-law, Vic and my son, Robert in it. But that was Felix. He could never part with anything.

So, my first mission was to declutter my house, filled with coolers (He loved coolers and had maybe fifty of them.) extension cords, refrigerators, electronic components, laser disc player, betamax (remember those?) I have filled and sent Balikbayan boxes (cargo boxes that go to the Philippines) and have more to fill. It has not made a dent in my garage and basement. It may take the rest of my life.

Next, I fixed the house. It started with badly needed roof repairs, then new windows to replace rotted old ones, and hey, since I was on a spending roll now, why not the kitchen and the floors and so on. I have transformed our house into my house. It is all right. “ Do anything you want when I’m gone.” He said. And I have. I had the kitchen cabinets painted chocolate brown and put funky glass tiles on the back splash. My brother-in-law, Vic , (a dentist) and his electrician friend spent two 10 hour days setting up a classy TV and audio system, on top of the fireplace and in my bathroom that even Best Buy would envy. Interesting, since I watch TV once or twice a week if at all. ( It must have been a Felix kind of thing.)

Youth

Parents

I have changed jobs, a not so easy move since my work family had been a steady rock of support through the years of Felix’ illness. I miss them. The new me decided to serve soldiers. It turned out to be no sacrifice whatsoever because the pay is good (the work- tiring 10 hour days) and the soldiers are just wonderful to work with. I will not stay in one place for long. There are US military bases all over the world and I plan to work in as many of them as life permits. That is how I hope to travel. Of course, there are the weekend trips here and there. My children, Emilie, Melissa and Rob are getting used to getting an email telling them where I will be, for how long, so they know when to get worried.

I am taking classes,too. I took an HTML class to try to become worldwide web literate. I am pursuing a dream of becoming a yogi so I am enrolled in that, too. If I am deserving, I will eventually become a swami and you can call me by my swami name. I might even grow my hair long and wear flowing robes, you never know. “Warning: When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple…” Google it.

Couples who have lived together long eventually have an intuitive relationship with each other, like having the bad habit of finishing each other’s sentences or the bane of therapist’s existence, speaking for each other. I have continued to do that with Felix. I intuit and give him jobs like looking for lost objects and checking out decisions I am about to make. He has not failed me yet. We never really lose anyone. We simply relate on a different plane.

Last year, my sons in law threatened to have a custody fight over me. I saved them from themselves by choosing to live alone. Dan, Alex, having the mother-in –law for a week is way different from living with her every day, getting underfoot and embarrassing you in front of your friends. I love you but trust me on this and thank me later.

Grandparents

So it seems that I have moved on and in many ways, I have. But I do still have those days of overwhelming sadness for not being around the physical person that Felix was. I know now that those days will never go away. I am glad I live alone because I can weep like a mad woman and not worry about inflicting my pain on those I love.

More grandchildren

This year, I have learned a most important lesson. It is about loving. For as long as I am a lover who loves for the joy of loving someone and not because I need to be loved back, love can endure forever, transcending time and space. Love multiples. I can keep loving everyone I have ever loved and still have room for those I have yet to meet, because there is an endless supply where it comes from.

Duty First

2010-08-16T20:46:00.003-05:00

The soldier at the gate of the army base I work in, hands me back my driver's license and says, "Have a good day, Ma'am, Duty First." It is the same every morning and it makes me smile.

When my husband, Felix, passed away last year, he left me the gift of time to pursue whatever I wanted. "Go to Europe, he said, or wherever your heart takes you." I thought of going with Doctors without Borders but I didn't think there was much demand for a psychiatrist there. Instead, I took a contract job in an army hospital out-patient service as a way of giving back. It has been a most enriching experience.

Unlike the 60's when military service was a mandated luck of the draw, today's US army (and armed forces) are served by young men and women who voluntarily raised their hand in oath to protect the country and the US Constitution. They go through rigorous training. They go where they are told to go. It is duty first.

Soldiers are held to a higher standard embodied in the seven core values ingrained in soldier training.
• Loyalty: Bear true faith and allegiance to the US Constitution, the Army, your unit and other soldiers.
• Duty: Fulfill your obligations.
• Respect: Treat people as they should be treated.
• Selfless service: Put the welfare of the Nation, the Army, and your subordinates before your own.
• Honor: Live up to Army values.
• Integrity: Do what's right legally and morally.
• Personal courage: Face fear, danger or adversity (physical or moral.)

This I see every day.

Soldiers come from all walks of life, from all 50 states, its territories and from different nations. They are young people, some are emancipated 17 year olds. They have differing reasons for enlisting most common of all is to serve the nation. The majority enlist because being a soldier has always been their dream. Some enlist because they have seen 911 and watched the war on TV and felt that it was their duty. Many come from generations of soldiers who have sacrificed family members to death and disability. Some left successful careers or businesses to be of service to the country. Some enlist because they lost their jobs. A single mother of three children enlisted because it was the only way she could get insurance for her sick child. Some come with express hopes of building character. A few come because they have nowhere else to go.

Regardless of the reason for joining, all are expected to live by the core army values. The day starts at six for physical training formation before they go to their job assignments. Soldiers must be physically and mentally fit, ready and able to adapt to diverse and changing conditions. They train in adverse conditions, in the Mojave desert of California, the swamps of Louisiana, the mountains of Colorado and the winters of Alaska. Soldiers can be discharged for not maintaining ideal weight. They are expected to be financially responsible, take care of their families, and obey the law. Everyone obeys the speed limit in the fort. A DUI will cost a soldier his rank and a second one a discharge.

All occupations are represented in the armed forces, doctors, lawyers, mechanics, cooks, aviators, engineers, custodians, computer techs, infantrymen and some duties no one should ever have to do like cleaning blown up vehicles where a soldier lost life or limb.

Unlike previous times, today's soldier expects to spend 12 to 15 months in deployment to the war zone, come home for a year and go back again for another year. Many are training for their third and fourth deployment. They expect this. It is duty first. Many lament not seeing a child born, not being able to attend a family member's funeral, or be present for a spouse's surgery. It is duty first. Couples assigned to different brigades could deploy at different times and live together maybe three months in two years. Single parents face the heartache of leaving their children to grandparents and relatives during these times.

I am awed by the service of these young men and women, professionals in their duty embodied in the words of a soldier who said, "Ma'am, I've been bombed, I've been ambushed, and I've been hurt, but I have never ever fired my weapon in anger." This, of course, is the true warrior, the samurai.

We take them for granted, these protectors and first responders. They fight the war, patrol our coastlines and national borders, protect our skies and our seas, patrol our streets, and go into burning buildings. They go to their jobs everyday because it is duty first. They put themselves in harm's way so we can sleep well at night while they remain in the periphery of our consciousness, if at all.

I came with the intention of serving. The people I came to serve, instead, teach me about our world, life, responsibility and duty first. I am the better for it and I am humbled and grateful. How is it, I ask, that I can give so little and still receive so much?

Go for a Relaxing Day in Langley, WA

2010-04-17T03:56:00.003-05:00

Langley's Small Boat Harbor by Ron Roesler

If you have never been to Langley, Washington, do make it one of your Pacific Northwest destinations. Last week I went to Seattle, Washington to visit my daughter, Melissa, her husband, Alex and grand daughter, Maya. They agreed to take me to Langley in Whidbey Island in search of Dave Gregor of Gregor Rare Books so I could learn more about book selling. Alex packed us and the family dog, Kobe, a handsome Akita into the family van and treated us to a most relaxing and renewing day trip.

My late husband, Felix, and I have had a love affair with the the islands of western Washington State for many years and when he was still able to travel, we came to the Seattle area three to four times a year to escape work. We liked to pack an overnight bag, buy cheese, bread and drink and go on day or overnight trips to different places close by. Langley, the village by the sea, is one place we frequented and so I was happy to combine a day with family, learn about books, and reminisce of times gone by.

Langley is a small town on Whidbey Island, (0.8 square miles and population 1072 in 2008) packed with scenic views, shops, tourist accommodations, arts and activities. It is on the southeast end of Whidbey Island, the second largest salt water island in mainland USA. Even the local grocery store has a picture window with a view of the bay and the Cascade Mountains across the water. It is also calls itself a book town by the sea. It is a friendly town. People stop to chat, give directions, make suggestions or just get to know you.They are proud of their town.

Kobe and Maya in Langley
First order of the trip was to see Dave Gregor at Gregor Rare Books. He is treasure trove of pearls on how to run a book selling business. His store is a book collector's paradise. My daughter, Melissa and I envied his collection of first edition Hemingways, Steinbecks and many of our favorite authors. I got free advice and the hour passed by quickly. Melissa, a journalist and book lover later told me how the store clearly reflected Dave's great love and respect for books. I agreed. I want to be like him when I grow up in the book business.

Dave Gregor

Maya, Alex and I in front of Gregor Rare Books

We walked the town. I set out to browse through all the book shops in book town. I took in book store lay-out, customer service, book choices and learned so much on this trip. Alex and Kobe romped around the park. Kobe was a hit with just about everybody. Melissa and Maya did mom and daughter things.

There is a lot to do here throughout the year. Actors, playwrights, artists from other places come to live here and this town of 1072 people is cosmopolitan in its own way. There are many published authors here. I got Maya a delightful children's book by a local author. The Fire House is home to talented glass artists who give classes and demonstrations. There is a 250 seat theater where playwrights and actors put on different shows. If you can, do sign up for the annual Mystery weekend (next is February 26-27, 2011. Townspeople play a part in the plot. Shop keepers spread false news about the crime.

The outdoor buff will find hiking, kayaking and fishing activities. Children can comb the beach and dig clams. (Langley is home to the Penn Cove mussel.) Gardeners can enjoy the flowers. Meerkerk Gardens, a nature preserve, just a few miles inland has acres of rhododendron trees which is just magnificent in April. And then, there is whale watching.

Langley is included in the 100 best destinations by Life Magazine, in the best 3 scenic driving destinations by Coastal Living and the 50 romantic getaways by Travel and Leisure.

Whidbey Island is accessible through Washington State Ferry service from Mukilteo, 25 miles north of Seattle through the Clinton-Mukilteo ferry service available every half hour. It is connected to the Olympic peninsula by the Keystone- Port Townsend ferry service. You can drive through Deception Pass Bridge from the Anacortes exit off I-5. There is also ferry service connecting it to the San Juan Islands.

There is plenty of lodging from resorts to bed and breakfast inns. Felix and I loved to stay at The Inn at Langley. All the rooms are spacious, furnished in a minimalist style and have a panoramic view of the water and the Cascades. Resident chef Matt Costello serves gourmet dining from Thursday to Sunday in the summer and Friday to Sunday year round.

The Inn at Langley

And now to reminiscing. A few years back, I was caught in the busyness of work and burning the candle on both ends, I wanted so badly to get off the hectic train but found all kinds of rationalizations for why I couldn't. Felix is not ever subtle with advice but sensing my near burn-out state, he took me to a week of island hopping around Puget Sound. I think now it was his attempt at a subtle way of showing me life is whatever I wished it to be. There is something so liberating about being in these islands. No one is in a rush. It is futile to rush to the ferry when you could be the first cut when the ferry gets full. There is no road rage here. When you are in the islands, you take things in stride. When you drive to the ferry, you bring a book, a craft project, or your laptop, sandwiches and drinks, and patiently wait for the next one. In Langley, Oak Harbor, Friday Harbor or any similar coastal town, you can just sit by the water, drink, eat and chat with people you just met like there was nothing else to do. You notice things like kayaks and sailboats in the distance which seem suspended in time. You notice flowers, trees, clouds, birds, people, sunsets. You value stillness and stopping and now and who you are and who and what you have. You realize you do not have to chase whatever it is you're chasing because in the end you are really simply looking for you.

Here, you live on island time. Someone stole the clock and nobody cares.

Revisiting My Heart and San Francisco

2010-03-30T02:39:00.005-05:00

San Francisco is my favorite city so when Alibris sponsored a booksellers conference in this city, I was among the first to enroll. I had not been back in ten years so it was time to return plus I wanted to hang out with my niece, Janette and her husband Peter. Janette came to San Francisco after she graduated from Georgetown University a few years ago and we could not persuade her to return to the Midwest. I can see why.

I booked my hotel via Hotwire. (I'm cheap.) With Hotwire, you don't get the name of the hotel until after you pay. I was pleasantly surprised with Club Quarters (on 424 Clay St at the Embarcadero) which was strategically located, a block away from the conference venue, five blocks to China town and five blocks to the Embarcadero waterfront in the opposite direction. Club Quarters is a business hotel with few frills. The elevator can only be operated with a card key, lending a sense of safety. Senior travelers and single women would feel safe here. The room was comfortable, clean and equipped with free wi-fi connection. The bed was comfortable. Hotel price included the use of computers with printers in the club room (convenient for printing boarding passes) and free exercise room (or you could get exercise equipment sent to your room.) Coffee and tea was available all day and a guest closet in the hallway provided extra linen, bottled water and irons and ironing boards.

My late husband, Felix and I always visited China town in any city that had one. Friday was a free day so I woke up early to explore. Up and down the hills I went in search for breakfast other than bacon and eggs. Felix chose Chinese restaurants by watching which one Chinese denizens patronized because he believed he would get the real thing. Unfortunately, the first one I found filled with Asian customers did not have English speaking servers nor a menu in English. I settled for a dim sum bakery where I instinctively ordered won ton and noodle soup (for breakfast?) and steamed pork bun. It wasn't until midway through the meal that I realized why. In my starving medical student days in 1960's Manila, this was all I could afford and I remembered days upon days when this was my lunch fare. In a way, it was like being home again.

For a small city, parks are every place in San Francisco. Within the same street four block from each other was Trans America Redwood Park where redwood trees are beginning to tower and a China town park populated by young and older Asians chatting, playing, exercising and playing chess. I hoped to find a tai chi group in full swing and found none. After taking pictures of colorful Chinese lanterns and pagodas and losing haggling battles with jewelry and clothing vendors, I cut my losses and walked the opposite way to the Embarcadero waterfront. By now, it was lunch time and the park was full of people on their lunch hour listening to street musicians while they ate and tourists shopping the various craft stands around. Some, as I did, just sat on benches watching the water, boats and people.

San Francisco holds tender memories for me. It is the first US city Felix and I lived in when we arrived from the Philippines in 1967, $200.00 in his wallet, a suitcase a piece, and no employment. We got our social security cards with consecutive numbers here. We spent hours upon hours in the library looking at job ads and walking the streets looking for work. Coming from a conservative upbringing, we were in culture shock with the hippie generation, flower children, people protesting the Vietnam war and making love in the parks. Revisiting these places forty three years later, San Francisco is still quite enchanting. Haight Ashbury which had been a rundown drug haven in the 60's is now home to the affluent. The flower children are now senior citizens, perhaps more conservative but still fun loving. They are still in the parks watching their grandchildren play, sitting on the dock by the bay, or rocking to music in the night life of the city.

It is hard not to live a bohemian life style here. The city is only 46.7 sq miles so people live, work and play close to each other. In 2008, it ousted Seattle from the top rank of the most fit city in the US, rated by the American College of Sports Medicine based on personal health indicators, environmental health indicators and health care providers. There is walking, biking, jogging, surfing, tennis, golf and any number of sports activities. In the beaches, attired parents play ball with their children in close proximity to naked men and women without embarrassment or judgment, no big deal. It has the bay, wonderful weather, great sports teams, restaurants, and diverse culture.

I remember loving San Francisco for its great tolerance and even embracing of differences and uniqueness. Many cultures meet here, people from different countries, (Filipinos comprise a good chunk of the population.) people of different religions, sexual persuasions, professions, and beliefs. Artists perform in street corners. There are restaurants to fulfill craving for different ethnic cuisine. My niece and I pigged out on adobo and kari-kari at Goldilocks one of the ethnic restaurants where Filipinos go for the taste of home. ( We had been craving for daing-and tuyo- fried dried fish. They ran out just as we got there, big disapointment.)

I met my brother-in-law Mario for the first time in San Francisco. Barely out of his teens and the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy, Mario spent months on end at sea as first mate on a merchant marine vessel. Our paths did not cross until one day in China town, by happenstance, Felix turned around and saw him. Neither one knew that they were in the same city. Mario had a one day furlough while his ship unloaded cargo and we had a very moving reunion. Mario is now a mild mannered, accountant, devoted husband and father, land-locked in the Midwest. Few know of his youthful escapades and wild adventurous past.

It was a great weekend of reminiscing. The weather was great, the flowers colorful, the city as I remembered, only better. The conference was good, too. I learned so much about selling books I am confident I can make a profit this year. As I revisited familiar places, I felt that Felix was there,too, with his opinionated comments about people, food, shopping and what have you, while at the same time thoroughly enjoying himself.

A Weekend in Sedona

2010-03-12T12:07:00.012-06:00

Ten years ago, I trained in Reiki, an energy healing technique but never really got into it so I decided to hone my skills and become more proficient. Where else should one go to study healing techniques but to Sedona, Arizona, the place of red rocks and vortices and healers. It was also a test to see how well I would enjoy traveling alone.

The training was on a Saturday and Sunday so I gave myself time to get there a day early and leave a day later. From Kansas City, it is a 2 1/2 hour flight to Phoenix and a two hour drive to Sedona. I decided to enjoy the convenience of a shuttle van and leave the driving to a courteous knowledgeable shuttle driver doubling as a tour guide. (Reservations have to be made ahead of time, cost $99.00 round trip plus tip.) Red rock mountains and tall saguaro cacti populate the landscape along the Sonoran desert.

I stayed at Iris Garden Rodeway Inn, a bare bones but comfortable inn with free continental breakfast and helpful staff. I chose it for the reasonable rate, ($100.00/night for senior citizens) and the proximity to the training center. (Be prepared to spend upwards of $1,000/night if you check into one of the resort hotels which offer different cuisine and resort amenities.)

The towns of Sedona and Oak Creek rest in the foothills of the southwestern rim of the Colorado Plateau. Being on the high desert, it boasts of mild year round temperature (47F-75F) and clean air. From anywhere in town you can see red rock formations. Golf, art galleries and resorts abound here. The main drag is filled with tourist trappings of expensive clothing, crystal stores, healing practices and food establishments. There are psychic readers on every block, aura scanners, yoga, massage practitioners and what have you. For an alternative medicine practitioner such as myself, this was a candy store though I was not buying. Go further out and Cococino National Park and other nature preserves offer unlimited possibilities for the nature lover and outdoors man.

The story goes that Theodore Carl Schnebly who settled in from Gorin, Missouri had petitioned the US Postal Service for a post office in the area. Oak Creek Canyon and other names submitted to the post office were rejected for being too long to fit on a cancellation stamp. Schnebly's brother suggested Sedona, the name of Theodore Schnebly's wife, to be the postal town address. It has been Sedona ever since.

There are many activities in Sedona. Different tours are available almost on the hour every hour. There are red rocks tours, vortex tours, hiking tours and native American spiritual guided tours. I embarked on a Pink Jeep tour of the red rock mountains. The pink jeep is a pink all terrain vehicle. It is a bumpy but enjoyable ride that takes you to the top of the mountain and back down along rocky terrain sometimes with an almost 100 degree angle drop. My children would certainly have been upset had I met my demise there. "Elderly woman crushed under jeep in bottom of Red Rocks Canyon."

The mountains are given names befitting their shape. Submarine mountain which looks like a submarine is a great photo op location. Snoopy is a natural formation which looks like Snoopy laying on his back. This rim of the Colorado plateau is amazing and awe inspiring. Millions of years ago, the sea went inland into this place and when it dried out, the formations appeared. Copper gives the red rock sandstone its color. Mountain bikers, hikers and rock climbers enjoy the challenges here.

Standing in the midst of this grandeur, I learned a couple of things about myself. I learned that that I could enjoy traveling alone, exploring the world alone, going places I might not have gone before and meeting people of different ages, nationalities and cultures. I found out that I was still in good shape and could hike as well as the 30 something kids I was with. (Hike, not climb. The jeep did all the climbing.)

Just like my earlier life experiences standing on top of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls, I felt humbled by the majesty of the universe and how a lifetime is nothing more than a blink of an eye in the face of the eternity that these places signify. The most important lesson came in one brief moment on the canyon when I was one with the universe. In a precise same moment, I felt as vast and timeless as the red rocks and the blue sky beyond and as tiny and rooted in time as the tiny grain of red rock sand I stood on.

Famous Filipinos: Apl.de.Ap of the Back Eyed Peas

2010-01-31T13:02:00.004-06:00

The quartet The Black Eyed Peas is certain to gather Grammy awards and even more following this year. Band member, apl.de.ap, who has long been a hit in the Philippines and a voice for Philippine tourism, is sure to bring more attention to his country of origin.

The Black Eyed Peas quartet has taken the music world by storm since their inception in 1995. Formed by best friends, will.i.am and apl.de.ap who met at John Marshall High School in Los Angeles, the group recorded hit after hit starting with the album, Behind the Front. "Where Is the Love" from the album Elephunk was on top of the billboards in the US, UK and Australia for weeks on end. Their music video, Yes, We Can, shot in black and white, taken entirely from a Barack Obama speech and performed with different celebrities illustrates the group's keen appreciation for American culture in their music.

The quartet is a crew of unlikely musicians who are also very good friends and each other's best support. African American will.i.am, (William James Adams, Jr.,)official spokesperson, plays instruments and sings. Filipino American apl.de.ap (Allan Pineda Lindo) also plays clavinet and strings. Taboo, (Jaime Luis Gonzales) Mexican and Native American vocalist worked in the Disneyland clean up staff before joining the group, and Fergie (Stacy Ferguson,) child actor and singer overcame a battle with addiction to resume her singing career.

Apl.de.ap was born in Sapang Bato, Pampanga, Philippines. His father, an African American service man, abandoned the family and young Lindo had to work to help his mother support the family. An American, Joe Ben Hudgens, provided financial sponsorship through the Pearl S. Buck Foundation, a foundation which helps disadvantaged Amerasian children. Hudgens later sponsored Apl to immigrate to the US. Apl was 14. This tale of his life and the Filipino plight is featured in The Apl Song video (Elephunk album 2003,) recorded in rap in Tagalog and English, incorporating Filipino instruments. Bebot (Tagalog colloquial for hot chick) video recorded in the 2005 album Monkey Business, is a rap in Tagalog and has generation one and two versions. Filmed in LA with Filipino Americans and Black Eyed Peas, the song video provides a slice of Filipino life which will resonate with Filipino youth. Some criticize the video for oversexualizing the Filipino woman. It has, nonetheless, been a hit in the Philippines.

Apl's pride in his Filipino heritage is obvious in the Filipino rap included in Black Eyed Peas albums where he has introduced the Filipino sound. Like the other members of the group who are equally successful in their own right with their individual albums, Apl has projects with Filipino artists in the works. His website features his sound which he calls Jeepney Music, (perhaps taken from his childhood days of taking hour jeepney rides to get to school.) The Black Eyed Peas have made a video "Take Me to the Philippines" with the Philippine tourism board. Despite his tremendous success, Apl seems grounded in his Filipino roots and works hard to bring the Philippines with him into the spotlight. Watch Apl perform with the Black Eyed Peas at the Grammys.

(Note: I suggest Filipinos watch the entire video.)

The Dancing Inmates of Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center Hit the Big Time

2010-01-27T17:54:00.005-06:00

My sisters in the Philippines turned me on to the dancing inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center and I have been following them on You Tube for sometime. They have now hit the big time with a Sony DVD of Michael Jackson's This Is It.

Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) is a maximum security prison in the province of Cebu in the Philippines. The inmates include criminals convicted of violent crimes like murder, rape and drug trafficking. Some are serving multiple life terms.Yes, they, too, dance among the 1500 strong cast. Some are lead dancers.

The inmate dance troupe is the brain child of Byron F. Garcia, security consultant and prison official, who was inspired by Mozart music streaming in the prison yard in the movie Shawshank Redemption. Starting with yard exercises set to pop music, the activity progressed to full dance routines. The dance group came to international attention when their You Tube production of The Thriller by Michael Jackson uploaded in July 2007 immediately moved to the 5th spot in Time Magazines Most Popular Viral Video by December 2007. CPRDC dancers in their orange jumpsuits have performed before many Philippine dignitaries including the Catholic Archbishop and the Cebu provincial Governor. They perform for visitors on certain weekends and have participated in local festivals including the 438th Founding Day of Cebu. Within hours of Michael Jackson's passing, the inmates put together a tribute dance video of his songs, rehearsing for hours, pausing only for meals.

CPDRC dancing inmates have been the subject of the British documentary, Murderers on the Dance Floor aired in 2008 and CNN news. Japanese and Korean singers have performed with the inmates and made videos to air in their countries.

The dance project has been widely received by both inmates and staff. In 2007, the inmates were in included in the provincial employee capital bonus each inmate receiving 1000.00 pesos ($20-22.00) as incentive for their hard work.

The program is not without its detractors. Some criticize the program as cruel and cite torture of prisoners who refuse to participate. Program founder Byron Garcia responded to critics in one of the videos "There are sick people who think that dancing is a form of cruel punishment! Since when was dancing categorized as punishment? My fellow citizens of the world, cruel and violent forms of punishment are a thing of the past. If we make jails a living hell for these inmates , then, we might just be sending out devils once they are released and re-integrated to society. To all "non-believers" of humane treatment of prisoners, and to all haters of our non-violent approach to rehabilitation, all I can say is ...get a life!"

Byron Garcia may be on to something very significant here. The logistics of having 1500 hardened inmates, many with nothing to look forward to, to set aside gang affiliations and personal differences,work towards a common goal and step as one to the beat of a common rhythm; that boggles the mind. Members of the US Legislature, Executive and Judicial branch, pay attention. There may be a lesson for all here. I have great hope for you.

Wherever you stand in the controversy, watch these men and women. They are awesome dancers and in some ironic way, by their example they may also teach us how to work for a common goal.

Watch by clicking on highlighted phrases like this You Tube external link.

Published on 1/26/2010 at: http://nora8197.qondio.com/

I Wish All a Blessed New year

2010-01-02T00:23:00.002-06:00

As I watched the Times Square ball come down to mark the New Year, events of the past year and the past decade came to mind. With it came my hope and prayers for a blessed year for all.

The decade was both a time of tragedy and a time of new beginnings. We suffered tragedies both nature and man made as we witnessed the devastation of tsunami, earthquakes, typhoons and flooding and the ravages of man in 911 and the economic meltdown. US soldiers have been fighting on two fronts. The auto industry, once an American symbol of promise and affluence came tumbling down along with industries and businesses that heavily depended on them. Families lost their homes first in a wave of the subprime mortgage fiasco and a subsequent wave of employment lost. Men, women and children continue to die of hunger somewhere in the world. Michael Jackson's music genius is no more.

In the same decade, man achieved great things. The US elected its first Black President. It saw acts of unprecedented heroism in 911 and events such as seasoned pilots saving passengers from going into the Hudson River. Outpouring of gift giving followed the tsunami while billionaires Bill Gates and Warren Buffet pledged to spend their billions in philanthropy to improve the human condition. Web technology grew by leaps and bounds allowing families to connect with each other continents away on social media like Facebook, Twitter and Skype. Mobile technology, portable readers, and Iphones promise more applications to come. Man is developing awareness of the earth as a living being requiring nurture, respect and respite. Athletes achieved unprecedented personal bests even as some fell from grace. Filipino boxer, Manny Pacquiao, won unprecedented titles in different weight classes while Michael Phelps broke 37 swimming records and won eight Olympic medals. Michael Vick and Tiger Woods fell from grace with their fans. US legislators passed a health care bill.

It was the worst of times. It was the best of times. The decade saw the worst and the best of man.

Just as each day is a new day, each year is a new beginning. For my part, I hope to live a gentler, kinder, loving life with gratitude for all that is given. For everyone, I wish each new day to be a blessed day filled with grace.

Kansas City Jazz Revisited

2009-12-14T22:59:00.006-06:00

My niece, Janette, visiting from San Francisco, wanted to listen to Kansas City jazz so I found us tickets to Diverse, an up and coming jazz group playing a one night gig at the Record Bar on Westport Road.

Janette, herself, is an accomplished pianist and music lover while I am, at best, a very reluctant jazz lover. I am tone deaf. I can't carry a tune. I am a piano and guitar lesson flunkie. And I am a lover of Elvis Presley, doowop, The Platters and ABBA. My late husband, Felix, on the other hand, loved jazz and took it upon himself to lure me away from what he considered to be my pedestrian taste and educate me on the finer points of jazz music. "I know all about jazz." I used to say. "I wrote a paper on Tin Pan Alley and the History of Jazz in high school." "That's not learning it." He insisted. "You have to feel the music and let it speak to your soul." He would say. And so it was that I allowed him to drag me to jazz concerts, (the likes of Count Basie even) and to jazz festival pub crawls when we were healthy enough to withstand second hand smoke and to the French Quarter in New Orleans and jazz clubs in Chicago. He had me listen to musicians like Pete Fountain, Charlie Parker, Al Hirt and others. Felix thoroughly loved live jazz while I, on the other hand, struggled to listen to instrument improvisations that go on for several minutes at a time, hoping it would speak to my soul. Jazz lovers don't care that in a two hour concert, the band may have played only eight compositions. Elvis and The Platters can speak to my soul in three minutes. Needless to say, jazz and I were not on the same page, my taste being limited to Dixie and Dave Brubeck. Ask me about jazz and Watermelon Man comes to mind. Because my husband loved it, I tried to be friends with it, sometimes even allowing myself to enjoy musicians like Wynton and Branford Marsalis.

Back to Diverse. Diverse was the last jazz band I took Felix to. We were invited to listen to them in the home of one of the Friends of Jazz Club in January this year. Surprisingly I liked them, so I invited Janette and her parents who were not jazz fans themselves to this one night show.

Diverse has a sound that is young, eclectic and fun. Members of the band have won awards and played with well known bands. Young (early twenties, two of them still in college at the University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory of Music) but extremely talented, all the band members compose and create most of tunes they play. Ryan Lee plays drums; Ben Leifer is on bass; William Sanders plays tenor sax, John Brewer plays piano and rhodes and Hermon Mehari is on trumpet. Some Bobby Watson sound is noticeable in their compositions, not surprising since they have him for a mentor. I thought I heard some Charlie Parker influence as well but what do I know. Nonetheless, what I liked about them is that they made jazz enjoyable to people like me with their playful syncopations, the different styles that seem to come together just right and the sheer mastery of their instrument. And they seemed to be having fun doing it.

No, I am sorry to say, they still did not speak to my soul like Elvis or ABBA would have.

Find out more about Diverse at Diversejazz, listen to their sound, buy their CD and when they are rich and famous, remember, you heard it first from me. The Record Bar is at 1020 Westport Rd, Kansas City, MO.

A Lesson in Grieving

2009-12-08T23:22:00.007-06:00

Last night I had a very Freudian dream. It seems I had enrolled in pilot school. My husband, Felix, who passed away a few months ago and I drove to the airport for the lessons. He waited in the car while I went in. I went into the airplane which also had a store and bought what seemed to be a pilot bag. There was an announcement on the loud speaker that all students should now be on the plane which was leaving in five minutes. Suddenly I panicked and said I couldn't go. I had to get off the plane because Felix was waiting and needed a ride home. Then a voice which was both Felix' and an awake part of me said, "It is all right. I am dead. I do not need a ride. I am already home." Before I could decide, the plane took off with me in it. The plane was crowded. There was a big buffet with lots of food. A server saw my puzzled look and said it was all right. They always did this as thanksgiving and proceeded to serve me. Meanwhile, a fire had started in the back of the plane and the loud speaker once again blurted that it was now the job of the students to land the plane safely. And we did.

It has always amazed me how insights abound if we just pay attention. Felix loved airplanes and dreamed of flying one. He loved watching airplanes take off and land. He enjoyed seeing airplane fuselage frames on rail cars at the train yard. He believed that when planes are being built it meant that people had jobs.

Many a time, I still forget that Felix is no longer here and for a moment I think he is at work or somewhere or that I need to pick him up. Even as I pursue activities that are now truly my own, there is that momentary lapse of thinking that I am still part of a couple.

I have started the daunting task of redecorating the house which needed much repair. Felix resisted repainting our bedroom which was a manly hunter green because he was sure I would paint it a sissy pastel color. That is exactly what I did. The bedroom is now a very pastel sage green, very sissy and very happy.

I have also committed to a two year yoga study, something I have always wanted to do but did not have time for. One rigorous exercise is to study and learn from my dreams. That is how I remembered this dream and in remembering, found comfort in its meaning.

The process of grieving is a slow and sometimes tricky thing. I am still sad that he is not here. I also enjoy being alone and coming into my own, which, of course comes with great ambivalence precisely because I am not sad. I suppose it is why I had this permission dream. Looking back at the forty three years, I am sure we had hard times and fights and resentments but so generous is the heart that it filters the mind to only recall the good times. And so it is that I can remember and smile.

Gift Giving for All Seasons

2009-11-18T20:16:00.009-06:00

With the holidays right around the corner, gift giving can be a difficult decision especially for the person who has just about everything. There is also the matter of sending gifts to loved ones far away. Gift baskets are a good way to go. Often you can just go online, shop different stores, purchase with the click of a mouse and you are done. No fighting crowds in the store, no gift wrapping, no lining up at the post office. You could also call your local grocer who can make up a gift basket with your specifications or price range.

Flower delivery is easily purchased online. Flowers and plants are delivered fresh and in a timely manner. There is always a variety of flower arrangements to choose from. Plants that bloom beyond the season and perennials such as orchids are also popular.

There is of course, the gift card. Adults can enjoy gift cards to restaurants, book stores, spa treatments, golf courses, or a show while young people can enjoy shopping for their own clothes. Prepaid credit cards sold by credit card companies offer a wider shopping choice.

Let us not forget gifts of love, crafts painstakingly made, a framed photograph, a phone call, donations to the food bank, or volunteering in the local soup kitchen. Better still, commit random acts of kindness, cheer someone up, smile often, offer a prayer and make gift giving an all year affair.

Manny Pacquiao Proves He Is the Best Yet Again

2009-11-15T20:09:00.006-06:00

Photo: NJ.com

Like Filipinos around the world, on Saturday, November 14, 2009, our family gathered at my brother-in-law, Charlie's, house to watch the Pacquiao vs Cotto WBO welterweight fight. Charlie has a movie theater in his basement big enough to accommodate our clan. Like any Filipino gathering, there was a lot of food, talking and merriment.

Everyone looked to the fight with apprehensive anticipation. Can Manny beat a bigger opponent known for landing hard punches? Even the women of the family who all oppose the violence, blood and gore of boxing could not help themselves. Those who watched HBO 24/7 worried that Manny did not spend as much time training as he did running his political campaign to be a congressman, rehearsing with his band, and helping typhoon victims. Someone commented that Manny did not seem focused as the camera panned on him in the dressing room. Cotto, on the other hand seemed determined, focused and ready.

So we watched. The guys made technical comments, the women watched with one eye closed or at an angle so they could not see the hard punches. Everyone was shouting and screaming as Manny landed punches and cringed as he took one.

For many women, boxing is such a painful gladiator sport to watch even though we know that these athletes train hard to withstand grueling punishment. As a physician, I cringed as I imagined the concussion and whiplash that these fighters sustain and the long term outcome such as we see in retired football players and sadly in the great Muhammad Ali. We know too well, the dangers of a well placed punch and hope both fighters come out unharmed at the end of the fight. By the 10th round, the women in our family were begging for someone to stop the fight already especially as we empathized with the anguish on Melissa Cotto's face. We wished we weren't watching but could not stay away. We watched riveted, nonetheless, because Manny Pacquiao has that effect on Filipino men and women alike, because he is our own, because he stands for the Filipino dream to be acknowledged in the world, because he stands for the poor fatherless street urchin who did not give up on the dream and because as great as he has proven himself to be, he remains humble and generous. Our shouts of glee resonated with those of Filipinos the world over as the fight was stopped on the 12th round with a TKO. At the same time, Miguel Cotto's grace in defeat was not lost on everyone as he proved himself to be a classy fighter.

Our family will definitely gather again for the next Pacquiao fight. We are checking the Internet for Team Pacquiao tee shirts (like we're not hyped up yet.) The guys might be interested in Manny Pacquiao underwear to be made by Big Headed Boxers. We will follow Pacquiao's political career and check out his music CD's. Four million Filipinos make up one per cent of the American population. There will be a big market for all things Pacquiao in the US alone.

As the Filipino people revel in the victory, I think. If one man can unite a people even for just a few hours, think of the power of many one man and many one woman, all working in their own way to unite all people. Manny Pacquiao has proven that any dream can happen.

A Tribute to the Nation's Soldiers

2009-11-11T09:53:00.007-06:00

It is quite fitting that Veteran's Day comes just before Thanksgiving Day. It gives us all pause to give special thanks to the people that made America what it is.

As a naturalized citizen born in World War II, I have great appreciation for America, the opportunities she presents to those who come through her portals, and the people who serve and protect. I watch with great sorrow when at the end of each program, KCPT News Hour presents in silent tribute, pictures of soldiers who have fallen. They were young men and women. They were someone's child, spouse, or parent. For that moment I feel that they were my own. I ask myself, "Am I worthy of them? What have I done today to have deserved their sacrifice?"

Veteran's Day is not just a holiday, a day off from work, or a chance to go shopping for bargains. It is not just one day but all the days to remember that somewhere there is a soldier who stands guards for my freedom because freedom is not free. Soldiers understand this. A soldier stands guard somewhere so I can go shopping, write what I want, speak my mind, pursue the American dream, and sleep soundly at night. I am ashamed when I complain of a bad day at the office while somewhere a soldier is carrying heavy military gear in over 100 degree heat while dodging bullets and land mines. Whatever stress I might experience is a minor inconvenience in comparison.

Soldiers go where they are ordered by the country's leaders who may not always have clarity of purpose. They waive political affiliation to follow their commander-in-chief. They are called to respond to national emergencies, guard our coasts, fly our air space and plumb the depth of our oceans to keep the nation safe. The men and women of the military may be seen in disaster areas at home and abroad, in peace keeping contingents or in war. Wherever they are, they are always in harms way, intentional or accidental. Young, vital men and women go to war. They do not always come home whole. They come home to a people who do not always remember but for this one day and do not always express their gratitude. Too many do not come home at all. Beyond the life lost and the disabled, there are families who serve alongside their soldier for a service they did not sign up for. To them, I am also grateful.

We are in a rapidly changing world where our priorities can often get confused and national policies even more so. We are also now citizens of a global community and not just one country. For whatever reason nations choose to go to war, we must never forget that war kills; lives are lost be they friend, foe, innocent or combatant. One life lost is one too many. A mother's sorrow for a lost child is the same the world over. Sadly, war will continue until man gives up hate and learns to love.

Today I make a promise to honor these men and women by living an honorable life. I promise to be the best that I can be and make my piece of the world better. I promise not to take my freedom and liberty for granted. Most importantly, I promise to love.

Felicisima Quiason Is 90 Years Old

2009-10-26T16:37:00.004-05:00

Felicisima Quiason is 90 years old. The matriarch of the Quiason family in Kansas City, Missouri, grandchildren and friends from out of town came to celebrate the momentous occasion at the home of Drs. Stella Quiason and Charles Smith where Felicisima also resides. As she jokingly made a wish for a 100th birthday, we all made a sincere wish for the same. For Grandma, as we all call her, is the one guiding force in all our lives, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, in laws and friends alike. We draw from her values, her strength and especially her wisdom.

At 90, Grandma reads the newspaper in its entirety. She keeps up with current events and the political scene. She has her own opinions about the world, chooses her own candidates carefully, and on election day, votes her conscience, unswayed by pressure from her children who usually vote for the opposing party.

Born and raised in Dinagat Island of Surigao in the Philippines, Grandma learned the value of hard work and perseverance. She became a school teacher and had a long career in teaching Math both in the Philippines and in Kansas City. It was a given that her children and later, her grandchildren, learn the four fundamentals of Arithmetic and compute in their heads without electronic aid. As she sacrificed to send her children to college, she also expected perseverance, determination and over achievement from her children. She stopped at nothing to make sure that all eight children became professionals. The story is told over and over about how her firstborn, Felix, (my husband) had been truant in dental school (dental school, mind you) and Grandma camped out at the University of the East Dental College to be sure that Felix stayed in class. What mother would have the courage and determination to do that? Felix did graduate from dentistry, went on to earn two postgraduate degrees and later spent the last years of his life teaching dentistry. Her children became dentists, physicians, nurse and accountants.

We laugh when she admonishes grandson Jacob for coming home with an A instead of his usual A+. And was she all smiles when Jacob surprised her by flying home from Stanford University just to be with her for that one day. Grandma sees talent as a gift that should not be squandered and encourages all to be the best that they can be in whatever path they choose.

Granddaughters quickly learn that their beaus must pass muster with Grandma who grades them on how respectful they are, how they value the granddaughter, their sense of responsibility and accountability and their family values. Grandma has not made an error in judgment yet as all the married granddaughters chose wonderful husbands and fathers.

Grandma taught her children the value of money, not so much as a means to luxury but as a way to give back to God and the less fortunate. So it is a family tradition on Christmas Day, along with the extravagant toys the great grandchildren get, a collection is taken up for less fortunate relatives in the Philippines. To this end, children and grandchildren all support their individual charitable causes by giving time, talent or treasure.

One of Grandma's many legacies is making the right choice. She is known for the term, "Paghunong" a Visayan word for "Watch out" or "Stop and think." She reminds everyone to stop and think and we have internalized this as the watch word for our choices.

Video by Vic Quiason

Felicisima Quiason is 90 years old. While few in her generation lay claim to this, it is not her best accomplishment. Her best achievement is in raising men and women of integrity, industry and compassion who in turn raise children with the same values. With the ripple effect, her circle of influence widens even more, love grows and touches this piece of the world.

Walking for Felix

2009-10-25T10:46:00.008-05:00

Still nurturing our sadness over, my husband, Felix' passing last month, the extended family decided to walk the Missouri/ Kansas chapter of the National Kidney Foundation walk and raise money for the organization. Masterminded by Dr. Vic Quiason, (with his obsessive sense of organization) and his wife Cathy, Team Quiason quickly gained momentum and within three weeks had signed up over 20 walkers. The modest goal of $500.00 was quickly topped by friends of Rob Quiason who contributed $800.00 in two days.

Walk day was on Saturday. Friends from out of town came as did nieces and nephews who came home from college. Cathy provided Team Quiason tee shirts. It had been raining and chilly all week but surprise, surprise, Saturday morning was sunny, cool and nice. The walking trail circled a small lake behind Bass Pro Shop in Independence, Missouri. Fall was in full regalia with red, yellow, and brown foliage all throughout the path. I could see Felix' hand in making sure that the ambiance was just right for this walk. It was perfect although I'm sure he had many comments on how it could have been better.

The walk started at a snail's pace as hundreds of walkers got in line, prompting Vic to comment, "Even Felix could have walked this walk." No, he couldn't have because Felix had this thing about when he'd had enough he would just up and leave. He would have stayed where he was (insisting I stay with him as well) and waited for the rest to get back. Just like when he played golf, he always had nephew Blake on call to take over for him at the 4th or 5th hole or whichever hole he decided his golf game ended.

Felix' connection to us all still amazes me. The children and I reminisce on the camping trips where we got rained on because we forgot the tent poles, fishing trips, concerts he dragged the children to, taking Emilie then in grade school and barely able to do math to ham radio classes with him and all manner of activity that have suddenly become precious because in some small way, it also defined us. Nieces, nephews, sibling, in-laws, friends, all have memories of some Felix-ism which have become part of our family's collective memory.

We have big plans for next year's walk. Cathy wants to add Felix' picture to the Team Quiason tee shirts. We plan to top this year's pledge and sign up more walkers. My suggestion to adjourn to a casino buffet and then challenge the one arm bandits is gaining wide enthusiasm. (Not a Felix thing because he couldn't stand cigarette smoke.) It will be a bigger Felix event because walking for Felix is walking for ourselves.

Cruise Ships As Retirement Communities

2009-10-23T22:26:00.006-05:00

Whether going for a long weekend or a month long travel, going on a cruise is the ultimate vacation. Tired after a long day's work, I long to be on a cruise where I can be waited on and pampered. No grocery shopping, no dishes to wash, clean sheets and linen daily, dine to my heart's content, walk to a show, read, or just watch the sea. Little wonder that some older adults think of cruise ships when checking out retirement communities. It has been tried and it can be done.

Bea Muller, 89 years old, opted to stay in the Queen Elizabeth 2 when her husband died. She sailed the seas on the QE2 from 2000 until 2008 when the QE2 sailed to Dubai to become a museum. She was then flown to the replacement ship, the QM2 where she is in residence. Clair Macbeth sailed back to back cruises on Cunard Lines for 14 years. Blogs and forums talk about the tempting promise of cruise ships as retirement communities and the advantages of cruise ships over assisted living apartments for the older adult. I think of travel in retirement but would also love to live where I can walk to every place. What is better than a cruise ship to do both.

In the October 2004 issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Dr. Lee A. Lindquist and Dr.Robert M. Golub examined the needs and care of older adults in assisted living and compared them with the care provided in cruise ships. They found that the cost for both was about equal. The article goes on to suggest how cruise ships can modify services to accommodate the long term needs of older passengers. They suggest that cruising is a viable alternative for older adults who can no longer live independently but are still healthy enough not to require much medical and nursing intervention. The American Geriatrics Society estimates assisted living cost to be anywhere from a low $30,288 to upwards of $48,000 a year. The cost of living on a cruise ship varies according to type of accommodation, season and cruise line. In January 2010, Holland America will start a cruise to circumnavigate the world from Sidney, Australia to Vancouver, BC, Canada. An inside cabin for single occupancy starts at $11,476 for the 74 day voyage or $45,904.00 for back to back booking for 296 days. Quite tempting, I must say.

For the affluent, there is of course, The World Ship, a 12 deck floating city where one can buy a 2-3 bedroom condo (675-3,242 sq ft of luxury accommodations) for a mere 1.3 to 6.3M USD, not to mention the condo fees to pay the crew, fuel, insurance and whatever else it takes to float a ship. Owners can disembark and stay in any port and catch the ship in another city. Condos can be rented for 1,000.00 USD/night and up with a week long minimum. A second floating city is soon to launch.

Cruise living will attract a unique breed of older adults. Unless you own or rent a condo in The World Ship, you have to change rooms with each sailing. This and living in a 10 x 12 foot space make it hard to have a sense of home. You cannot drive over to a relative's home for a nice visit or watch the grandchildren play ball. Passengers change with each sailing making it difficult to keep lasting relationships.

On the other hand, this is the ultimate example of having few possessions, living uncluttered, living simply (but oh, so luxuriously,) of letting go and looking at life as a series of hello's and goodbyes.

Uncluttering: One Way of Preparing for Happy Retirement

2009-10-22T23:22:00.011-05:00

Photo: theonion.com

Much as I love my work, age 70, the magic age I promised myself I would retire is just around the corner. As I contemplate happy retirement, one mantra comes to mind, unclutter. It is amazing how many things we hang on to, how much we accumulate and how many of them have any real meaning. I decided to spend this next year weeding out the clutter and focusing on what is truly important. Now, this takes real focus, commitment and brutal determination. People like me who were born during WWII are natural born hoarders. We just can't throw anything away.

The first things that went were the contents of my refrigerators and freezers. Note the plural. We have a refrigerator in the kitchen, in the garage, two beverage refrigerators, two dorm refrigerators from the kid's college days. And they were all full of stuff, like commercial size mayonnaise from the wholesale club, big tubs of margarine and large jars of olives, just because they were cheaper, never mind that they expired the next month. I am embarrassed to confess that I kept food until they turned green and only then could they be thrown out on trash day. It was not easy, but I was determined. Today, my freezers are empty. The cooler section only holds small jars of mayo, condiments, milk and today's food. I plan to get rid of all but one refrigerator. If I travel in retirement, there is nothing in the refrigerator to spoil. Having done that, I am confident I can tackle closets, shelves and yes, the garage so if I decide to look into retirement communities, I will be unencumbered.

Of course, refrigerators and closets are just metaphors of life, my life. I look into my mind and my heart and I examine the clutter. Caught in the busyness of contemporary living, I aspired to achieve goals I thought at the time were important as many were. In younger days, developing a career, financial stability were right in there with raising good healthy children. My husband I lucked out in having great children who raised themselves and us. It is a priceless blessing. Just like having a closetful of clothes and not having anything to wear, many a time, I failed to see the forest for the trees and to savor the moment because I was too busy getting ready for the next activity. There were some relationships I failed to nurture; the phone call I had been meaning to make; the letter I wanted to write, all when I could make time.

We are a culture of doers. We measure our self worth by what we have done. We act as if tomorrow is a certainty and not just a promise. We postpone the joy of being for the clutter of activities. We have great difficulty in being present where it counts, in savoring the moment as if it was the last, and in simply being. Like most I have to learn just to be. Seventy might not come but today I'm here. I choose to retire from the clutter of everyday life. I cherish good memories. I count my blessings. I promise to rekindle friendships and relationships. Today I empty my mind and heart of clutter so I can be open to just be.

Baby Boomers Postpone Retirement

2009-10-20T23:39:00.011-05:00

Kathleen Casey-Kirshling applied for social security retirement benefits online on October 15, 2007. This signal event marked the beginning of baby boomer retirement, Casey-Kirshling having the distinction of being the first baby boomer eligible for retirement. She was born on the first second of January 1,1946. Many baby boomers followed suit in anticipation of happy retirement. The US government estimates a total of 8 million retirees over the next 20 years or an average of 10,000/ day, the so called "silver tsunami."

Little did these retirees know that a year later, the economy would collapse, their 401K and other nest egg investments would be demolished, and plans for travel in retirement would have to be scaled down if not postponed. Indeed, many baby boomers, men and women born between 1946 and 1964, who have applied for retirement benefits are either staying in or returning to the work force. There are varied reasons for this.

On a positive note, many older adults are healthier and more energetic. While they enjoy happy retirement, they also feel free to pursue other interests, go back to school, this time for fun, or pursue other careers.
There are positions in industry and other employment that cannot be filled by younger workers who are either lacking in training or have not quite matured with experience. Some skilled craftsmanship such as chimney sweep, shoe repair, musical instrument making and repair do not attract enough young people that the skills are in danger of extinction. For these, older workers may have to keep filling in.
There is of course, the loss of retirement nest egg which has forced many potential retirees continue working it can be built back up. Some with plans to move into retirement communities must opt to remain in their present homes. Some lost their homes in the mortgage crisis.

Employment for baby boomers can take on different forms. Some opt to keep working full-time for a few more years. Others choose to work part-time and leave room for recreation. Part-time can take on different forms as well. Some might choose to work a couple of full days a week or half days several days a week and still have time for recreation like golf, tennis, gardening or charitable work and, of course, the spoiling of grandchildren. Some work a few weeks or months out of the year leaving options for travel in retirement.

Whatever the reason, it is clear that more older adults are staying in the work force and that can only be a good thing for the country.

A Letter to Family and friends

2009-10-07T02:22:00.011-05:00

It has been four weeks since my husband Felix died and were it not for your love and support, the enormity of my loss, our loss, would have been too much to bear. While I will try to thank you all personally, I am writing this so as not to dilute the sincerity of my gratitude.

I would have said Felix passed away but he didn't pass away, he died. Death is so final. I still cannot fathom how someone I slept and awakened with for 43 years was here one moment and gone the next. Of course, he had to leave in his typical style, just up and go when he felt like it. No "Sorry, honey, I have to go now. I'll wait for you on the other side." It's just a Felix thing.

For all the years I spent my waking moments away from work, looking after him, it is still disorienting that I have so much time on my hands. My house is quiet. The TV's are not on at the same time as the radios. He is not here to laugh at slapstick comedy, give opinionated comments or watch the food channel, Anthony Bourdain and Judge Judy. He is not here to meddle in all our affairs or to buy us stuff because he liked them, never mind that we didn't. Nonetheless, I sense his hand in things like how his last services went so smoothly in a Felix kind of way, how effortless his estate is getting settled or how somehow I feel protected. Closing out his credit card accounts has been a painful endeavor. I could only do one, one week at a time. It is like closing a part of a life. When I get to the last one, where will he be? But would you know, the one credit card with a large balance is the credit card he forgot to stop the credit insurance after the trial period? The company is refunding my payment. Serendipity? While his health kept him from taking care of me in his lifetime, I like to think he is looking after me now.

Felix touched so many lives. You all know how undeterred he was by infirmity and disability. He kept teaching, mentoring, spoiling family, making people laugh, scolding, and mostly loving. He loved his children and grandchildren and so he kept going until he could no longer. And through it all were all the people who worked with him, helped him, humored him and took care of him to make his last years memorable. There are so many people who loved him and by, extension, loved me. There are those of you who love my children and my family and who were there for us. There are my family at home and work, near and far. There are my friends. There are my children and grandchildren, who, despite their own pain, call to make sure I am all right. And there are the random acts of kindness by kind people. Felix and I have been so blessed. To you all, I am forever grateful.

Please know with certainty that I will be fine. I am not depressed. I am just sad. I weep in the shower, when I'm driving or at odd times and places. But I sleep well and eat well. I walk and exercise. I am competent at work. Felix and I were as different as night and day. While he thrived at being around people, I value my solitude. I choose to be alone and alone does not mean lonely. How can I be with all of you out there. I choose, for now, not to be comforted. I want to hold on to my grief just a little bit longer for it feels he is just slipping away from me much too quickly.

Y.E.Yang

2009-08-17T20:37:00.007-05:00

I don't play golf but I watch it on TV and Korean golfer Y.E. Yang's Rocky-esque win of the 91st PGA championship was not lost on me.

Ranked 110th in the world and considered a 70 to 200 to 1 long shot, 37 year old Y.E. Yang did not play golf until age 19, did not enter serious competition until he completed his Korean military service four years later. He won major tournaments in Korea and Asia but dreamed of entering a major American tournament. He came to the US to enter a PGA golf qualifying school and came into the American golf scene when he won his first PGA tournament in the Honda Classic in March 2009.

I admire people who excel in their chosen vocation and watch them perform their job well. Y.E. Yang certainly excelled in his calm unassuming way. His goal was to play his best game and that he did and more. He is now a symbol for Asians and Koreans in particular that anyone can excel in a sport that was dominated by westerners.

Tiger Woods is Tiger Woods and we will always love him for the symbol of dedication, perseverance and excellence that he typifies. We will love him even more as he showed that he, too, can have a bad day at the office. But on Sunday, August 16,2009, at Hazeltine National Golf Club, the day belonged to Y.E. Yang who reminded us that when we work unceasingly to follow our dream, yes, we can.

"At first our dreams seem impossible, then they become improbable. And when we summon our will, our dreams become inevitable." Christopher Reeve

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More Boyle Watching

2009-08-07T16:11:00.005-05:00

As you can tell, I am unashamedly a Susan Boyle fan. I watched her on You Tube, with Meredith Viera on the Today Show and now here is the the Harper's Bazaar make over.

Harper Bazaar's editors talk about her twinkling eyes and the cackle of a laugh that is uniquely Susan Boyle. And to illustrate that everyone is beautiful, here are more photos by Hugh Stewart in Harper's Bazaar.

Bren Bataclan Brings Smiles and Hope

2009-07-05T17:04:00.009-05:00

Six years ago, Bren Bataclan noted with dismay that fewer people in his home city of Boston were smiling. He decided to do something about it and in 2003, launched the Smile Boston Project . It has been a rolling stone gathering enormous following since.

Philippine born artist, Bataclan, began to leave free small acrylic cartoon paintings in public places like malls, park benches and anywhere people might congregate. In exchange, he asked the finder to commit random acts of smiling. And smile, finders did.

In his website, Bataclan writes that his goals were to: "Bring art to people who typically do not visit art galleries and museums, give paintings to folks who may not be able to afford original artwork, and see smiles around the globe. "

The 2003 Smile Boston Project was a huge success. People were smiling. This was followed by Smile Chicago, Smile Las Vegas and Smile projects all over the US. Bataclan's smile critters could be found in public places throughout the country and around the globe. Smile paintings have been found everywhere from Alaska to Hawaii, from the ice caps of Antartica to the deserts of Saudi Arabia, from Europe to Asia and round and round it has been going bringing hope and the promise of a smiling world.

When the economy bottomed last year, Bataclan changed the note in his 2009 paintings to say, "Eveything will be allright." Many art finders/keepers have been so moved to hope and have left feedback on how it changed their outlook.

Bataclan completed his art degree at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1993 and Masters in Computer Animation at Ohio State University a few years later. Among other activities, he has worked as animator and designer for such movies as Free Willy and Last Action Hero and taught computer animation and graphic design at the University of Massachussets.

The success of the smile project has brought Bataclan into the limelight. He has been the subject of a documentary by David Tames. The book, The Smile Project, has been published by Gingko Press. Bataclan has been featured in TV news such as the June 22,2009 segment on CBS Evening News.

Bren Bataclan is a reminder of the power of one.

All of you out there, practice those smile muscles and spread the word. A Bataclan smile critter may be lurking in a bench near you.

If you're not lucky enough to find one, purchase a smiley critter painting from the artist's website: http://www.brenbataclan.com/.

Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont: A Movie Review

2009-07-01T11:26:00.007-05:00

But for Netflix, I would have missed Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont, an endearing movie released in 2005 starring Dame Joan Plowright as Mrs. Palfrey and Rupert Friend as Ludovic Meyer. This movie squeaked silently by, a pity as it is quite a feel good movie.

Recently widowed and hoping for an independent life, Mrs. Palfrey leaves her home and daughter in Scotland to live at the Claremont in London, a hotel romanticized in a travel brochure. She also hopes to reconnect with her grandson who works in London. Meeting the relic of a doorman should have been the first clue that the Claremont was not as publicized. The suite turns out to be a tiny room with a window looking out to a wall and the shared bathroom runs out of hot water. The Claremont is, in fact, a hotel where people stay in the twilight of their lives as they wait for the inevitable. The dining room is the hub of the regular denizens where Mrs. Palfrey comes overdressed for dinner. Mrs. Arbuthnot (Anna Massey), self elected group leader, provides her with the low down on the other diners. As time passes, Mrs. Palfrey's grandson does not return calls, write a letter, let alone come to visit, making the other residents think he is a fiction of the imagination.

On the way home from the library where she had picked up a copy of Lady Chatterly's Lover for Mrs. Arbuthnot, Mrs. Palfrey falls. A young man, Ludovic, comes to her rescue, invites her into his apartment and tends to her scrapes. A friendship develops and when Mrs. Palfrey invites Ludovic to dinner, the hotel residents mistake him for the grandson, a charade they chose to perpetuate. Ludovic earns a living as a street musician while pursuing his dream of being a writer. As the friendship grows, they come to terms with their isolation, having few friendships with people their own age. They help each other find the goodness in their lives, Mrs. Palfrey helping Ludovic find love and move on to his future while Ludovic helps her see the value of her past.

The movie is adapted to the screen by Ruth Sacks, herself in her 80's from the last novel by Elizabeth Taylor (the novelist, not the actress) published in 1971. The book, Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont, itself, is worth reading and depicts the changes as one ages as in this passage:

“The morning was to be filled in quite nicely, but the afternoon and evening made a long stretch. I must not wish my life away, she told herself; but she knew that, as she got older, she looked at her watch more often, and that it was always earlier than she had thought it would be. When she was young, it had always been later.”

Dan Ireland directs a wonderful cast of older actors and young Rupert Friend. Friend, dashing and handsome, is an actor to watch. (He is in the upcoming movie, Cherie, with Michelle Pfeiffer.) Friend makes us believe that friendship between a young man and an elderly woman is a most natural thing that happens everyday. There is wonderful chemistry between Plowright and Friend as pretend grandmother and grandson and between aging actors playing the residents of the Claremont.

Go rent or buy the DVD. There is no violence, no foul language and no nudity. It is just a great escape movie that warms the soul.

Frank J. Hanna,III Teaches Living in Grace

2009-06-07T22:03:00.003-05:00

Frank J. Hanna,III, successful businessman, philanthropist, educator and author of What Your Money Means: And How to Use It Well encourages living in gratitude. He challenges us to look at money as a loan from God and thus to be used to improve ourelves and the human condition. He encourages keeping an attitude of abundance, seeing the cup as half full, believing that there is enough of everything for everyone, sharing rather than hoarding and doing it all willingly and joyfully.

Frank J. Hanna,III is a devout Christian and is active in the Catholic faith. This spiritual upbringing is evident in his writings and in his motivational speches. He necourages honesty in business dealings and dealings with others in general. Integrity is a virtue to cultivate.

Frank J. Hanna,III has put his business acumen and spiritual philosophy in philantrophy, education, and now, spiritual motivation.

American Tax Relief Can Help Relieve Your Tax Burden

2009-06-06T22:45:00.003-05:00

Has the economic downturn caught you in a tax bind? Many taxpayers and businesses have seen their income go tumbling down and yet find themselves with a tax burden they are hard pressed to pay. After all, if you were caught in a reduction in force whether as employee or employer, there just is not enough money to go around. What you may not know is that for qualifyng taxpayers, the IRS can lessen your burden. The IRS does not advertise it and would just as well no one found out about it.

Tax experts like American Tax Relief can analyze your situation and find the best option. You can negotiate with the IRS yourself but with the complexities involved, it would be worth consulting an expert. American Tax Relief has a dedicated legal staff who can research every legal recourse for your particular situation. Some qualified taxpayers have seen their tax obligation cut in half. After all, the IRS have a vested interest in getting some money in a timely manner rather than none and then hounding you for years when you don't have it to give.

Don't fret and see what tax reduction solutions are available by checking online tax experts like American Tax Relief.

Keep Going, Susan Boyle You Are Loved.

2009-05-30T22:17:00.011-05:00

It is final. Susan Boyle placed second in Britain's Got Talent. No matter. What she gave to the world in the past seven weeks is memorable.

Susan Boyle hit the web by storm when she sang "I Dream a Dream" in the TV show Britain's Got Talent. A stocky unpretentious woman from Blackburn, Scotland, 47 year old Susan was looked upon with disdain when she first walked on stage. Within seconds, judges and audience alike were in awe, cynic judge, Simon Cowell especially. She was a hit on You Tube and the world was instantly captivated.

Susan Boyle is the triumph of the underdog, the unlikely hero, the rebuttal of first impressions, the fulfillment of dreams. She brought tears to our eyes because she is all of us, struggling one day at a time, doing our jobs, winning some, losing some. We rooted for her because she proved that there is another kind of beauty besides the Hollywood stereotype. She sang straight to our hearts and proved that yes, we can.

The last few weeks have been difficult for Susan Boyle. Sudenly in the limelight, there were reports that she was having a nervous break down and predictions that she will not appear for the finals. She proved her critics wrong once again and gave a better performance than before.

Susan Boyle is not the best voice that graced talent shows but she is certainly the best person that did. She deserves to be the hit on You Tube that she has been. Keep going, Susan Boyle. You are loved.

Mother's Day: A Brief History

2009-05-08T17:19:00.007-05:00

The second Sunday in May is the day when Mother's day is honored in the United States, Canada and many other countries. Different countries have different celebrations and dates for honoring mothers. In the UK and Ireland, the day is known as Mothering Sunday and is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of lent. In 1870, in the US, Julia Ward Howe published "Mother's Day Proclamation" encouraging the designation of a special day to honor mothers. It was not until 1907 when Anna Jarvis began her lobby for a special day to honor mothers and in 1914, she finally got Mother's Day its righteous time on the second Sunday of May. Anna Jarvis was passionate about the day being a day to honor each individual mother. She was picky about the designation and that the apostrophe had to be between the last two letters, "Mother's Day", not Mothers Day or Mothers' Day implying collective mothers. The day was to honor one's special mother. The observation became popular and is now celebrated with much commercialism, much to Anna Jarvis' dismay. What was to have been a very personal day became a marketing venue. Later in her life, Anna Jarvis, unsuccessfully tried to get the observation discontinued.

Mothers day flowers are the most popular gift. In China, where mother's day celebrations are catching on, carnations are the most popular and most sold flower for this celebration followed by lilies. Local florists and online florists like 1800flowers get a major portion of their annual orders on this day. Likewise, moms love receiving flowers. Business research firm, IBIS World estimates that 2.6 billion dollars will be spent in the US on flowers this mother's day, not including the money spent on jewelry, greeting cards and spa treatments.

Citation: Wikipedia

Manny Pacquiao: Best Known Filipino in the World

2009-05-04T00:05:00.002-05:00

Like Filipinos worldwide, last night, our extended family watched Manny Pacquiao knock out Ricky Hatton in the second round in a much publicized boxing match. Filipinos were undaunted and cocky sure that their man would win and PacMan did not disappoint, proving the media description that he is, pound for pound, the best boxer in the world today. A much anticipated fight, Filipinos everywhere watched the pre-game 24/7 series chronicling the boxers training and background.

Judging from ABS-CBN reports, Filipinos everywhere crowded in homes, public venues and outdoor TV projections as did our family who crowded in my brother-in-law's home theater. Sports fanatics and sports illiterates alike watched and cheered. Filipino military and law enforcement agencies also took time off to watch the fight. Violence halted. Philippine news reports even point out that crime took a holiday. There was no crime committed during that period as law breakers also took time to watch the fight.

No other person in Philippine history has united the Filipino nation and Filipinos everywhere if only for too short a period of time. Pacquiao continues to make his country proud.

Look to K-Designers for Energy Efficient Windows

2009-05-02T15:31:00.004-05:00

Most senior citizens living on a fixed income and choose to remain in the home they bought will be faced with remodeling needs at some time or another. Moving to energy efficient windows is one of those remodeling activities that save money in the long run. K-Designers may just have the answer for seniors who need to get the most for their money.

K-Designers is a remodeling company with offices in the Midwest and Western part of the United States. Now may be an opportune time to replace those old windows and let Uncle Sam foot part of the bill. As part of the stimulus package, the government is giving incentives for homeowners to change to energy efficient windows. K-Designers offers windows made especially for the company and are not only energy efficient but are easy to clean, fire retardant, do not rust and do not need painting. Just as important, the windows come with a lifetime guarantee.

YMT Vacations: Planned Tours Can Be Fun for Seniors

2009-05-02T12:19:00.007-05:00

Past their prime, senior citizens often have unique needs and considerations when planning vacations. While many seniors are healthier and more active now, many have unique needs they might not even realize. Using tour companies such as Your Man Tours can save you the headache of planning, and can provide solutions to unexpected occurrences. To make the best of your vacation, you, too, must have a sense of your special needs. Remember, your travel agent cannot read your mind.

Single seniors and couples as well, may feel more comfortable joining tours with vacationers of like minds. For instance, Your Man Tours offers guided European tours with emphasis on visits to the Vatican. You may be interested in the Mayan culture, taking a fall trip to New England, or being pampered in a cruise ship. Travel agencies like Your Man Tours which specialize in affordable vacations cater to different groups. They also package trips specifically for older adults.

Simple things to consider when planning a vacation:

Your health and health care needs. Be sure to check with your doctor about your travel restrictions, make sure you have your supply of medications and ask the travel company for a list of health care facilities in the vicinity of your trip. Be aware of your allergies and food restrictions so you can avoid a flare up.
Your mobility. Do you need wheelchair access? Do you get winded easily? This is an important consideration when choosing your land trips and side tours as many places require considerable walking. Your travel agent can arrange for mobility assistance in airports, during land transfers and in the hotel.
Travel and health care insurance. Remember, Medicare does not pay for health care outside the country. Inexpensive travel and health care insurance can pay for illness related trip cancellation, ambulance or even airlift.
Lastly, have fun. You deserve it.

United American Insurance Company; A Choice for Medicare Part D

2009-05-01T13:52:00.010-05:00

With retirement investments half their worth, the economy still on a down swing, it is harder for senior citizens to meet their prescription co-pay especially for expensive third tier medications. This is where your choice of Medicare Part D carrier is important. United American Insurance Company might just fit the bill

United American Insurance Company is an approved Medicare Part D provider. Medicare Part D is the Medicare prescription plan which pays for prescription medications. All plans are required to pay for your first $2,700.00 of medication expenses after which you are responsible for 100 percent of your prescriptons until you and your plan have paid $4,350.00 for the year. This is also known as the donut hole. The catastrophic coverage then kicks in. Although it varies from state to state, United American Insurance Company Medicare Part D coverage has no deductible and has low co-pay for generic drugs (starting at $5.00.) Catastrophic prescription coverage is quite liberal. You pay 5% of the medication cost and UAIC pays 95 %. If your income falls below certain income limits, you may be eligible for low income subsidy (LIS), where your monthly premium may be lowered by 25, 50, 75, or 100 percent.

Important things to remember when considering a prescription plan:

Participation in Medicare part D is voluntary. However, with the spiralling cost of medication, most seniors are better off participating.
Understand your plan's formulary: Check your current medications against the plan's formulary to ensure that your medicines are covered adequately.
Understand formulary tiers: Tier 1- generic drugs, Tier 2- brand name drugs on formulary, Tier 3- more expensive brand name drugs and Specialty tier- very expensive medications such as cancer fighting drugs. The higher the tier, the higher the copay.
Check to see if you qualify for low income subsidy.
Convenience: Does the plan have a mail in service for maintenance medications? his can save you from frequent trips to the drug store.

United American Insurance Company has been in business for over 60 years, operates in 49 states, D.C. and Canada and for 30 consecutive years has been rated strong and very strong by A.M. Best and Standard & Poor Company. It has been a Medicare participant since 1966.

Keeping Healthy during the Swine Flu Outbreak

2009-04-28T22:15:00.006-05:00

The recent swine flu outbreak in Mexico and the few reported swine flu cases (50 as of this writing) in the United States are causing worry among older citizens who are generally more vulnerable to infections. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has published information to clarify the situation and allay the public's anxiety.

Swine flu is a respiratory infection caused by a strain of influenza virus A known as H1N1. It is generally a disease found in pigs but from time to time it finds its way to humans. Transmission is from person to person only, by droplet (sneezing, coughing or touching a surface like door knobs, telephones, and desks, with the virus and touching the nose, mouth, or eyes). You cannot get swine flu by eating pork. It is contagious one day before symptoms appear and up to seven days after the person feels better. Previous outbreaks have been relatively mild. In 1976, 200 cases were reported in Fort Dix, North Carolina and in the three years between 2005 to he end of 2008, 12 cases of human infection wer reported. The April 2009 cases reported in the US seem to be mild as well.

The symptoms of swine flu are similar to any influenza infection and consist of tiredness, fever, chills, cough, sore throat, and body aches. Some people complain of diarrhea and vomiting. As in seasonal flu, swine flu is self limiting although the course and intensity may be shortened by antiviral medications. Of significance to older adults is that flu can worsen other medical conditions and persons with decreased immune responses may be quite susceptible to complications such as bacterial infections like pneumonia.

Keeping safe and healthy:

Get plenty of rest, stay hydrated and continue with physical exercise.
Wash your hands frequently.
If you cough or sneeze, cover the mouth and nose with tissue paper and throw it in the trash. If you do not have tissue paper, cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow.
Stay away from sick people.
If you feel sick, stay home, rest and drink plenty of fluids.
Call your health care provider if you get dizzy, experience chest pain or oppression, trouble breathing, or severe persistent vomiting or diarrhea.

There is no vaccine for swine flu just yet. Two prescription antiviral agents, oseltamivir and zanamivir, can shorten the course of the illness if taken within two days of the onset of symptoms.

Swine flu cases reported seems to all be mild and self-limiting. Don't panic. Call your health care provider if you have concerns or check the CDC website for further information.

Florists Love Mother's Day

2009-04-24T10:17:00.013-05:00

The second Sunday in May is one of the seasons in a florist's year. Along with Valentine's Day, Easter and Christmas, Mother's Day, represents high sales volume. Weddings, professional recognition days such as Administrative Assistant Day ring up a smaller volume. Little wonder that florists, nurseries, and grocery stores ensure that they don't run out of Mother's Day flowers.

Since flowers now come from all over the world, florists can play with a variety of flower arrangements. No longer confined to local floral variety and seasonal blooms, florists are now only limited by their creativity in crafting floral arrangements. Well, perhaps the customer's budget as well. It can be an Ikebana arrangement with its simple style and line, an English garden style with radial colorful blooms or a contemporary high style arrangement. Any time of the year, florists can have orchids, birds of paradise, tulips and various flowers for every occasion. Recipients are equally pleased. A mom in Asia can have a spray of tulips while another mom in Greenland might receive a pot of phaelonopsis orchids.

Customers can have Mother's Day flowers hand delivered by their local florist or through floral wire and online services such as 1-800-Flowers.

Adapting the Home for Mobility Access

2009-03-23T23:28:00.010-05:00

Sometime in our fifties, we bought a home with an eye on the lifestyle changes in our senior years. We bought a reverse story and a half patio home with an open floor plan. Not until we had to cope with disability did we realize the barriers to mobility that most homes present.

These are what we found out:

The doors were not wide enough for wheelchair mobility access. This is especially difficult in the toilet where the door was even smaller. We had to remove the doors for easier access.
The stair steps were not wide enough to accommodate a walker. Although there were only two to three steps from the garage or the front porch to the house, the steps were too narrow to plant a walker safely.
Shower doors were too narrow for either wheelchair or walker. Taking a shower proved to be a long ritual. We are still struggling with options retrofitting the shower and bathroom, all of them expensive.
Kitchen counters can be formidable for someone who is wheelchair bound. Needless to say, reaching up to a built in microwave or over the counter shelves are next to impossible.
Getting in and out of the bed can be very difficult for someone with bum legs. There is nothing to grip to pull up.

These are seemingly mundane things and for sure there are remedies as we quickly and by necessity found. But for those nearing their senior years and looking to move to a new home, these should be realistic considerations. At the very least, look for wide doors, wide garage steps and disability friendly bathrooms. These can be added without detracting from the decor. You just never know when you will need them.

Choosing a Retirement Community

2007-12-28T23:44:00.000-06:00

Many senior adults like me think about retirement long before we apply for our social security retirement income. We go on vacation with an eye on retirement communities and resorts wondering what it might be like to actually live there for good. Downsizing to a condominium, patio home or a 55 and over apartment can be a logical move for most seniors.

Before making that big commitment some factors are worth looking into:

Geographic location: Is the climate suitable, especially for your health? Persons with asthma, arthritis, or other medical conditions may want to make sure the climate is conducive to their health. Will you like it in the off season when it is too cold or too hot, too dry or too wet? Is it close to loved ones? Many of us may choose to be close to grandchildren and close family members or be within driving distance.
Real estate professionals: Once you decide on a geographic location for a retirement community, it is valuable to hire a good real estate agent and have access to legal counsel. Good real estate professionals have knowledge of the area, comparable costs of homes, and other information not readily available to the buyer. A lawyer can read through the contract and give important legal advice. A house inspector is invaluable in looking below the surface and preventing costly surprises after the purchase.
Evaluating a retirement community: Is it close to grocery stores, health care providers, shopping centers, and recreational activities? What is the age mix and ambiance of the community? Is it compatible with your lifestyle? How secure is the home, condominium, or apartment building and the community in general? Talking to potential neighbors can be very informative.
Before making the purchase: It is important to understand some planned retirement community requirements. Condominiums and planned communities are often governed by homeowner (HOA) or property owner association (POA) rules and regulations. These are legal entities, often non-profit and organized for the purpose of maintaining the retirement community standards. These are often governed by conditions, covenants and restrictions (CCR) These associations may collect dues for maintenance of community infrastructure. Remember that association dues will continue long after the mortgage is paid for. Check the association debts, reserve fund, how often dues are raised and special assessments levied. What do amenities cover? Check covenants and restrictions and make sure you can live with them. ( Examples include restrictions on fences, outside paint colors, pet areas, placement of satellite dish, yard decorations, etc.)

Chosen well, a retirement community can be very practical, fun and enhancing to one's later life.

Venus, a Movie of Love, Friendship, and Being Old

2007-12-15T16:20:00.002-06:00

Venus, a movie released in December 2006, is a wonderful poignant vehicle for Peter O'Toole, who once again engages us with an unforgettable performance. Portraying Maurice, an aging, has been actor relegated to bit parts ( such as corpses), O'Toole generates a charming character.Once a ladies man and not too responsible husband, he now spends his days in coffee shops with similarly aging has been actor friend, Ian ( Leslie Phillips.) Into their lives come Venus (Jodie Whitaker), Ian's niece from the country, sent to the city to look after Ian while looking for a modeling job. She quickly disrupts Ian's and Maurice's lives with her narcissistic, self-absorbed , flirtatious lifestyle. She becomes a catalyst for Maurice' coming alive once again as he relentlessly pursues his growing infatuation. Sadly, she tantalizes him with simple pleasures such as allowing him to touch her bare shoulders for which he is immensely grateful. He, in turn, showers her with presents , pays for her tattoo, and takes her to movies sets and museums.

We are reminded how love is alive at any age. Love and sex remain a vital part of many older adult couples. The August 2007 volume of the New England Journal of Medicine contains the University of Chicago's National Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) which shows that there is only slight decline in sexual activity from age 50 to 70 and that older adults can and do participate in sexual activity well into their 80's. Dr. Stacy Tesser Lindauer reports that health rather than age is a bigger factor in sexual function.

The need for touch is a universal need at any age. Little wonder that there is that bond between grandchildren and grandparents, children having no qualms about hugging nana or poppa or touching their faces. Children do not see age as a barrier.

The movie moves us to think through very difficult issues of aging and the universal fear of facing the end of our lives alone. It looks at friendships, among men and peers, between Maurice and his ex-wife ( played by Vanessa Redgrave.) The actors' masterful performance, subtly draws us to look into our own future and the inevitability of growing old. O'Toole is perfect in the role, ( maybe as good as inLawrence of Arabia.) And Whitaker holds her own as the characters take us to their transformation. Even as Venus selfishly takes advantage of Maurice' infatuation, we see Maurice, an old man come alive at the end of his days and Venus evolve into a more caring woman.

This is a thought provoking movie. Watch the movie for Peter O'Toole. Watch the movie for yourself.

Can You Afford to Buy Prescription Medications?

2007-11-25T21:09:00.000-06:00

Buying prescription medications on a fixed retirement income is a problem many retirees face when deciding on competing necessities like rent and food. Many patients opt to not buy medication, take a lesser dose than prescribed to make the medicine last, or resort to buying prescription drugs online. Even with Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, there are pitfalls not easily anticipated. This blog aims to clarify some of the confusion in prescription drug plans and to suggest ways to make prescription drugs more affordable.

Medicare Part D

Effective January 2006, persons with Medicare became eligible to purchase Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage by: 1.) joining a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan by paying additional premium or by 2.) joining a Medicare Advantage Plan such as an HMO ( health maintenance organization) or a PPO (Preferred Provider) or a Medicare health plan that provides prescription insurance.

Things to consider when obtaining Medicare D coverage:

Coverage: Does the plan cover the medications on your list?

Cost: May include: a.) monthly premium b.) annual deductible and c.) coinsurance and copayments. Persons falling under certain income guidelines may qualify for "extra help" also known as low income subsidy. This helps pay for the monthly premium, annual deductible, coinsurance and copayments.

Convenience: Some plans allow for obtaining prescription through the mail.

Coverage gap: (Also known as the doughnut hole) This is a very important but poorly understood aspect of the Medicare Part D plan. Essentially, in any given year, when prescription drug cost reaches a certain amount, ( $2,510.00 in 2008), the patient is responsible for 100% of the cost of medications for the next $3,216.00. Once this total of $5,726.00 is reached, Medicare Part D catastrophic coverage kicks in and pays for 95% of drug cost. This doughnut hole was built in by Congress to limit taxpayer cost while at the same time ensuring that persons with extremely high drug cost can get assistance. Individuals who qualify for " extra help" do not have a coverage gap.

Note: The monthly Medicare D premium must be paid during the doughnut hole period.

Some Strategies for Negotiating the Doughnut Hole and High Drug Cost:

Obtain coverage gap insurance ( in addition to regular monthly premium.) Many of these plans pay only for generic drugs, so check what you are buying.

Go bare and self insure by setting aside savings equal to the coverage gap amount each year.

Talk to your health care provider about generic medications or class equivalent drugs.

Monitor prescription drug expenditure to avoid the doughnut hole.

Check with WalMart Pharmacy if your medication is in their generic medication $4.00/month supply list. Other pharmacies such as Target Pharmacy offer a price match. Costco Pharmacy also offers the lowest mark-up on many generic medications.

Understanding Prescription Drug Tiers:

Medicare requires that all drug coverage plans cover at least two drugs in each category of drugs except that they are not required to cover certain drugs such as sedatives ( barbiturates and benzodiazepines), weight loss or weight gain drugs, drugs for erectile dysfunction and over the counter medications. Some prescription drug plans may limit the quantity of medication per fill, require prior authorization for certain medications or request stepwise therapy where one must try a similar or less expensive drug before progressing to a more expensive drug. Prescription drug plans also classify medications in what is known as a tier system.

Tier 1 covers most generic medications and has the lowest copayment.

Tier 2 covers preferred brand name prescription medications ( usually brand name medications deemed to be equally effective but less expensive as similar drugs) and has medium copay.

Tier 3 covers non-preferred brand name medications and has a high copay amount.

Specialty tier covers very expensive unique medications and have the highest copay.

Generic medications must be bioequivalent to the brand name and has the same active ingredient, efficacy, and safety profile as the trade brand medication. They undergo the same oversight by the Food and Drug Administration as its brand name equivalent.

It is also helpful to discuss bioequivalent medications with your health care provider. Talk about the intended treatment outcome and whether or not a less expensive medication will do just as well. For example, will aspirin have the same therapeutic outcome as more expensive blood thinners? Will a less expensive ace-inhibitor work just as well as other brand name blood pressure medication.

Patient Assistance Programs

When brand name medication is essential, talk to your health care provider about patient assistance programs. Drug manufacturers have agreed to provide medically necessary medications to persons falling below certain income guideline ( different from drug company to drug company) and who do not have prescription insurance coverage. Persons who are in the doughnut hole may qualify for this program. This requires that your physician and you complete an application form. Proof of income is usually required but may differ with each patient assistance program.

Talk to your pharmacist about discount prescription drug plans. These plans do not require a premium and usually provide the patient with a discount card where medication cost is discounted.

And don't forget the incentives such as gift cards and rebates that some pharmacy chains give out for obtaining your business. Every little thing helps.

A Caution About Buying Prescription Drugs Online

There is no substitute for the services of a pharmacist that you can ask questions of and who can counsel you on your medications. Online drug stores do not have the regulatory oversight that brick and mortar pharmacies do. Be suspicious of medications purchased this way.

Baby Boomers

2007-11-21T23:47:00.001-06:00

On October 15,2007, Kathleen Casey-Kirschling went online and applied for Social Security retirement benefits. This would have been a non-event for anyone else but Kathleen and her family had she not had the distinction of having been born on the first second of January 1, 1946 making her the first American baby boomer to transition from the workforce to retirement. This event was not lost to Social Security Commissioner Michael J. Astrue who witnessed the event. Kathleen leads an expected 80 million Americans who will reach retirement age over the next 20 years, an average of about 10,000 a day, a phenomenon referred to in some circles as the "silver tsunami."

Baby boomer is a term given to people born in the post World War II era between 1946 and 1964. A fairly lengthy period, it is sometimes divided into two epochs the first from 1946 to 1954 and the second from 1954 to 1964. This generation has had defining moments such as the Vietnam War and the beginning and end of the Cold War, political initiatives such as civil rights, feminism, gay rights, handicap rights and the end of the military draft, technological advances such as the internet and the conquest of space, and cultural changes in music, movies and arts. It boasts of influential persons, the likes of Bill Gates.

The White House Conference on Aging ( September 2006) calls for formulating a proactive plan for anticipating the impact of aging baby boomers on the nation.. The sheer numbers of retirees are staggering and the nation has not yet come up with a plan for managing the retirement, health care and living needs of this group. On the one hand, many boomers are expected to live healthier longer and be affluent both from their own achievements as well as from transfer of wealth from their parents. On the other hand, with many persons living longer, it is anticipated that a good number of the elderly will be women and minority individuals groups that typically fall within the poverty level. Since the social security system is not a true retirement plan, funding of retirement benefits fall on the backs of those currently working. Boomers retirement also poses problems on the work force. It is expected that boomer retirement will leave gaps in skilled and specialized areas unable to be filled by a decreasing number of the younger working generation.

Boomers are expected to wield great political clout and are the target of marketing strategies of consumer product advertising. The good news is that many retirees are expected to return to the work force for different reasons. Many will need to supplement retirement income to meet living needs. Many who continue to enjoy life will embark on new careers. And there are those who are simply retirement flunkies who find working to be a very fulfilling part of their lives. Retirees might return to work for an employer full-time or in creative variations of part-time work. Some might choose self employment and entrepreneurship. Some might work as permanent part-time or part-time intermittent employees. Still others might choose to work full time for a few months out of the year.

Clearly baby boomers will be influential in their old age as they have been in their younger years and will continue to contribute wisdom and experience.

Health Care and the Senior Citizen

2007-11-16T21:36:00.000-06:00

I understand that if I live long enough, I am likely to come down with some illness at one time or another. This reality prompted me to pay attention to what is coming down in Medicare, the national health insurance plan for people age 65 and older, under 65 with certain disabilities, and any age with end stage renal disease ( kidney failure.) Understanding Medicare insurance can be a daunting task and this is it in a nutshell.

Working persons pay into Medicare through mandatory payroll deductions. It is government administered and consists of four parts.

Medicare Part A covers hospitalization, skilled nursing facility, hospice and home health care under certain conditions and is provided with no additional premium.

Medicare Part B covers 80% of Medicare allowed medically necessary services outpatient services, physician and other health care provider fees and certain preventive services to prevent some diseases from getting worse. This requires payment of a premium usually billed quarterly or deducted from retiree social security pension. Enrollment may be made during specified enrollment periods. Individuals falling within certain income guidelines are entitled to some premium assistance.

Medicare Part C also known as Medicare Advantage Plans represents a privitization of Medicare wherein individuals enroll with approved private health insurance companies. These insurance plans must cover medically necessary services and thus provide similar services despite some differing advertising claims. They may differ, however, in copayments, co-insurance or deductibles. Medicare C plans combine Medicare A, B and oftentimes, D benefits.

Medicare Part D is Medicare prescription drug coverage. Again it requires the payment of a premium and enrollment during certain open enrolment periods. Individuals within certain income guidelines are entitled to premium subsidies.

Since Medicare health insurance only pays for 80% of allowed charges, the patient is liable for the remaining 20% which he/she pays out of pocket or subcribes to private health care insurance companies for Medicare supplemental insurance plan ( also known as Medigap.) All of these insurance premiums could take a big chunk out of the senior citizen's retirement benefits. Small wonder that many seniors opt to go bare and just go with Medicare Part A.

It is important for seniors to research and compare offerings of private health insurance companies when choosing Medicare Part C, Medicare Part D, and Medigap. Companies such as AARP Medicare Insurance, Humana Medicare Insurance, and Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Insurance are among those commonly marketed to seniors. When choosing a Medicare D prescription plan, it might be necessary to check with your pharmacist to make sure that expensive maintenance medications are covered by the plan.

A Threat to Health Care Access

A White House Fact Sheet pledges, "Medicare is the binding commitment of a caring society to our most vulnerable citizens and a commitment that America must always keep." At the same time, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) announced a 10% cut in Medicare allowed physician fees effective 2008. There is will continue for the next four years for a total of 40 % cut in reimbursement. A poll by the American Medical Association of its members, shows that 60% of physicians indicate they will have to cut down on accepting new Medicare patients should these cuts come to pass. Physicians faced with increasing overhead from quality improvement and best practice initiatives do not feel that afford further decreases in their revenue base. This places many senior citizens at risk for not having an identified primary care health care provider at a time in their lives when diseases move to chronicity and consistent medical follow-up becomes necessary.

A Call to Action

Senior citizens will soon comprise a voting majority. It is time to take our elected officials to task in honoring " the binding comittment of a caring society" to its vulnerable citizens in particular and to all citizens in general. It is imperative that we demand that candidate and party platforms have a viable health care plan for all which moves health care from an option to a right similar to education and safety. A country that can send men and women to the stars and spend billions in other nation building must commit to ensuring a healthy nation.

I Want an Aeron Chair

2007-11-12T00:02:00.000-06:00

I don't usually think about growing old ,except for those ocassions which come more often now, when the hip and the low back start aching. One of these ocassions, prompted me to check out desk chairs. I spend a great deal of time sitting in front of a desk, talking to people and typing on a computer. I thought it was time to treat myself to a high end desk chair.

I first sat on an Aeron chair a few years ago, on one of those few ocassions I stayed in an expensive hotel suite. It was quite comfortable and I have wanted to upgrade to an Aeron desk chair since.

Introduced in 1994, Aeron chairs quickly became the rave in office furniture. Designed by Don Chadwick and Bill Stumpf for the Herman Miller Company, it was and many would argue, still is the desk chair to sit on. Aeron chairs combine the notion that form follows function with stylish design, making it at home in any office setting be it the boardroom or the home office.

There are executive chairs, side chairs and task chairs in this line। The tall wide back is designed to relieve stress on the lower vertebrae while the arm rest design helps minimize arm and hand fatigue from repetitive keyboard strokes. The seat front has a waterfall design to minimize numbness from circulation to the legs being cut off during prolonged seating. The mesh design of the chair back allows good aeration and ventilation thus keeping the back cool especially on warm weather. Adjustable tension allows modification for different body size and form. Durable materials including titanium alloy make these office chairs easy to clean, maintain and repair.

Designed for comfort, Aeron chairs quickly became popular with computer types tired of ill fitting desk chairs while hunched in front of their computer screens, with people with low back pain and with corporate and government offices। It soon was a symbol of opulence and alas, of fiscal mismanagement as well। When dotcom companies and huge corporations such as Enron went belly up, the large quantities of Aeron chairs in their inventory were taken as yet another evidence of fiscal irresponsibility.

There is no question Aeron chairs are pricey, an executive chair easily setting one back well over $1000।00 and task chairs over $500।00. Used Aeron chairs are not any less expensive and remain a favorite on Ebay and other auction houses. The best compliment, of course, is in the fact that Aeron chairs are being copied as knock offs or less expensive variations, much to the consternation of Herman Miller. The Herman Miller Company has approached this problem by offering incentives to knock off customers to trade in their copy for an authentic one and by a cease and desist legal action towards knock off manufacturers. Before buying a used Herman Miller Aeron chair, it would be wise to check with the company on the warranty. While Herman Miller honors warranty on original purchase, it might not honor waranties on previously owned chairs.

Customer reviews are mixed. Many consider the Herman Miller Aeron chair to be the chair to own while some find that the chair did not deliver as well as they expected or they did not get relief from back pain as they had hoped.

Price and reviews aside, the Aeron chair continues to be the office chair to have. I, for one, still covet it and look beyond water heater replacements, car repairs, and new carpeting to that time when I can finally own one.