What did you have for breakfast this morning? Or maybe for lunch or even dinner yesterday? Was it oatmeal? Not just a breakfast food anymore, I’m writing to tell you that oatmeal is the new… Meal you can eat any time. And since National Oatmeal Day has recently passed, it’s not too late to tell you why. While on a very informative press trip late last month (that’s when I tried paddle … [Read more...] about Oatmeal: It’s Not Just For Breakfast
Current Obsessions
Why Smiling Feels So Good
I've never really been fully aware of my facial expressions until I recently caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I wasn't feeling particularly gloomy or angry or even a wee bit sad. But the mirror reflected otherwise. The corners of my mouth were turned downward and anyone who didn't know me might think I was unhappy, unfriendly, annoyed, or a combination of all three. Why did I look so glum … [Read more...] about Why Smiling Feels So Good
Moving Past Our Fears
Last weekend, while on a press trip in Sag Harbor, New York, I did something I never thought I'd do. I'd watched other people do it from a distance, amazed at their bravery, incredulous that they could so easily do something that I found absolutely terrifying. I kept saying never. Nope, not me! Not doing it! But then there was that moment...that brief moment that my fear moved into that tiny … [Read more...] about Moving Past Our Fears
Keeping Up is Hard To Do
If you’re old enough to remember that old saying “Keeping up with the Joneses,” you’re old enough to understand how hard it has become to really keep up. But I’m not talking about the Jonses any longer. That’s old news. I’m talking about keeping up with the wild pace of technology. My father (may he rest in peace), at 89, taught himself to use a computer. But then again, he was always handy … [Read more...] about Keeping Up is Hard To Do
Who Needs to Think? We all do.
I have a lot of energy. Some might call it restlessness. Or ants in the pants. There's a yiddish word for that: it's spelled "spilkes" - pronounced "shpil-kis." As I get older, I don't seem to lose that so-called restlessness. And if I think about when it is at its all-time peak, there are a couple of things that come to mind: When the weather is warm. I stay holed up all winter; who wants to be … [Read more...] about Who Needs to Think? We all do.
Where Have You Been?
You probably want to ask me that question. Or maybe you don't. If not, I promise not to be insulted. But just in case you were wondering why I haven't written in so long...I've been busy. Writing. That's not to say that this blog isn't considered "writing," it's just that unfortunately, with the other "writing" being PAID writing, my blog has to take a so-called back seat. What can I … [Read more...] about Where Have You Been?
Walking: Why Every Step is Special
If you know me, you probably wouldn't be surprised to hear me say that I'm the opposite of a couch potato. I'm of the why-sit-when-you-can-stand variety. In fact, since moving from my house to an apartment, the thing I miss most are my high kitchen countertops which allowed me to stand while working on my computer; perching my laptop on the counters gave me the perfect eye level view. Damn you, … [Read more...] about Walking: Why Every Step is Special
Do You Moan and Groan?
Or just put up and shut up? I got the best phone call this at around 8:00 this morning from my older son Jonathan. (Of course. when the phone rang that early, my first inclination was to think "Uh, oh. What's wrong??" But that's just...me. Or a lot of us, most likely). It went something like this: "Mom, a woman got into the elevator and another woman asked her 'how are you?' Oy, she said, my … [Read more...] about Do You Moan and Groan?
A Letter To My Sun (and a giveaway!)
Dearest Sun, You've always been my bright star, the center of my own personal solar system, the source of my energy. When you're not out, I feel SAD. The dark days make me lonely for you. But, as I became an adult, it was time to stop worshipping you - at least for extended periods of time. I'm "allowed" to worship you for about 10 minutes, to get my all-important dose of Vitamin D (to help my … [Read more...] about A Letter To My Sun (and a giveaway!)
It’s a Reading Glasses Giveaway!
It’s the rare – and lucky - boomer who can get away without needing reading glasses. These are the years when our near-range vision goes blurry. Called presbyopia, it's the progressive deterioration of near vision that you find you're losing around the age of 45. And since I’m the rule, rather than the exception, over the years I’ve managed to build up quite an inventory of reading … [Read more...] about It’s a Reading Glasses Giveaway!