It's March and the time for travel for those who are retired is fast approaching. Avoid families by traveling while they are still in school and avoid higher prices by not traveling during peak times.
And there are inexpensive places to stay if you're on a budget. Consider an elderhostel especially in a Road Scholar Program. Road Scholar is the world’s largest educational travel organization for adults 55 and older. A non-profit association that has been organizing itineraries for over 30 years, its expert instructors give in-depth lectures, and lead thrilling field trips and excursions in over 10,000 programs in more than 90 countries.
The educational programs delve into subjects including religion, culture, art, food, language, literature, music and history. Participants are led by university professors, academic specialists, museum professionals, and local scholars. There is no homework or exams, but the program prides itself on challenging exploration, great camaraderie, and probing discussions that encourage sharing new ideas and experiences.
The types of programs are varied. “Exploring North America” allows participants to pursue adventure within the borders. Imagine hiking through the Grand Canyon, seeing the Mississippi from the deck of a paddle boat or investigating black holes at the Space Center in Houston.
Travel to the corners of the world with the international program. Visit Scandinavian palaces, greet Moroccan shamans in Africa, or cross into the Greek Isles to savor Mediterranean cuisine. A cruise ship becomes the classroom in the “Adventures Afloat” program, and if giving service is an interest, there are programs offering the opportunity to help in struggling communities internationally or in the United States.
Lodging is simple but comfortable and can be in hotels, inns, and retreat centers, not just in dorms on college campuses. 95% of the time, rooms are private and have their own bathroom. The cut-rate costs for accommodations, three-course meals, gratuities, insurance, lectures, field trips and cultural excursions are all included.
The value is extraordinary given the excellence of the program and the superior quality of service provided by a well-trained staff that attends to the participant’s special needs and modifies programs for those who are disabled.
Call 877-426-8056 or visit www.roadscholar.org for information about the various programs and to register for your great adventure.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Get PUMPED
Are you feeling the same horror at the gas pump that I am? I mean, really, just how high can the prices go and what can we do about it?
Well there are several ways to optimize how much you can get into your tank. Those tips are below:
1. Only buy or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cold. All service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground; the colder the ground, the more dense the gasoline. When it gets warmer gasoline expands, so when you buy in the afternoon or in the evening....your gallon is not exactly a gallon.
2. When you're filling up, do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast mode. If you look, you will see that the trigger has three stages: low, middle and high. You should be pumping on low mode, thereby minimizing the vapors that are created while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapor return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some of the liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapor.
3. One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL. The reason for this is the more gas you have in your tank the less air occupying its empty space.
4. If there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up; the gasoline is being stirred up as it is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom.
________________________________________________________
Though these are all great tips, I am still a bit confused about this issue of skyrocketing prices. We get three quarters of our fuel from Canada, so why does the ousting of these maniacs in the Middle East cause a rise in our prices? It suggests that our big companies are taking advantage. What can we do about that? Well I fear not a gas boycott for one day.
Halliburton retiree and an engineer, Phillip Hollsworth offered this fabulous idea for getting gas down to $1.30 a gallon.
"Now that the oil companies and the OPEC nations have conditioned us to think that the cost of a gallon of gas is CHEAP at $1.50 - $1.75, we need to take aggressive action to teach them that BUYERS control the marketplace..not sellers.
The only way we are going to see the price of gas come down is if we hit someone in the pocketbook by not purchasing their gas! And, we can do that WITHOUT hurting ourselves.
How? Since we all rely on our cars, we can't just stop buying gas. But we CAN have an impact on gas prices if we all act together to force a price war.
Here's the idea: For the rest of this year, DON'T purchase ANY gasoline from the two biggest companies (which now are one), EXXON and MOBIL.
If they are not selling any gas, they will be inclined to reduce their prices. If they reduce their prices, the other companies will have to follow suit."
I am already following his suggestion, despite the fact that I own Exxon stock. I think it is our only shot, but we all have to do it and we have to start doing it immediately.
Well there are several ways to optimize how much you can get into your tank. Those tips are below:
1. Only buy or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cold. All service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground; the colder the ground, the more dense the gasoline. When it gets warmer gasoline expands, so when you buy in the afternoon or in the evening....your gallon is not exactly a gallon.
2. When you're filling up, do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast mode. If you look, you will see that the trigger has three stages: low, middle and high. You should be pumping on low mode, thereby minimizing the vapors that are created while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapor return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some of the liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapor.
3. One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL. The reason for this is the more gas you have in your tank the less air occupying its empty space.
4. If there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up; the gasoline is being stirred up as it is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom.
________________________________________________________
Though these are all great tips, I am still a bit confused about this issue of skyrocketing prices. We get three quarters of our fuel from Canada, so why does the ousting of these maniacs in the Middle East cause a rise in our prices? It suggests that our big companies are taking advantage. What can we do about that? Well I fear not a gas boycott for one day.
Halliburton retiree and an engineer, Phillip Hollsworth offered this fabulous idea for getting gas down to $1.30 a gallon.
"Now that the oil companies and the OPEC nations have conditioned us to think that the cost of a gallon of gas is CHEAP at $1.50 - $1.75, we need to take aggressive action to teach them that BUYERS control the marketplace..not sellers.
The only way we are going to see the price of gas come down is if we hit someone in the pocketbook by not purchasing their gas! And, we can do that WITHOUT hurting ourselves.
How? Since we all rely on our cars, we can't just stop buying gas. But we CAN have an impact on gas prices if we all act together to force a price war.
Here's the idea: For the rest of this year, DON'T purchase ANY gasoline from the two biggest companies (which now are one), EXXON and MOBIL.
If they are not selling any gas, they will be inclined to reduce their prices. If they reduce their prices, the other companies will have to follow suit."
I am already following his suggestion, despite the fact that I own Exxon stock. I think it is our only shot, but we all have to do it and we have to start doing it immediately.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Abusing the Aged
This week screen legend Mickey Rooney, now 90 years old, testified before Congress that he had been abused by a caregiver and stolen from by a family member.
Even those we imagine are immune from the problems of the common man are vulnerable when they grow old, and it is a lesson to us all that in the end we can be very much alone in protecting our ourselves and our interests when we are the least able.
Just as several generations living under one roof is no longer the norm, the day for depending on children to care for aging parents is fast becoming a thing of the past as well.
To avoid being at risk or taken advantage of, early planning is paramount. It is critical to be prepared emotionally and financially for the future and to safeguard your precious resources even from family members who might not have your best interests at heart.
The key is to do this planning before you are sick, vulnerable or dependent, and you must create legal documents that make your wishes clear. Also be sure to choose professionals you trust to enforce those wishes. Refer to my book Living Agelessly for the documents you need and the legal resources available.
If you begin to have concerns about your health, consider all your options immediately. Research in-home care services and visit assisted living centers that ultimately offer nursing services, and remember that the best facilities have waiting lists. Decide what you want and make arrangements early. Do not wait until your health fails. Protect yourself in every way you can before you become vulnerable.
Elder abuse is rampant in our society. We should be safeguarding ourselves and watching out for others. As a result of Mickey Rooney’s testimony, Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin has proposed that an Office of Elder Justice be established within the Justice Department, and though I am not usually a proponent of more government, I think we should all support any effort to resolve this crisis and protect the aged.
Don't miss reading this true story below.
Crabby Old Woman
When an old lady died in the geriatric ward of a small hospital near Dundee Scotland, it was believed that she had nothing left of any value.
Later, when the nurses were going through her meager possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital. One nurse took her copy to Ireland.
The old lady's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the News Magazine of the North Ireland Association for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on her simple, but eloquent, poem. And this little old Scottish lady, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this "anonymous" poem.
What are you thinking,..... When you're looking at me?
A crabby old woman,............. Not very wise,
Uncertain of habit,.............. With faraway eyes?
Who dribbles her food,............. And makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice,..... "I do wish you'd try!"
Who seems not to notice,....... The things that you do,
And forever is losing,............. A stocking or shoe?
Who, resisting or not,.............. Lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding,....... The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking?.... Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse,.....You're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am,............... As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding,......... As I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of ten,...........With a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters,.............. Who love one another.
A young girl of sixteen,...... With wings on her feet.
Dreaming that soon now,.......... A lover she'll meet.
A bride soon at twenty,.......... My heart gives a leap,
Remembering the vows,........... That I promised to keep.
At twenty-five now,.............. I have young of my own,
Who need me to guide,........ And a secure, happy home.
A woman of thirty,................ My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other,............. With ties that should last.
At forty, my young sons,........ Have grown and are gone,
But my man's beside me,........... To see I don't mourn
At fifty once more,............. Babies play round my knee,
Again we know children,........ My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me,......... My husband is dead,
I look at the future,............ I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing,....... Young of their own,
And I think of the years,....... And the love that I've known.
I'm now an old woman,............. And nature is cruel;
'Tis jest to make old age,............ Look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles,............. Grace and vigor depart,
There is now a stone,.............. Where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass,....... A young girl still dwells,
And now and again,............. My battered heart swells.
Even those we imagine are immune from the problems of the common man are vulnerable when they grow old, and it is a lesson to us all that in the end we can be very much alone in protecting our ourselves and our interests when we are the least able.
Just as several generations living under one roof is no longer the norm, the day for depending on children to care for aging parents is fast becoming a thing of the past as well.
To avoid being at risk or taken advantage of, early planning is paramount. It is critical to be prepared emotionally and financially for the future and to safeguard your precious resources even from family members who might not have your best interests at heart.
The key is to do this planning before you are sick, vulnerable or dependent, and you must create legal documents that make your wishes clear. Also be sure to choose professionals you trust to enforce those wishes. Refer to my book Living Agelessly for the documents you need and the legal resources available.
If you begin to have concerns about your health, consider all your options immediately. Research in-home care services and visit assisted living centers that ultimately offer nursing services, and remember that the best facilities have waiting lists. Decide what you want and make arrangements early. Do not wait until your health fails. Protect yourself in every way you can before you become vulnerable.
Elder abuse is rampant in our society. We should be safeguarding ourselves and watching out for others. As a result of Mickey Rooney’s testimony, Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin has proposed that an Office of Elder Justice be established within the Justice Department, and though I am not usually a proponent of more government, I think we should all support any effort to resolve this crisis and protect the aged.
Don't miss reading this true story below.
Crabby Old Woman
When an old lady died in the geriatric ward of a small hospital near Dundee Scotland, it was believed that she had nothing left of any value.
Later, when the nurses were going through her meager possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital. One nurse took her copy to Ireland.
The old lady's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the News Magazine of the North Ireland Association for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on her simple, but eloquent, poem. And this little old Scottish lady, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this "anonymous" poem.
What are you thinking,..... When you're looking at me?
A crabby old woman,............. Not very wise,
Uncertain of habit,.............. With faraway eyes?
Who dribbles her food,............. And makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice,..... "I do wish you'd try!"
Who seems not to notice,....... The things that you do,
And forever is losing,............. A stocking or shoe?
Who, resisting or not,.............. Lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding,....... The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking?.... Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse,.....You're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am,............... As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding,......... As I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of ten,...........With a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters,.............. Who love one another.
A young girl of sixteen,...... With wings on her feet.
Dreaming that soon now,.......... A lover she'll meet.
A bride soon at twenty,.......... My heart gives a leap,
Remembering the vows,........... That I promised to keep.
At twenty-five now,.............. I have young of my own,
Who need me to guide,........ And a secure, happy home.
A woman of thirty,................ My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other,............. With ties that should last.
At forty, my young sons,........ Have grown and are gone,
But my man's beside me,........... To see I don't mourn
At fifty once more,............. Babies play round my knee,
Again we know children,........ My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me,......... My husband is dead,
I look at the future,............ I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing,....... Young of their own,
And I think of the years,....... And the love that I've known.
I'm now an old woman,............. And nature is cruel;
'Tis jest to make old age,............ Look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles,............. Grace and vigor depart,
There is now a stone,.............. Where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass,....... A young girl still dwells,
And now and again,............. My battered heart swells.
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