Have you planned for your retirement?

Have you planned for your retirement?  It doesn’t matter your age. You have to be prepared and plan well in advance now that many people retire earlier and live longer. It seems likely that the majority of the population will spend much of their adult life in retirement while remaining physically and mentally active for a good deal of this time. Yet some people approach this major period of their lives with no idea of how they are going to manage financially or with what activities they will fill their new free time. And, don’t leave your 401Ks with your former employers! I just heard that on TV the other day. Not that I have a 401K but I did once and lost it all at the end!

Financial planning for your retirement is essential. I sure wish I did this in my twenties! Of course, with the roller coaster rides of the stock market……..there were the beautiful highs and then the depressing lows. The economy is not stable.  Also, raising children, there is never enough money for their needs whether necessity or pleasure.

Growing old with your spouse, friends, relatives and neighbors are one of the best recipes for a happy old age. Think about this before moving to another area when you retire. I know now, I would have never moved from my roots.

You might find it difficult to make new friends and fit into a new community, as you become less active. I’m blessed with wonderful friends but I have become less active for sure, I guess that comes with the territory of widowhood and not being a couple anymore.

You have to help preserve good health into retirement, you should follow an active lifestyle like walking, climbing stairs rather than using the elevator…..but I sure wish I had an elevator today…….Ugh. The days of going grocery shopping and carrying all those heavy bags up and down the stairs can be exhausting and painful for my sore back!

It’s not unusual nowadays for 70-80 year olds to go out jogging or to play tennis or at the Silver Sneakers class at the gym which I absolutely love and I’m 65 and when I started this class, I couldn’t keep up with them! LOL

So, start preparing for retirement regardless of your age! Pay yourself first and put that savings away as time goes by so fast and it gets scary with the cost of living rising and the cost of medical expenses that are so high. I know only too well how tempting it is when payday rolls around and you march straight to the Mall and shop away.

Now, how many pairs of shoes do I actually need? I don’t even want to tell you the count. LOL But, I sure do love my shoes and handbags. Now, it is sneakers and gym clothes! Goodbye are the days of glam and glitter! I miss those days!

It is hard to make that dollar stretch on a social security check so start saving now!  It is important to remember that Medicare will not cover all your needs.  When you are younger, these thoughts don't enter your mind..........so take some advice and start saving now!

My progress on the Vegan Diet with a twist!

Ever since that Medicare Card came in the mail, my second home is the doctor's office!  What happened?

At first, yes it is very difficult to stop eating meat and dairy and no alcohol.

We are addicted to cheese, dairy and meats. When I was first told to do this Vegan diet by my doctor, I looked at it as a serious problem to deal with. I went through a phase of wanting and craving and then it's over. How long that goes on depends on the people around you and your lifestyle.

Eventually you start to feel better and better, and have more energy than you've ever felt. Foods don't weigh you down anymore. Everything digests as it should. You start losing fat and gaining muscle tone.

As time passes, cheese and meat starts to look like lard! I've learned to make a very good vegetable pizza without any cheese.....not even the Vegan cheeses........I don't like them at all. I also don't like the Tofu which people use to make fake looking chicken and meat dishes........Ugh.

I was told that I could have a piece of fish once in a while. Fish was never one of my favorite foods....I miss a veal cutlet and my meatballs in my Sunday gravy.  I only ate steak once every two weeks or so. Kansas City Steaks sells an American Heart Association steak that is only 4 oz. and less grams of fat than the veggie burgers....go figure.

I do have to ask my doctor if I can go back on my muli-vitamin, as he took me off all meds including over the counter meds and supplements to try and find the culprit that is messing with my lab work. So far, no luck and going on 7 months of this process and elimination..ugh...so frustrating.

The Gastro Specialist that I was sent to told me I could go on a low fat diet, so I was excited and stopped at the Market on the way home and bought a boneless, skinless chicken breast to introduce back into regular food. Well, I had a super stomach ache that night..........I was warned that my tummy may not like the animal fats again and that this would happen.

Tilapia was a bit easier on my stomach. Whew.......wish my doctor could resolve this issue soon. I also added three more days to my exercise routine.

Eating off the land is a lot easier, as you don't have to read labels as there are none on fruits and fresh vegetables!

So, I think I'm more of a Vegetarian now than a true Vegan!  You would think it would be cheaper to just eat fruits and vegetables but it is not.  As, most of these fruits and veggies should be organic to make sure you are not getting pesticides in your body.

I still look forward to my Silver Sneakers Classes three days a week and I have added some walking on the other days to hopefully lose more weight and tackle this blood work issues that are giving me great concern.

I have a sister-in-law that a few years back went through the same high liver enzymes and she started to drink lots of green tea and she now has normal results on her lab tests.  So, of course, you know I went out to buy two huge boxes of Green Tea!  And, ordered Green Tea Kcups for my Keurig brewer!

I'm certainly trying!  I've shed a few pounds, so that is great but I need to lose more.   I think I need a drink! LOL

Hugs, Rose

4th of July!

American Tribute July 4th

CLICK ON THE ABOVE TO VIEW

Happy Father's Day!

Clutter, Clutter, Clutter! Cleaning, Cleaning, Cleaning!

I started with my medicine cabinets…trashing old expired medicines, giving away stacks of books and clothes I never wear. And, why am I saving Christmas cards from years ago (well, I do not throw away cards from my children), piles of papers, oh and the tower of magazines and catalogs stacked on my den floor next to where I sit on the couch and drawers full of who knows what. It’s called clutter, clutter and more clutter and the more it collects the less I wanted to deal with the mess. I miss my home office and file cabinet but no room for one now.  I even bought a junk drawer organizer and it is now overflowing and looks like a typical junk drawer again!

Eliminating clutter and did I mention the (dust) in areas where it is hard to get to?  Oh my.....makes me feel good to clean up this mess. Don't get the wrong impression, I'm not a slob or have a dirty house, I just need more space.  I just don’t want anymore of anxiety and hours of frustration added to my day, as I pull wrinkled clothes from my closet because they’re jammed in there so tight. I want to regain my space back which is hard to do in a very small condo.  I have tons of clothes that are too small and believe it or not some are too big.........why am I saving this stuff?  I think it's because I see dollar signs dumping them......not so much that I think I will fit into that size 8 again.......when you grow up living in hand me downs from a large family.......my clothes and shoes mean a great deal to me because I worked hard to be able to purchase them in the first place.

I started clearing out my clutter over the weekend. I reminded myself to start small, by clearing out one drawer in my dresser, one closet, or one shelf and started in my bedroom first. The last time I did this, I was so overwhelmed and stopped half way through the process as I  lacked the motivation to complete the unpleasant task with the excuse that I ran out of large green trash bags to dispose of all the stuff I no longer need.

I used to be more organized when I lived in a larger home and had a place for everything! I have to get my power back and stop fighting against what I have to do. I have been procrastinating and dreading and avoiding this awful task of decluttering as I did this just a few years back and I guess I accumulated more clutter again!

The first change I have to do is to change my attitude. And, that can be done without any bending or lifting or throwing stuff in a trash bag……….then that other awful chore of carrying all this stuff to the dumpster.

I realized that changing my attitude to accomplish and complete the task surely helps.  Only one problem……about six months from now………there is more CLUTTER AGAIN! I went through this last year and only made a mild dent. Which to me means, I need more SPACE or I just have to stop shopping to fill in the spaces I just cleared!  LOL

Sex and the City 2

This is a Movie for entertaining and if you think you aren't going to be, then don't go see it. The movie critics get paid to recommend a selection of films for the Movies section of your Newspaper. The recommendations are based solely on that critic's personal opinion of the film.

Trust me, your opinion is the only opinion that counts!  I never went to see a movie based on the opinion of a critic.  And, they were sooooooooooooo wrong on this one!  This movie was fabulous!

With that said, I absolutely loved, loved this movie……….the actors,  the clothes, the shoes, the laughter……….Oh and MR. BIG!  He had me drooling as always!  LOL

The movie started off with the Gay Wedding which was out of this world and the end of the movie was my favorite part!  I also, loved everything in between!

It is a must see!  And, don’t forget your Cosmopolitan!

My Experience going Vegan!

Well, since my last lab work at the doctor's office for a regular routine exam with a new Primary doctor, my results were totally off the charts! I was quite disturbed by this. He took me off my statins and all vitamins and suggested the Vegan Diet for six weeks, as a process of elimination to find the culprit of why my numbers on my blood work are out of whack!

Sigh, the first week without any meat was o.k. But no dairy definitely added more frustration, as I can't start my day off without cream in my coffee in the morning, so I began to read about antibiotics in poultry and other diseases of fish, cow's milk, etc. Oh my.......what is there left to eat? That soy stuff doesn't do it for me. Forget about Tofu.....not my favorite thing. (it just won't go down)

I read that a Vegan is a very strict vegetarian who does not choose to eat or use any animal products at all, from dairy and eggs to leather, wool and honey. While this is a major transition from my eating habits and forget about the leather, wool and honey.............do you think I would actually give up my Gucci, Prada, and Coach????? I wear wool when up north for warmth........I love honey in my tea when I don't feel good. Who started this Vegan stuff???? I can understand a Vegetarian more than I can understand a Vegan.

The doctor suggested I purchase the book "Eat to Live" and use it as guidance and understanding eating off the land.

Grocery shopping is a challenge and exhausting reading labels. I take a list of all animal ingredients to avoid, and look for them on the label. There are hidden animal products in an amazing variety of foods, so this was depressing and time consuming for me.

I started to look at my natural foods I used to eat and the ingredients were short and understandable, I didn't have to figure anything out whether the product came from an animal or not.

I was getting so frustrated trying to modify my own recipes. Most non-vegan recipes can be made vegan by substituting some of the products using what they call simple tricks like replacing eggs with cornstarch and water in baked goods. Most introductory to Vegan sites online explain these tricks. Those tricks don't make your own recipes taste the same and, therefore, I'm not enjoying my food!

The cravings for normal food is overwhelming. Eating a salad twice a day is so boring...............tons of fruit daily, I'm really have a hard time with and you cannot substitute it with juice as your fruit. I tried to explore a variety of vegan food that is available in "WholeFoods", the pricey organic store.

I hate to tell you the amount of  money I wasted on food that tasted like cardboard and ended up throwing away or down the disposal. I love vegetables but having it for your main course is so different than having it as a side on your plate!

Did I forget to mention the doctor said no alcohol........that means no wine with my dinner! He dare say that to an Italian?

Well, two weeks have gone by and I spent a great deal of money at Wholefoods and I have lost 12 pounds.......that part is great but I'm miserable. I want a pizza, I want a veal cutlet, I want to smell my Sunday gravy simmering on the stove with meatballs and sausages!

 I want my wine and a visit from Johnny Walker or Mr. Dewars  now and then would be lovely.

Did I forget to mention the gas that is associated with being a Vegan? LOL  My next lab work is Tuesday and I'm praying for a major improvement in the test results!

Happy Mother's Day

M - O - T - H - E - R

Author: Howard Johnson

"M" is for the million things she gave me,

"O" means only that she's growing old,

"T" is for the tears she shed to save me,

"H" is for her heart of purest gold;

"E" is for her eyes, with love-light shining,

"R" means right, and right she'll always be,

Put them all together, they spell

"MOTHER,"

A word that means the world to me

If all my wishes came true!

We all dream and wish for things that we may never have……….some of us have achieved greatness and attained the good life by good old hard work and some by born with a silver spoon.

But if all my wishes came true, would my life be perfect?

Taking into account of all the people I have met throughout the years, and viewing the celebrities on TV…..people who have what they want are all over rehab centers, divorce courts and jails! Hmmmmmmmmmm! Now they call cheating on their spouse a sickness and there is a special rehab for that. It’s like a new app for your fancy IPhone. Bull crap on that theory!

I believe being blessed with good fortune has side effects just like medications you see advertised on TV. Scary to hear that the medication you selected and/or advised to take by your doctor can kill you! Basically, any external thing we eat and/or breath in, we depend on to make us feel good has the power to make us feel bad. It’s all about making good choices. Some are not easy but for the most part, we all know right from wrong so no excuses! A lot comes from maturity and wisdom.  It is your duty to research and take good care of yourself.

Ever notice when you stop depending on tangible rewards, they often materialize somehow. I guess it is the Law of Attraction. Ever pay attention to when your body tenses or relaxes, it is telling you something………it is telling you to consider choices you have to make whether a simple choice or a major decision. Listen! Instead of weighing pros and cons, notice your physical reaction to each option. You will then make the right choice.

Many of us have dreamed of winning the lottery or fantasized about how happy we would be if only we had great wealth.

Compared to the large bulk of the world, we are already enormously wealthy. We have possessions that most people only dream of, and access to opportunities that many women can hardly even fathom. I have food in the fridge, clothes on my back and a roof over my head. Most of us have the wealth that others only dream about.  I'm trying real hard to stay healthy.  I've had a few medical concerns and with the help from my doctor, I'm working on it.  Gosh, it is hard to tell an Italian cook to turn into a Vegan!

I can’t help but feel blessed when I look at life through my window of gratitude!

What's New on TV!------ What's New with Me!

What’s New on TV?


TV has been boring the hell out of me. I love “Dancing with the Stars” because I’m a ballroom dancer but when the season ends……I’m searching for something of interest to keep me company. Insomniacs need something to do during the wee hours of the morning when the entire world is sleeping and that includes a lot of channel surfing and finding a good book to read!

Here are my favorite pics so far on Dancing with the Stars:

“The Marriage Ref” which premiered on NBC in March is quite entertaining. It is a sort of stand-up/reality TV show that features clips of real couples in real verbal struggles. Plus, it has a panel of celebrity “experts” and Tom Papa, who is the referee and who ultimately declares the husband or wife in each standoff the winner.

If you’ve seen the show, you already know that the petty stupid issues of other people’s lives provide its share of chuckles. For example, the husband that insists his Harley requires a place in the living room instead of being parked outside! Or, the husband that loves his dog so much but the dog hates and bites the wife!

Some of these people have a screw loose for sure! The celebrities are a hoot with their comments.

Seinfield said the idea for this show started when he had a spat with his wife and thought a ref would be good to see it through another person’s perspective to solve marital disputes.

I think Jerry Seinfield has another winner here! I do like shows that make me laugh. You need some chuckles after seeing the depressing News every night.

Well, what's new with me?.........

not much. I'm still enjoying my Silver Sneakers classes at the gym. Actually, I truly enjoy it very much. I'm motivated and I can now bend down and pick something up without being stuck to the floor! LOL

The weather has improved so I also incorporate my acqua aerobics in my pool which is refreshing and back in the house in time to watch Dr. Oz! He is the man! My favorite doctor!

I have a nurse friend that worked with Dr. Oz in New York when he was just known as Mehmet! That was many years ago when she first graduated Nursing School. Who, knew he would be such an amazing doctor and have his own TV show today.

My social life needs to be upgraded! I hardly ever go out much in the evenings anymore. I really need to push myself and enjoy more.

My new Primary Care doctor saw some things in my blood work that requires some serious attention! Ugh! This has been going on for several months now. Tough getting older. I'm trying real hard to eat right, exercise and be healthy. Thank goodness I stopped smoking 3 years and three months ago! So, if any of you out there are still smoking...........please stop! Stop eating unhealthy foods, sugar and fatty foods. My doctor now wants me to eat living off the land. Being a Vegan is not easy, as I like meat and dairy. Hey, take notice.....I have the map of Italy on my face!  I like good Italian food so this is going to be a challenge for me.  I'm hating it already!

Give yourself the gift of life.

The "To Do" List Never Ends!

I miss having a man around the house to handle my “To Do” list to complete some major and minor home repairs which would certainly go easy on my wallet. It is understandable that maintenance and repairs are necessary but I guess I was spoiled when living in New England and coming from such a large family.......most of the men in my family always were able to handle most repairs for me. Purchasing an item is usually not bad, it is the labor that is very costly and that is what I can't afford.

We all know that we can pay our auto mechanics a little now for routine service, or pay them a lot later for a major repair. The same idea holds true for your air conditioner or heating unit. If you don't service your air conditioner or heat pump regularly, you'll find yourself uncomfortable and broke.

I have been real good replacing my a/c filters faithfully (I have my computer to remind me with an alert feature) and I was also instructed by an a/c tech to add a little white vinegar in the air handler in that back narrow pan about every 90 days. And, I call for a maintenance service once a year. This year, however, I was just about to make that call and the other night my a/c was not running properly. It was running all night long yet the condenser outside was not moving so I knew something was wrong. I was beginning to sweat and very uncomfortable to say the least. I like to keep my house “meat locker” cold as I overheat easily. Most women out there understand! Of course this happened during the night so I tried to sleep with three fans facing me in bed! I did not sleep very well to say the least. My insomnia is an issue to begin with but I have to be cool at all times.

Well, I called my a/c company that provides high quality work and comes within a reasonable time, so that discomfort is not too bad. Hey, I live in Florida so it’s important to have the a/c working properly.

This maintenance visit was disturbing; as I was informed I need a new condenser outside. Heck, it is 9 years old but I always thought they would last a good 12-14 years!

Here is the whopping price $1,795.00! Yikes! I also included the One Year Maintenance Agreement so I wouldn’t forget to call for the twice a year maintenance which was another $150. raising my bill to $1,945.00. Holy Crapola! Looks like I won’t be doing any Happy Hours for a while. I don’t remember the last time I’ve been to the Mall to treat myself to something new………….Ugh. I have no choice, so the installation is tomorrow morning.

I’ll officially get it off my mind but I have not recovered yet from my recently replaced water heater last December and my new washer/dryer last August. It never ends!

Sometimes, I wonder if it would be better to rent than own? (provided you would have a very good landlord) I’m in a small condo and for the most part, I enjoy it. And, there are times; I do get annoyed with the Condo Commandos! That is when I miss owning my own home and I’m the solo commando of my domain! LOL Plus, the rents today are more than my social security check!!!!! What would I do?

Sunshine Award---come see if you were picked!

Thank you to Val from "Joy in the Rain" for bestowing this Award to me.  The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers who have positivity created and  inspired others in the blogesphere!

The "rules" have changed a little through time. I am choosing my own rules. LOL Val chose 7 Bloggers and I have chosen 12. It was difficult to narrow down, as I feel mostly everyone deserves this Award.

Place the Sunshine Award on your Blog, either in your text or on your sidebar.  Send this Award to whom ever you feel deserves it.

List the bloggers you feel deserve this Award so others can view their Blog. And, if you find the time, notify the bloggers you have chosen!  Val listed 7 things about herself.  I already listed 100 things about myself in an older blog! So, there isn't much more to add about me! LOL

Please enjoy viewing the blogs listed below:

http://vtriders.blogspot.com/
(Michelle)

http://jimsulliv3.blogspot.com/
 (Jimmy Sullivan)

http://vagabondjourneys.blogspot.com/
 (DB)

http://shipslog-jack.blogspot.com/
 (Jack & Sherry)

http://mysouthernhome.blogspot.com/
 (Sonya)

http://garnett109.blogspot.com/
 (My Brain is in Pain)

http://joyintherain-val.blogspot.com/
 (Val)

http://nutwoodjunction.blogspot.com/
 (Beth)

http://buckoclown.blogspot.com/
 (Beth's Hubby)

http://onyama.blogspot.com/
 ('On Ya'-Ma)

http://frenchessence.blogspot.com/
 (Vickie)

http://boylerpf.blogspot.com/
(Alicia)