Ready or not, here it comes!

Whether high tech changes are good or bad depends in part on how we adapt to them. But, ready or not, here they come.

I personally can’t imagine the world without the Post Office but I surely see it coming soon. They are so deeply in financial trouble that there is probably no way to sustain it long term. E-mail, Fed Ex, and UPS have just about wiped out the minimum revenue needed to keep the post office alive. Most of us pay our bills online these days and the mailbox is just filled with junk mail.

The end of reading most Newspapers is coming. I now read mine online. It was just a thing to do after retirement and trying to cut back on expenses. But I have noticed that the younger generation simply doesn't read the newspaper. I do feel bad that so many people will be unemployed because of our new high tech way of life. I still miss the “Milk Man”.

I no longer purchase Magazines either.

No, I have not given up the physical book yet for the “Kindle”. I still love going to my local library to select a few books to read.

I’m considering dropping my landline and just keep my cell phone but I get a little uncomfortable of letting go of it just yet. All the cell phone companies will let you call customers using the same cell provider for no charge against your minutes but then again not everyone is on the same provider!

I’m upset that my CD player stopped working. I had the 6 CD changer which I loved. I have invested a great deal of money on CDs to enjoy my personal selection of music. Try and find a CD player today………….I truly don’t want to buy an IPOD.

But I do miss my music especially when I’m doing my housework or cooking.  There is the option for the very expensive "Bose" but who can afford it and it is quite pricey should it breakdown leaving you still searching for a CD player?????

I’m very much aware that most of my prize possessions I own today may not even be around in the future. Today my computer stores my photos, music, graphics, blogs and documents.

We live in a virtual cyberspace world, you can access your music or your books, or your whatever from any laptop or handheld device. You can purchase just about anything you want or need via the computer or your fancy phone. That's the good news.

But, will you actually have any of this "stuff" if it disappears at any moment in a big "Poof?" Will most of the things in our lives be disposable? It makes you want a backup system and pull out that photo album, grab a book from the shelf, or open up a CD case and pull out the insert.

We no longer have privacy…that is gone. It's been gone for a long time. There are cameras on the street, in most of the buildings, and even built into your computer and cell phone. But you can be sure that 24/7, "They" know who you are and where you are, right down to the GPS. We are constantly being put in a position to keep buying the same concept but in a different package over and over again.

As much as I love my computer, the “simple” life was comforting and certainly less expensive. We are left with the memories!

Tips for Staying Young!

Scams!

What’s with all the scams on the Internet Lately!  Yikes!

First, I get a phone call from a friend to inform me that her computer had been compromised and her contact list was snatched.  Well, I did receive an email and many others did as well that she was stranded in Spain and needs money!

Then not that long ago, a family member called me to say that a message keeps flashing on the computer screen “Warning” Your system requires immediate anti-virus scan.”  A free scan is offered.  What do you do?

Well, I personally saw that flashing message too.  I recalled reading somewhere to DO NOT CLICK ON IT ANYWHERE NOT EVEN DO NOT CLICK ON “NO THANKS” AND JUST MANUALLY SHUT DOWN YOUR COMPUTER BY PRESSING THE BUTTON ON YOUR TOWER.

Another solution is to hold down the Control and Alt keys and hit Delete.  Once the application tab pops up, select “End Task”.  Then always do a full scan on your computer with the anti-virus software you already have.  I find it strange that the anti-virus programs we have installed in our computers don’t already detect these scams and throw them into a scam folder immediately.  I’m a self-taught computer person and I don’t have all the answers but I try to learn as much as I can.

Just recently as yesterday, I received a Scam that claimed they were from AOL and that I had to provide them with updated information within a certain amount of time otherwise my service would shut down.  They asked for usernames and passcodes.  Well, I forwarded that email along to AOL for them to try and investigate who was doing this.

Many of us have received scams that look just like it is coming from our banks with their logos.  The banks say: they do not email their customers requesting personal information of any kind.  And always be warned when you see “Dear Customer” instead of your real name.

How good are you at recognizing a scam or a con?  More important, we all have to learn as to what to do to avoid being ripped off or having your identity stolen or being conned out of your money.

Recently, on the News, it was stating that the ATM machines are another scam……….is anywhere safe these days?  They said that only after the light flashes should you proceed with entering your PIN, and to cover the keypad to block prying eyes or cameras.  I avoid ATM machines altogether.  Is life so busy that you can’t go through the drive through or walk straight in to the bank to withdraw funds?

Sad that we have to shred our junk mail or any mail we no longer need.  People actually go through the trash bins for personal information.  What has this world turned into?  Surely, if something is illegal, it is definitely something the con artist is interested in.  Heaven forbid these people should work a regular 9-5 job for income instead of stealing it from innocent citizens, who work hard for their paychecks to support themselves and their families.

IrreSISTIble Baubles!

Fashion jewelry is popular, but it can be expensive to buy. And you can't always find pieces in the colors or styles that you like. There are some pieces you can make that won't cost you a lot, and you can design them specifically for your needs and have fun doing it.

My daughter's girlfriend, who is a newbie to South Florida taught me the basics of making fashion jewelry. She created a "Monster"! I've been living in Bead Shops and researching tips online for tutorials ever since my first lesson. She is a great teacher!

Well, after purchasing the necessary tools to create these amazing pieces of jewelry, I also purchased the desk style magnifying glass which certainly made my life easier.

I started off easy with making my first pair of earrings and then wanted to learn and make more and more.

Recently attended a Bead Show was amazing to see all that is available.

P.S.  Thank you to Kathy (from the gym) for naming the title of this Post!

Honey is Sweet but Bees Sting!

There are two days in every week about which we should not worry, two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.

One of these days is Yesterday with all its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back Yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed; we cannot erase a single word we said. Yesterday is gone forever.

The other day we should not worry about is Tomorrow with all its possible adversities, its burdens, its large promise and its poor performance;

Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control. Tomorrow's sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds, but it will rise. Until it does, we have no stake in Tomorrow, for it is yet to be born.

This leaves only one day, Today. Any person can combat the battle of just one day. Ever notice when you and add the burdens of those two awful eternities Yesterday and Tomorrow that we break down.

It is not the experience of Today that drives a person mad, it is the remorse or bitterness of something which happened Yesterday and the dread of what Tomorrow may bring.

Therefore, I try to live but one day at a time.

Memorial Day Weekend!

Nothing special to do this weekend, not even a BBQ to attend because a lot of my friends are away for the long weekend, so I headed out to my condo pool.

There are some Craft Festivals going on in Delray tomorrow and I may go to that weather permitting………the forecast is predicting rain for Sunday so that is an iffy thing marked on my calendar!

Wow, just about everyone is on Facebook, Twitter and Bebo and now I understand employees even use it at the office!

It makes me wonder, are all these young professionals hanging out in cyberspace wasting the employer’s time?

This topic came up while I was sitting by my pool today and I got a different perspective on this subject. I was speaking to a businessman that owns a small business. His view was that allowing his employees to use his computers on his dime sometimes was essential to team building and a sense of collective purpose. What purpose?????

He claims he did his research with other employers of small business companies and they feel it can actually increase a workers productivity. Well, you can’t prove that by me. I’m retired now but for 42 years of being in the Legal profession, I didn’t have time to go pee let alone socialize on Facebook while working on the clock! Then again, we didn’t have all this technology 42 years ago either! LOL But we did have it the last 20 years of me being in the workforce.

I feel that allowing this, it opens up portals of communication to the world and can also have serious drawbacks for businesses and most definitely damage to a company’s confidentiality and reputation if employees who post rumors, leak company information and being the office bully to other colleagues. Employees forget that their boss has the capability of reading their emails, so keep your opinions of the company and co-workers to yourself.

But my neighbor said that when he gives his people a deadline and they meet it, he didn’t care how they used their downtime. He actually feels that it makes his employees more loyal and dedicated. 

I disagree with this man but that is my personal opinion. If I were the employer and I’m paying someone to work 8 hours a day and that person is spending 4 of those hours on Facebook, I would feel like I’m getting screwed! I’m sure there is always something to do in a busy office! Or at least, make yourself look busy! LOL

One thing is for sure is that Social networking is here to stay! I’ve known that employers check on potential employees behavior just by googling their name or checking to see if they are on Facebook and check out all their photos just to see if they are misbehaving.

I just heard on the News today that the DMV is now allowing young 16 year olds to take their driver’s license test ONLINE! WHAT? What about the “on the road” test? Dah!

You have the draw the line somewhere! What the hell is the Governor of my State thinking?

Have a safe Memorial Day Weekend!



“Shoulda,Coulda, Woulda"

I’m not always able to stick to my plans every day when looking at my “To Do” list, and heck, I have to accept this fact upfront because it certainly could alleviate a lot of unnecessary stress for myself.

My moods were swinging all over the map the other day rushing to get to the dealership for a repair that was still under warranty yet, I was informed once I got there that the part needed to be ordered. Therefore, I was less likely to follow through on my original agenda for the day, as I have a tendency to be a methodical person and like things done in an orderly fashion.

Once I got home, I received an email from the Dealership that the part had arrived and I could go back to have it put in. Did I forget to mention that my wait turned into four and one half hours! Grrrrrrrr! I don’t even what to go there with the details!

I tried to suppress my feelings so I could remain open to them but I was annoyed that I missed my Silver Sneakers Class because of this.

Maintaining objectivity now became exhausting and my day was unproductive. I kept telling myself that I would feel much better once I gave myself permission to temporarily relinquish control.

So, I went home with my day all screwed up and as usual my phone is always ringing off the wall the minute I put the key in the door.

Do you have friends that continue to ask you questions about things that happened 20 years ago, that perhaps you choose to forget about them? Hmmmm! And, people wonder why I have such severe insomnia??? I don’t want to continue reliving my past…

I try so hard not to focus on the past but to focus on the future instead. When we spend too much time looking back at past events, we get caught up in the “shoulda, coulda woulda,” mental talk.

I’ve learned from my past and I had a hard time of letting it go. Yet, sometimes, people want to keep bringing up painful memories for some reason or another.

Life is best when you can allow what you do to flow directly from who you are. I realized that when my actions are filled with purpose and meaning, they are the ones that create the most value.

Life hands us many different situations and circumstances.

There is a wealth of abundance in the person you are. To fully tap into that abundance, you just gotta let your actions be guided by real and meaningful purpose.

I work hard to allow my efforts to flow from who I am. And, I find that real value will flow from those efforts. I find that energy grows stronger and stronger when I commit to make something meaningful to happen, it truly creates a new source of energy.

Ever notice that what you must have, you suddenly have the ability to acquire and what you must know, you suddenly are able to discover? True intention is not merely a mental exercise. It is a powerful, gut force.

Today is Mother’s Day and I’m anxiously waiting for my son’s visit from Boston.

Happy Mother’s Day to all out there that apply!

The Bathing Suit!

When I was a teenager in the late 50s, the bathing suit for the mature figure was-boned, trussed and reinforced. They were built to hold back and uplift, and they did a good job.

Today's stretch fabrics are designed for the prepubescent girl with a figure carved from a potato chip.

The mature woman today has a choice, she can either go up front to the maternity department and try on a floral suit with a skirt which made me look like a chubby cheerleader!

 

What choice did I have? I wandered around, made my sensible choice and entered the chamber of horrors known as the fitting room. The first thing I noticed was the extraordinary tensile strength of the stretch material.

The Lycra used in bathing costumes was developed, I believe, by NASA to launch small rockets from a slingshot, which gives the added bonus that if you manage to actually lever yourself into one, you would be protected from shark attacks. Any shark taking a swipe at your passing midriff would immediately suffer whiplash.

The problem is that modern bathing suits have no bra cups. The mature woman is meant to wear her boobs spread across her chest like a speed bump. I realigned my speed bump and lurched toward the mirror to take a full view assessment.

The bathing suit fitted all right, but unfortunately it only fitted those bits of me willing to stay inside it. The rest of me oozed out rebelliously from top, bottom and sides. I looked like a lump of Playdoh wearing undersized cling wrap.

As I tried to work out where all those extra bits had come from, the prepubescent sales girl popped her head through the curtain, "Oh, there you are," she said, admiring the bathing suit. I replied that I wasn't so sure and asked what else she had to show me.

I struggled into so many bathing suits that I got so exhausted.  I tried on a pretty black bathing suit with such a high cut leg I thought I would have to wax my eyebrows to wear it!

Finally, I found a suit that fitted; a poka dot, sarong style with a loose blouse-type top. It was bulge-friendly, so I bought it but still not happy but when you live in South Florida and most pools have chlorine, it ruins the bathing suits fast. 

Most complexes now are transforming their pools to salt water which is better for your skin and cheaper to maintain.  Wish my Condo Association would step up to the plate and make the change over but I doubt it.

 So, if you happen to be on the beach or near any other body of water this year and I'm there too, I'll be the one in a long wrap coverup.

 

May Your Cup Runneth Over!

Now that I am older and celebrated another birthday at the beginning of the year, time seems so quickly to pass, but each day is a gift to enjoy as long as it lasts. Seems only a short time ago that we celebrated Christmas day, then New Year’s Day and now Easter is almost here and I hardly know what to say! I would like to write something profound, but where do I begin?

I recently attended an all-Women’s “Tea and Testimonies” at a Community Church which a member of my gym invited me to. It was lovely and each table was decorated in fine china and each table had a different theme going on. All the ladies wore dresses and wearing hats (the one thing they forgot to tell me about) the hats! LOL

At the entrance stood a lovely young lady dressed in an all white paper dress. I thought it was a statue at first until she moved!

I’ve been spending less time at the pool lately…for one thing, it is too damn hot out there and the other, I’m waiting for all the snowbirds to go home so I can enjoy the pool all to myself again!

I also received an Invitation to a Champagne and Truffles Mixer for this week! Looking forward to that. This should be interesting.

Since I’m retired now, I have more time on my hands to think more………well, with my insomnia; my head is always twirling and thinking. I think that I spend a lot of time every day to recognize what I’m grateful for and it helps me keep things in perspective. Gratitude carries me through the tough times, and gives me the strength to surpass the stress of challenges. Well, that seems to work for me.

I surely would sleep better if I would let my mind rest a bit.

My thoughts reflect on my family and friends and where I’m currently living so far away from them. I receive great satisfaction that my children give me with just a simple phone call or email. I’m blessed with many phone calls from friends and many laughs I share with my children.

I find myself focusing more on my health lately as it seems after my recent fall and then a weird allergy reaction while at the gym, I find myself concerned about my health and mental or physical attributes. I’m guessing I’m not the only senior citizen that thinks about these things now. Well, I know these thoughts never entered my mind before that Medicare Card arrived in my mailbox! LOL

Looking back at small and large moments – the affection of family, and what I consider my success in the garden of a growing gratitude. These are all things that nourish my gratitude. And, gratitude makes life worth living!

Life is good!



Dollar Signs flash in front of my face!

When did you last clean out your closet? I try to prepare myself mentally first. Dollar signs flash in front of my face when I look at all those impulse buys that never worked, the outfits with tags still on them and I finally retired those too-tight jeans that I knew would never fit into again.

Does everyone have three sizes in their closet? Whew, felt good to get rid of the “too big” sizes was the only time I felt wonderfully cleansed and organized after losing 20 pounds. But the regret that I can’t fit into the much smaller sizes…ugh. Means, more days at the gym and less calorie intake!

Let’s not even get on the topic of “Shoes”. It hurts that I can no longer wear my beautiful high heels. Love, love my shoes. I don’t want to wear Granny shoes and I’m too short to wear flats……..way to unflattering for me! I got rid of all the stilettos but I will hold on to my 3” heels and wedges.

Why is it that I filled up 5 trash bags and it doesn’t even look like I made a dent in my closet? I have a walk-in closet and no storage space, so I think it looks cluttered because the bottom part of my closet is for luggage, boxes of stuff that I don’t know where to put……….ugh. Things I don’t want to part with for some reason. 

I know I can't part with my "Time Capsule" box filled with many memories, so that's a keeper.

I need a good mental cleanse to get rid of some old memories that cause the guilt, fears, doubts, and images that no longer need to rent space in my head and my closet.

I try to imagine the accomplishment of letting go of STUFF!

Why do we hold on to STUFF?

Don't Forget Daylight Savings Time this Weekend!

The Daylight Saving Time 2011 time change is fairly simple:

Most anything computerized, from a cell phone to a laptop, jumps ahead on its own.  Watches and clocks need to be reset manually, so we can inevitably forget to change one and confuse ourselves the next day.  And, I always forget to reset my clock in the car! 

Why can't we just leave the clocks on Daylight Savings all the time? 

Mardi Gras!

"Mardi Gras" means "Fat Tuesday." Traditionally, it is the last day for Catholics to indulge—and often overindulge—before Ash Wednesday starts the sober weeks of fasting that come with Lent.   

I recall my husband telling me stories of his trips to New Orleans when he was young with his buddies and other fun-seekers to celebrate the festivies there in their grand scale  with colorful parades in such a party-loving city.  He also was celebrating his birthday as well.

I personally have never been to New Orleans have you?

After watching the devastation of hurricane Katrina slam into New Orleans at the end of August 2005,  I was surprised that within a few months the city decided that Mardi Gras would go on.  Kudos to all that made it possible!

Fortunately, they had safely stored their parade floats before the hurricane. Some of the most popular parade routes, including St. Charles and Magazine Streets, were spared in the storm. For after-parade decadence, the French Quarter also emerged relatively unscathed.