Do I Remember What You Said? Do You?

OK, is this in store for the rest of us?  Get your notepad ready!

Bing Images

A Couple
in their nineties are
both having problems remembering things. During a check-up, the doctor
tells them that they're physically okay, but they might want to start
writing things down to help them remember.

Later
that night, while watching TV, the old man gets up from his chair.
'Want anything while I'm in the kitchen?' he
asks.

'Will
you get me a bowl of ice cream?'

'Sure.'

'Don't you think you should write it down so you can remember it?' she
asks.

'No, I can remember it.'

'Well, I'd like some strawberries on top, too. Maybe you should write it
down, so as not to forget it?'

He says, 'I can remember that. You want a bowl of ice cream with
strawberries.'

'I'd also like whipped cream. I'm certain you'll forget that, write it
down?' she asks.

Irritated, he says, 'I don't need to write it down, I can remember it! Ice cream
with strawberries and whipped cream - I got it, for goodness
sake!'

Then he toddles into the kitchen. After about 20 minutes, the old man
returns from the kitchen and hands his wife a plate of bacon and eggs.
She stares at the plate for a moment.

'Where's my toast?'

(Thanks to Karen and Jo for forwarding this to us.)

So You Think They Aren't Listening As You Watch TV?

You never know what a child may answer when you pose a question!

While the priest was presenting a children's sermon.  He asked the children if they knew what the Resurrection was.

  

Now, asking questions during children's sermons is crucial, but at the same time, asking children questions in front of a congregation can also be very dangerous.

 

In response to the question, a little boy raised his hand.

 

 

 

 

The priest called on him and the boy said, "I know that if you have a resurrection that lasts more than four hours you are supposed to call the doctor."

 

It took ten minutes for the congregation to settle down enough for the service to continue.

(Thanks to Joan H for this child's answer. )

 

 

Watch Out for 7 Big Planning Mistakes!

Bing Image

Already retired or thinking about doing so?  Not at all ready, but want to prepare?

Here are mistakes that couples make in retirement that you want to avoid.

1.  What are you hoping to do in retirement?  Does it match your partner's wishes?  Make sure that your goals allow each of you to enjoy your time after leaving the workforce.

2.  Make sure you have a fund set aside for emergencies:  3 to 6 months of projected expenses.

3.  If you have a blended family, decide what you can both agree on when children need money.  Estate Attorney, Ann-Margaret Carrozza, advises that we not cosign loans for children or grandchildren. And the partners need to clearly decide whose children will receive what inheritance if you have separate assets.

4.  Remember that financial resources are limited in retirement.  Carrozza points out that her "clients fail to properly calculate the amount of money they will need in retirement" and cautions that living below our financial means will help us to prepare for escalating costs.

5. Medicare and private health insurance may not cover the medical center or the physician we want to consult in a serious illness.  And "Eight out of every 10 couples will have an individual who requires long-term care." Setting aside funds to cover a long-term insurance plan might be prudent for most of us.

6. Carrozza suggests that all couples have "health care proxy and power of attorney over each other";  not doing so can result in costly problems in the event that one of the partners becomes incapacitated.  In a cited instance, Carrozza remembers that one partner had to go to court to become the other's court-appointed guardian, costing thousands of dollars and taking months to complete. Don't just assume that you will be able to sign or make decisions for your partner without a legal proxy.

 7.  A big mistake is allowing only one partner to handle all finances. Carrozza advises that couples make financial plans and decisions together, periodically reviewing and making certain that "life changes and law changes are properly accounted for in the plan."

(USA Today for the Arizona Republic, Sunday, April 13, 2014, 7B)

Want to Be in Fashion This Summer?

Bing Images

Yes. SUMMER!  It's the season that many of us have difficulty remembering as our springtime alternates between 80 degree temps on one day and 3 inches of snow the next.

But Summer is on the way, and .here are some suggestions for those among us who want to look our best this summer.

1.  Florals are in- jackets, skirts, tops, slacks , shorts, everywhere

2. Stilettos? No, no, no!  Open-toed mules are in this summer.

3.  Like a little glitz?  Metallics are good for summer styles.

4.  Fringe?  Sporting fringe on your purse puts you in fashion for summer.

5.  Your best color?  Try pink this summer with the "No. 1 color of the season...radiant orchid.'

(See all ten suggestions at USA Weekend, Apr. 11-13, 2014, 4).

A Beautiful Springtime Destination

Some of us are thinking about a springtime vacation, and Ron and Mary Kay can tell us exactly where we might like to go.

Charleston, South Carolina, is a  perfect springtime destination.

Enjoying the beauty, charm, and history of Charleston!

(Thanks, Ron and Mary Kay for these beautiful shots.)

 

 

(Thanks to Ron and Mary Kay for sharing their Charleston pics with us.)

Sugar is Lurking in Places We Wouldn't Expect.

Bing Images

All of us are becoming more aware of the sugar in soft drinks and in our usual downfalls like cookies, cake, ice cream, white bread and soda, but a great deal of the fat-forming culprit lurks in places we might not recognize right away.  How many grams of sugar are there in a teaspoon?  4.

Like what?

• It could be 50 grams in a healthy-sounding bottled tea (12.5 teaspoons);
• That barbeque sauce or pasta sauce might contain 12 grams of sugar(3 teaspoons);
• Fruit in light syrup (mandarin oranges or pears) contain 17 grams or 4.25 teaspoons of sugar;
• Motts apple sauce (cinnamon or plain) can contain 22 grams or 5.5 teaspoons of sugar;
• Nutrigrain Cereal Bars have 12 grams or 3 teaspoons of sugar per bar;
• Quaker Oatmeal Squares/1 cup has 13 grams or 3.25 teaspoons of sugar in an 8 oz. cup

Want to see what other foods have a lot of hidden sugar? Click on http://www.m.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/sugar-shockers-foods-surprisingly-high-in-sugar

(Thanks to Barb R. for sending this link.)

Sigh! Another Phone Scam to Avoid

Bing Images

Whether we still have a landline or have switched to cell phone only, this scammer can get to you.  A headache can flare up when we just  just think of all the dangers out there, but this ploy is one you can easily avoid.

Newest Phone Scam: 90# on your telephone

 I dialed '0' to check this out, and the operator confirmed that this was correct, so please pass it on.. (l also checked out snopes.com and truthorfiction.com

This is true, and also applies to cell phones!

PASS ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW

I received a telephone call last evening from an individual
identifying himself as an ATT Service Technician (could also be Telus) who was conducting a test on the telephone lines. He stated that to complete the test, I should touch nine (9), zero (0), the pound sign (#), and then hang up. Luckily, I was suspicious and refused.

Upon contacting the telephone company, I was informed
that by pushing 90#, you give the requesting individual full access to your telephone line, which enables them to place long distance calls billed to your home phone number. I was further informed that this scam has been originating from many local jails/prisons. DO NOT press 90# for ANYONE...

The GTE Security Department requested that
I share this information with EVERYONE I KNOW.

After checking with Verizon they also said it was true,

so do not dial 90# for anyone !!!!!(Thanks to Barb R. for sending this.)

Is A Movie in Your Plans? Here Are Some to Consider

Bing  Images

When it's too rainy to go outside and a movie is in order, consider these.

There's a reason that Judi Dench is nominated for Best Actress awards so often.  Her films are outstanding.  Philomena "is  moving, emotional, well acted...." a film that "many of us could identify with for the time period and growing up Catholic."(Cheryl A. ) 

Since when do animated films appeal to the more mature viewer?  Almost all of them do so anymore.  Frozen is a good example.  While children love the princesses and the magic, adults enjoy the gorgeous animation, the beautiful music, and the beautiful reworking of Hans Christian Anderson's Snow Queen.  Another is Mr. Peabody and Sherman.  Our children and grandchildren are glued to the screen as Sherman gets into trouble by disobeying Mr. Peabody and is rescued by his father again and again.  Adults see Sherman's travels through time to interesting places and people we've all met in history and literature. Entertaining for everyone.

The Grand Budapest Hotel was also among the Academy Award nominations.  The critics gave it high praise, but some who have seen it describe the film as "odd and quirky." (Jo)  If you're into 'odd and quirky,' this might be a movie for you.  It isn't, however, at all like Judi Dench's "The Best, Exotic Marigold Hotel" (a personal favorite).

Monuments Men is worth seeing.  A small group of men have been tasked with saving the hundreds of art works plundered by the Nazis.  They are all specialists in various areas of art.  Their experiences, pain, dangers ,and successes remind us of the  many acts of courage by those original monuments men, ill-equipped to move through battlefields during the ending days of WWII.

Are action films to your liking?  Tension abounds in Non-stop.  It is a gripping, action film that "will have you on the edge of your seat the whole time" (John R). 

You Are Your Own Best Advocate

Bing Images

We all have a tendency to put total trust in our doctors. And in most cases, that trust is justified.  So,  when a doctor says, "You have this..." and "You need to take this medication,"  we comply-many times without questioning.

My Personal Opinion Only:  If the diagnosis is one that seems odd/out of the blue/never occurring in your medical history or that of your close relatives, you might consider doing the following:

1.  Be your own advocate-  research/research/research! Many of our highly recognized medical centers have websites full of information on all of the conditions that their medical professionals treat.

2.  Go to a 2nd opinion doctor immediately, preferably a specialist in the area of your 1st doctor's diagnosis.

3.  Thoroughly research the side effects of the meds prescribed and check closely with your pharmacist to determine any interactions with other meds that you take. Do you have other conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, liver problems, cardiovascular disease,  etc.?  Make sure the prescribed med doesn't have the danger of escalating one of your existing conditions.  Although the prescribing doctor should do this, don't take this for granted.  Be your own advocate.

4.  Consider waiting on the meds until the 2nd opinion corroborates the 1st;  One way to hurry up the 2nd consult is to say that you don't want to initiate the medicine until you're sure of the diagnosis and until both doctors  and your pharmacist have crosschecked to make sure the new meds won't exacerbate an existing condition.

5.  Make sure someone close to you knows where you want to go when an emergency room is called for.  Make sure that person knows which doctors you have used in the past and with whom you have been satisfied so that those professionals are brought in to contribute to any diagnosis. If that person is your spouse or partner, consider naming him or her your Health Proxy.

6.  Ask for and obtain all records of tests,  procedures. Ask that the records be sent to you so that you can keep your records long-term.

7.  And above all, remember that you are an intelligent person who has the right to question everything so that the final treatment and medications that you take have the best chance of helping you back to health.

The points above are my opinion only and are offered as suggestions based on personal experience.

 Every medical issue is unique to each person, and diagnoses can be right on point.  But it pays to question, to do your own research, to bring in a qualified 2nd opinion doctor, and to crosscheck side effects and interactions.  Doing so may enhance your ability to deal with whatever health issue comes your way.