The baby boomer democratic presidential candidates are vying for North Carolina. The tarheel state has become important to the overall delgate count and Barack and Hillary are duking it out to see who gets the prize.
Barack, his wife, Michelle, Hillary and Bill have been to North Carolina several times courting votes.
My daughter registered for the first time yesterday. She was really excited to do so and has made no secret about her choice---Barack Obama. And neither has my grandson for that matter.
According to the State Board of Eelections, more than one hundred thousand new voters have registered. Most of them are African-American and Democrats.
Friday, April 11 is the last day potential voters can register for the May 6th primary.
I wonder will N.C. Senator John Edwards get any votes---oh, he's out of the race isn't he? I wonder who he plans to endorse.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Are You A "Make-Do" Baby Boomer Woman?
Every now and then a "floating" email catches my attention---like this one did. It got me to thinking about the kind of woman I've become. Beverly Mahone is living fabulous at fifty and not lamenting on the would've, should've, could've of life. I'm NOT a "make-do" woman. I'm a "make-time" woman. What about you? If you identify with the type of woman described here, it's definitely time for a change.
When I was preparing to get married (the first time around more than 20 years ago), I started getting all sorts of advice especially at bridal showers and things like that from family and friends. But one of the most interesting "lessons" came from a woman I met for the first time, just a few weeks before the big day.
She said, "Honey, whatever you do, don't ever let yourself become a "make-do" woman" I had no idea what she meant, but, of course, she was about to explain.
She continued, "men" don't deny themselves anything. Whatever they want to buy, they buy. Whatever they want to do, they do. Meanwhile, there is the wife, making do with her hair not being done, her clothes from yesteryear, her nails in need, never had a pedicure, scraping the bottom of her tube of lipstick! Oh, I could go on and on with how "we" make do.
And why? Because the car needs fixing, this Bill is behind, we have to use our time to take care of this, or take care of that; we're saving for this, working, cooking, cleaning, raising, etc." She warned me to never become a make-do woman, because she says if you start, it is hard to stop and one could easily find themselves making-do for the rest of their lives.
I vowed it would never happen to me. I didn't think much more of the conversation until one day, I began to take notice, she was right. Men are a lot better at being good to themselves. Some call it being selfish, there has to be another word for it. Tell me if you know. Whatever you call it. It does have its place.
When they want to play ball, or golf, or fish, they go! When they want to buy clothes, or equipment, or video games, or whatever their "thing" is, they buy! Have you ever tried to stop one? Has anyone ever been able to stop one? Let me know! When I look around, I see a whole heap of make-do women, married or not, with or without children, they are all over the place!
I have decided that I am going to make my best effort to become a "make-time" woman! I will make the time to do what I need to do to be good to myself, whether that's a trip to the salon, or the gym or the mall. This time I'm going to take a lesson from the guys!
All right ladies, single and married... Let's NOT be a "MAKE-DO" Women!
When I was preparing to get married (the first time around more than 20 years ago), I started getting all sorts of advice especially at bridal showers and things like that from family and friends. But one of the most interesting "lessons" came from a woman I met for the first time, just a few weeks before the big day.
She said, "Honey, whatever you do, don't ever let yourself become a "make-do" woman" I had no idea what she meant, but, of course, she was about to explain.
She continued, "men" don't deny themselves anything. Whatever they want to buy, they buy. Whatever they want to do, they do. Meanwhile, there is the wife, making do with her hair not being done, her clothes from yesteryear, her nails in need, never had a pedicure, scraping the bottom of her tube of lipstick! Oh, I could go on and on with how "we" make do.
And why? Because the car needs fixing, this Bill is behind, we have to use our time to take care of this, or take care of that; we're saving for this, working, cooking, cleaning, raising, etc." She warned me to never become a make-do woman, because she says if you start, it is hard to stop and one could easily find themselves making-do for the rest of their lives.
I vowed it would never happen to me. I didn't think much more of the conversation until one day, I began to take notice, she was right. Men are a lot better at being good to themselves. Some call it being selfish, there has to be another word for it. Tell me if you know. Whatever you call it. It does have its place.
When they want to play ball, or golf, or fish, they go! When they want to buy clothes, or equipment, or video games, or whatever their "thing" is, they buy! Have you ever tried to stop one? Has anyone ever been able to stop one? Let me know! When I look around, I see a whole heap of make-do women, married or not, with or without children, they are all over the place!
I have decided that I am going to make my best effort to become a "make-time" woman! I will make the time to do what I need to do to be good to myself, whether that's a trip to the salon, or the gym or the mall. This time I'm going to take a lesson from the guys!
All right ladies, single and married... Let's NOT be a "MAKE-DO" Women!
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Baby Boomers in the Hood--Part II
How well do you know your neighbors? In case of an emergency, could you call on them or vice versa? I’m happy to say I live in a baby boomer community where we actually know each other. I’m also happy to say our neighborly looking out for one another has been put to the test several times but there was one recent incident that makes me question how far one should go in “looking out” for their neighbor.
Here’s what happened to me: After my neighbor (a baby boomer diva) across the street told me her home had been broken into twice, I made it my business to become a “nosey neighbor” and look for anything suspicious.
One day, I observed an unfamiliar vehicle with temporary tags park in my neighbor’s driveway. The young man who got out of the car had a baseball cap on his head as if to disguise his face and he had a backpack on his back. That was definitely suspicious-looking to me so what did I do? I immediately got on the phone and called the police! Surprisingly, they came right away and I sat at my bedroom window to watch the drama unfold while staying on the phone with the police dispatcher. With guns drawn, two officers ran around the back of my neighbor’s house. To think that I would be responsible for helping to catch a criminal in the act was exciting! Minutes later, the police walked back to their vehicles but there was no suspect. Did he run and leave his car? Did they shoot him? Then the police dispatcher informed me that the person inside the house was actually my neighbor’s grown son.
It had been awhile since I saw him and he obviously had a new car so I didn’t recognized him.
The next time I saw my neighbor, we talked about what happened. Her son was pretty scared over having guns drawn on him. She said she figured I was the one who called the police and she thanked me for keeping a watchful eye. I couldn't help thinking what would've happened had the outcome been different.
OK…so there is a moral and lesson from this story. First, it’s good to be a “watch dog” for your neighbors but stereotyping people can get innocent people seriously hurt or even killed.
Here’s what happened to me: After my neighbor (a baby boomer diva) across the street told me her home had been broken into twice, I made it my business to become a “nosey neighbor” and look for anything suspicious.
One day, I observed an unfamiliar vehicle with temporary tags park in my neighbor’s driveway. The young man who got out of the car had a baseball cap on his head as if to disguise his face and he had a backpack on his back. That was definitely suspicious-looking to me so what did I do? I immediately got on the phone and called the police! Surprisingly, they came right away and I sat at my bedroom window to watch the drama unfold while staying on the phone with the police dispatcher. With guns drawn, two officers ran around the back of my neighbor’s house. To think that I would be responsible for helping to catch a criminal in the act was exciting! Minutes later, the police walked back to their vehicles but there was no suspect. Did he run and leave his car? Did they shoot him? Then the police dispatcher informed me that the person inside the house was actually my neighbor’s grown son.
It had been awhile since I saw him and he obviously had a new car so I didn’t recognized him.
The next time I saw my neighbor, we talked about what happened. Her son was pretty scared over having guns drawn on him. She said she figured I was the one who called the police and she thanked me for keeping a watchful eye. I couldn't help thinking what would've happened had the outcome been different.
OK…so there is a moral and lesson from this story. First, it’s good to be a “watch dog” for your neighbors but stereotyping people can get innocent people seriously hurt or even killed.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Women, Aging and Vision Loss
As the baby-boomer generation comes of age, conditions affecting vision seem to be getting more attention in doctor's offices around the country. Roughly 200,000 cases of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) get diagnosed each year, a disease that affects women more frequently than men.
Age-related macular degeneration is the number one cause of vision loss in adults ages 60 and older. It affects the macula, the section of the eye that focuses on fine detail. As a result, AMD causes the loss of sharp, central vision which is necessary for normal, daily tasks such as reading and driving.
“Macular degeneration does affect women more often than men, as shown in many of our large studies,” explains Larry Singerman, M.D., of the Wills Eye Institute in Philadelphia.
Age is the greatest risk factor for AMD. Because women tend to live longer than men, AMD is more prevalent among women. Aside from age and sex, other risk factors include:
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Family history
• Race
Caucasian adults are more likely to lose vision from AMD than African Americans.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends a comprehensive eye exam every one to two years for seniors over the age of 65, and every two to four years for adults between forty and 65. AMD can be diagnosed at a routine eye exam
There are also warning signs associated with AMD. If you experience any of the following vision symptoms, contact an eye care specialist:
• Lines or edges that appear wavy or distorted;
• Blurry faces or difficulty seeing colors;
• Dark or empty spaces that block the center of your vision;
• Difficulty reading fine print or reading road signs from a moving vehicle; or
• Difficulty seeing at a distance or during twilight hours.
Age-related macular degeneration is the number one cause of vision loss in adults ages 60 and older. It affects the macula, the section of the eye that focuses on fine detail. As a result, AMD causes the loss of sharp, central vision which is necessary for normal, daily tasks such as reading and driving.
“Macular degeneration does affect women more often than men, as shown in many of our large studies,” explains Larry Singerman, M.D., of the Wills Eye Institute in Philadelphia.
Age is the greatest risk factor for AMD. Because women tend to live longer than men, AMD is more prevalent among women. Aside from age and sex, other risk factors include:
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Family history
• Race
Caucasian adults are more likely to lose vision from AMD than African Americans.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends a comprehensive eye exam every one to two years for seniors over the age of 65, and every two to four years for adults between forty and 65. AMD can be diagnosed at a routine eye exam
There are also warning signs associated with AMD. If you experience any of the following vision symptoms, contact an eye care specialist:
• Lines or edges that appear wavy or distorted;
• Blurry faces or difficulty seeing colors;
• Dark or empty spaces that block the center of your vision;
• Difficulty reading fine print or reading road signs from a moving vehicle; or
• Difficulty seeing at a distance or during twilight hours.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Diary of a Mad Female Baby Boomer
I can never pass up posting a great email---compliments of my good friend Kathy Walsh. Maybe Tyler Perry will consider this title for his next movie.
Dear Diary,
For my birthday this year, my daughter (the dear) purchased a week of personal training at the local health club for me.
Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 44 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.
I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Belinda, who identified herself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear.
My daughter seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.
MONDAY:
Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Belinda waiting for me. She is something of a Greek goddess -- with blonde hair, dancing eyes and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!! Belinda gave me a tour and showed me the machines. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which she conducted her aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring! Belinda was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time she was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week!
TUESDAY:
I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door.
Belinda made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then she put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. Belinda's rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT! It's a whole new life for me.
WEDNESDAY:
The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot.
Belinda was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. Her voice is a little too perky for early in the morning and when she scolds, she gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying. My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Belinda put me on the stair monster. Why the Hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Belinda told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. She said some other shit too.
THURSDAY:
Belinda was waiting for me with her vampire-like teeth exposed as her thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late; it took me that long to tie my shoes.
Belinda took me to work out with dumbbells. When she was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. She sent another skinny bitch to find me
Then, as punishment, she put me on the rowing machine -- which I sank.
FRIDAY:
I hate that bitch Belinda more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic little cheerleader. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat her with it.
Belinda wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the damned barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich. The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher.
Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?
SATURDAY:
Belinda left a message on my answering machine in her grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing her made me want to smash the machine with my planner. However, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel.
SUNDAY:
I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my daughter (the little shit) will choose a gift for me that is fun -- like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!
Dear Diary,
For my birthday this year, my daughter (the dear) purchased a week of personal training at the local health club for me.
Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 44 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.
I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Belinda, who identified herself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear.
My daughter seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.
MONDAY:
Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Belinda waiting for me. She is something of a Greek goddess -- with blonde hair, dancing eyes and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!! Belinda gave me a tour and showed me the machines. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which she conducted her aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring! Belinda was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time she was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week!
TUESDAY:
I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door.
Belinda made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then she put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. Belinda's rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT! It's a whole new life for me.
WEDNESDAY:
The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot.
Belinda was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. Her voice is a little too perky for early in the morning and when she scolds, she gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying. My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Belinda put me on the stair monster. Why the Hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Belinda told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. She said some other shit too.
THURSDAY:
Belinda was waiting for me with her vampire-like teeth exposed as her thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late; it took me that long to tie my shoes.
Belinda took me to work out with dumbbells. When she was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. She sent another skinny bitch to find me
Then, as punishment, she put me on the rowing machine -- which I sank.
FRIDAY:
I hate that bitch Belinda more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic little cheerleader. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat her with it.
Belinda wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the damned barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich. The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher.
Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?
SATURDAY:
Belinda left a message on my answering machine in her grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing her made me want to smash the machine with my planner. However, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel.
SUNDAY:
I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my daughter (the little shit) will choose a gift for me that is fun -- like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Who's to Blame when Young Black Men Kill?
For nearly two weeks, the top story in my neck of the woods has been the brutal killing of a University of North Carolina senior named Eve Carson. By all accounts, this was a lovely young woman who was destined for great things.
Police have now apprehended two suspects in the case and, sadly, to no one's surprise, they were both African-American.
I used to be one of those people who said, “Never give up on a child because they all have potential.” I don’t say that anymore because there are young people out here who fear nothing and would harm you at the drop of a hat. There are young people out here who’ve never learned anything about respect, morals, values and what it means to be a law abiding citizen.
My daughter's boyfriend was gunned down the day after Christmas 2005 for taking up for his little sister who was being harassed by some boys on the city bus.
I’ll never forget that day. I was sitting in the newsroom waiting and hoping for something to happen because it was a slow news day and you can tell only so many “Shopping after Christmas” stories. Then I heard about the shooting at the mall on the police scanner. The first thing I thought was to call my daughter. She was at home safe. She said she knew her boyfriend was going to the mall so she was going to call him to see if he knew anything about it. I then called one of my girlfriends to tell her to stay away from the mall because there was a shooting out there. We were joking about the craziness of having a shooting at the mall. I then called some of my police contacts to see if I could get any inside information---before any of the other stations could find out anything. That’s when I learned that the young man who had been gunned down---shot in cold blood---MURDERED---was my daughter’s boyfriend, Quan. My daughter must’ve found out around the same time because when I called home I could hear her crying hysterically in the background. It was a surreal moment in time.
Do I blame this juvenile delinquent for killing an innocent young man on December 26, 2005? No---I blame his mother and grandmother and if you saw them on the day of the suspect’s first appearance in court, and the 'behavior" they displayed, you’d know why.
Some parents say there's nothing they can do with their children because they've gotten out of control. Try telling that to the loved ones of the victims who have been senselessly gunned down by that "out of control" behavior.
Police have now apprehended two suspects in the case and, sadly, to no one's surprise, they were both African-American.
I used to be one of those people who said, “Never give up on a child because they all have potential.” I don’t say that anymore because there are young people out here who fear nothing and would harm you at the drop of a hat. There are young people out here who’ve never learned anything about respect, morals, values and what it means to be a law abiding citizen.
My daughter's boyfriend was gunned down the day after Christmas 2005 for taking up for his little sister who was being harassed by some boys on the city bus.
I’ll never forget that day. I was sitting in the newsroom waiting and hoping for something to happen because it was a slow news day and you can tell only so many “Shopping after Christmas” stories. Then I heard about the shooting at the mall on the police scanner. The first thing I thought was to call my daughter. She was at home safe. She said she knew her boyfriend was going to the mall so she was going to call him to see if he knew anything about it. I then called one of my girlfriends to tell her to stay away from the mall because there was a shooting out there. We were joking about the craziness of having a shooting at the mall. I then called some of my police contacts to see if I could get any inside information---before any of the other stations could find out anything. That’s when I learned that the young man who had been gunned down---shot in cold blood---MURDERED---was my daughter’s boyfriend, Quan. My daughter must’ve found out around the same time because when I called home I could hear her crying hysterically in the background. It was a surreal moment in time.
Do I blame this juvenile delinquent for killing an innocent young man on December 26, 2005? No---I blame his mother and grandmother and if you saw them on the day of the suspect’s first appearance in court, and the 'behavior" they displayed, you’d know why.
Some parents say there's nothing they can do with their children because they've gotten out of control. Try telling that to the loved ones of the victims who have been senselessly gunned down by that "out of control" behavior.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
If Children Can Drink Wine, Why Can't a Baby Boomer Smoke Pot?
This story is courtesy of the Winston Salem Journal Newspaper:
If children can drink wine during Holy Communion, then Robert George Henry insists he should be able to smoke marijuana without being hassled by the cops.
Henry, a baby boomer from Fannettsburg, Pennsylvania, claims he is a rolling-paper-carrying member of the Hawaii Cannabis Ministry, a denomination devoted to the use of marijuana as a sacrament.
His right to smoke marijuanja for spiritual enlightenment is therefore protected under the Constitution, the 47-year-old claims in a motion that will prompt a legal battle in Cumberland County Court.
Henry is asking a judge to dismiss drunken-driving and marijuana possession charges filed by state police on grounds that his drug use is a constitutionally protected religious practice. On Tuesday, the judge postponed the case until April 16.
Could it be he is just reminiscing about his days as a member of the Drugs, Sex and Rock-n-Roll generation?
If children can drink wine during Holy Communion, then Robert George Henry insists he should be able to smoke marijuana without being hassled by the cops.
Henry, a baby boomer from Fannettsburg, Pennsylvania, claims he is a rolling-paper-carrying member of the Hawaii Cannabis Ministry, a denomination devoted to the use of marijuana as a sacrament.
His right to smoke marijuanja for spiritual enlightenment is therefore protected under the Constitution, the 47-year-old claims in a motion that will prompt a legal battle in Cumberland County Court.
Henry is asking a judge to dismiss drunken-driving and marijuana possession charges filed by state police on grounds that his drug use is a constitutionally protected religious practice. On Tuesday, the judge postponed the case until April 16.
Could it be he is just reminiscing about his days as a member of the Drugs, Sex and Rock-n-Roll generation?
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