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Nickel Here, Dollar There

2012-02-08T09:32:00.000-08:00

Nickel here, dollar there

I’m sure I’m mentioned my penchant for using coupons. I know I’ve written a couple of articles on the subject. We’re all interested in saving money, right?

When we were first married, my husband hated my coupon box. Now he’s interested enough that he won’t go anyplace without our treasured Entertainment book, he keeps various tear outs in his car for emergencies and here’s the latest: HE SIGNED US UP TO TAKE AN EXTREME COUPONING CLASS that our local newspaper is hosting!

Yes, it fell during his day off/vacation-so he told me, “I’ve signed us up-we get a gift bag and we may learn something.”

Really? Is this the same man who told me, “Do you have to do this? How much could we be saving?”

Oh what a difference 30 years and the loss of a mate’s “day job” will do!

Last year, our total savings came to $2,898.72. Tidy sum, no? Well guess what? With hubby hoarding points in the newspaper’s “deal of the day” game, our various coupons which we used during sales, so far for the first 6 weeks of 2012-our savings are a very impressive $1,085.

Yep, you read that right-over a thousand dollars! This included a totally free hockey game with parking for 4, two concerts at a local venue, various dinners and a whole lot of food!

Now you’re probably thinking-Carine’s gone mad. She’s probably got one of her kid’s old rooms stuffed with shelving and has her own personal “market” going on. Nope. I’m not like the extremists you might witness on the TLC series.

I will not buy junk food, just to have on hand. Don’t eat it, don’t need it and I certainly don’t want it-even if it’s free. Plus, standing there in line holding my breath just sounds silly.

But I will hunt around for the best deals I can on things I use. Take Fiber 1 or All bran cereal. I know I’m not in the minority of those of us over 50 who have taken to eating either one of these for breakfast or have taken on a whole new relationship with double fiber English muffins and/or breads-so I know that the cheapest place to get the cereal is Wal-Mart; if I’m lucky-sometimes Big Lots will have some. But Wal-Mart accepts coupons-so it’s a real boon for us. We’ve got 4 boxes outside.

When I’m so inclined, I’ll make some muffins with the stuff.

What I do wish would happen is that there would be more coupons for things in the “fresh” food aisles. You know-veggies and fruit. Can’t seem to catch a break there, but I hang out in our local Sprouts way too much for Steve’s liking.

While I was visiting our daughter last, my husband decided to use some coupons for frozen vegetables. Maybe it’s me, but no amount of rhetoric about this stuff being “even better than fresh” is going to convince me.

It’s watery, it doesn’t look or taste as good as fresh and why he would even think I’d be happy to have a portion of my valuable “real estate” in our freezer taken up with a package of frozen peppers is just beyond my comprehension.

My only hope is to make a pot of soup and hopefully the broth and spices will somehow mask the mushiness.

Why am I on this rant today? Probably because we are about to escape to our second favorite state of Arizona (another thing that my husband is really pushing is for us to sell everything and start anew there, really? At age 55 and 54 and about 5 chronic diseases between us?) and I’m down to 4 pounds of carrots and 2 apples in the fresh food drawers. I’m having to possibly accept that I may have to use some of those frozen veggies in my dinner tomorrow night.

Of course, I am scheduled to bring Pepper over to our daughter-in-law. He’ll be spending some time with the fur grandkids while we’re gone. Our son is already with his sister and nephews-so hey, she has to eat before she gets down to her evening nursing studies and so do I, maybe I can convince her to grab a $5 sub meal at the local Subway.

And yes, there’s a coupon for that.

After This Brief Pause, Valentine's Day

2012-02-04T13:31:00.000-08:00

I'm daring my foodie readers to share some of their recipes while I'm off celebrating our grandsons birthdays!

http://fabulously40.com/blog/id/after-this-brief-pause-22326

Kick up your heels at father-daughter dance | community, clark, center - News - The Orange County Register

2012-02-03T18:23:00.000-08:00

Kick up your heels at father-daughter dance | community, clark, center - News - The Orange County Register

Honeys' aren't the only ones who want to celebrate Valentine's Day! Check out page 6.

Aidan James-You're 4!

2012-02-03T11:03:00.000-08:00

Aidan James is Officially 4

Last week our oldest grandchild, Dylan Brian, turned the remarkable age of 5. Not to be outdone in the birthday department, our younger grandson, Aidan James accomplished turning 4.

Aidan was named after my late sister Andrea June.

I was both happy and out-of-sorts at this idea. You’d have to know the story behind why and honestly, after 50 years, I’m not at all sure I understand, so I’m just going to say that it wasn’t one of the happier periods in my life and although I was only 4, it shaped my existence.

Aidan was born with a sense of calm and sweetness. He’s always trying to please and has a heart as big as they come.

Don’t get me wrong-both boys do. But this week I’m writing about Aidan.

Unlike his brother’s pregnancy, our daughter wasn’t confined to her bed or her house, her blood pressure was doing okay and while still high risk, things were better that the first go round.

I was still working a day job at the time, so I was a tad startled to hear my cell phone ring at noon! After all, the cell phone was supposed to be used during business hours on an “emergency only” basis.

It was our daughter, at her regular appointment, it was decided that she needed to toddle across the street and check in to be induced. They needed me to care for Dylan-who, if you’re figuring things out, had only turned one 10 days before.

I told my office mates, who sent word to the “boss lady” and they wished Sarah and Alex luck.

On the way, I called my husband and son, as well as my parents and sister.

Talk about a birthday party! While all the prep work was being done, everyone was arriving. I was keeping Dylan busy by pushing his stroller around the hospital, giving him snacks and drinks and changing diapers.

My husband had to work late and our son and then daughter-in-law to be were at school and then working. Our son, Adam, was none too happy that when he finally got to the hospital, I asked him to take Dylan home and put him to bed.

He missed Dylan’s birth because of school and work and was dearly hoping to be with his sister for Aidan’s arrival.

So off went Dylan with his Uncle Adam for dinner, bath and bed. My husband eventually arrived and we sent my parents’ home-way too much for them to sit for an unknown period of time in the evening hours.

Alex’s mom came sometime during the latter part of the labor. She was slightly taken aback about the birthing process from the opposite “side” of things.

Sarah had an epidural. Alex held onto one leg and I held the other. Aidan came into the world at 8 pounds, blond and blue-eyed. I was fortunate enough to hold him almost ahead of everyone else in the room.

I said it then and meant it and I’ve repeated this a lot through these last 4 years: Aidan James, this is grandma Carine. You have been named after a little girl who didn’t have a chance-so I’m going to make sure you get both hers and yours in life.

I love you Aidan. Happy 4th Birthday!

To be a clown takes creativity and patience | clown, clowns, mitroka - News - The Orange County Register

2012-02-02T08:43:00.000-08:00

To be a clown takes creativity and patience | clown, clowns, mitroka - News - The Orange County Register

Why become a clown? Because it's fun. Find out what's involved!

Please Vote!

2012-02-01T16:23:00.001-08:00

I've entered a photo contest, I'd really appreciate it if you all would vote for the picture of my grandsons w/ me!!! and pass it on!

http://www.topdentists.com/smile/entry/242909

Spreading the Love on Many Levels

2012-02-01T14:36:00.000-08:00

Also out today, on page 27, is an interesting interview with author Jeanne Sanner:

http://www.sunset-publishing.com/issues/JUDY-February-2012.pdf

Temple Judea, Ever Evolving

2012-02-01T14:29:00.000-08:00

My latest story in OC Jewish Life is all about a Temple keeping up with the times and the congregations needs:

http://www.ocjewishlife.com/site/ever-evolving/

Can You See Heart Healthy Valentine's Meals?

2012-01-29T16:11:00.000-08:00

Hard to believe, but here we are coming up on Valentine's Day-what are your meal plans for the one/ones you love this year?

Me-I going upside down!

http://fabulously40.com/blog/id/valentines-dinner-anyone-22303

5 Years in a Blink

2012-01-27T10:06:00.000-08:00

Five Years in a Blink

On the 25th, as hard as it is to believe, our older grandson Dylan turned 5. I’m not sure how it happened so quickly, but it did. In a few more days, our younger grandson Aidan will turn 4. Not quite sure how either boy got this far in life in such a “blink” amount of seconds.

I still remember our daughter going in and having to be induced due to her high blood pressure. The room was dark to keep her as calm as possible. Steve, my parents, my sister, Alex’s mother and even a friend of Sarah’s were all in a very small waiting room trying to keep ourselves busy and our nerve levels down.

Dylan was born at 4 pounds, 14 ounces-and because of his jaundice and size he went right into an incubator and under heat lamps. Sarah had lost a lot of blood, was exhausted from both labor and the various drugs and they were monitoring her in a different part of labor/delivery.

We all took turns to go peek at our little dividend. Adam, the new uncle, was upset because he was both working and in the midst of mid-terms and couldn’t see either one until after they got home.

What a world of difference has happened in these years. Both young parents were out of jobs living from one unemployment check to another and praying for someone, anyone to ask them in for an interview.

In these five years, our son-in-law found a couple of jobs, only to be down-sized out of them within a few months after being hired. Sarah found herself expecting Aidan before she knew it could happen so fast.

2-1/2 years ago, they took a completely brave leap of faith and left the state to take temp jobs in their field. Luckily both are excellent at what they do and have re-bounded.

Today, they own a home and enjoy being what is called “transplants” in Arizona. We find ourselves missing them terribly and just thrilled that things have turned out so well for them.

We’ve found ourselves going out as much as our wallets and time afford which while not enough has to do for the time being.

Thank goodness for cell phones, computers and Skype. We talk, see them in person and stay in close proximity-if only by cyber-space.

In about 2 weeks, we’ll take the trek out to them and help celebrate their birthdays. It will be way too brief, but action packed. Then we’ll have to “squeeze the stuffing” out of the boys, our daughter and son-in-law, because it will have to hold us until we host them in April for a week.

I understand that we’ve been more fortunate than many other grandparents-some live across the country, not just 350 miles and a state over. But we’re a close clan and absence makes the heart tug.

But for now, Happy Birthday Dylan Brian-may this start of your 6th year brings you more joy and happiness.

Love you and Aidan buckets. Aidan-more on your birthday next week!

Love, Grandma Carine

Kick up your heels at father-daughter dance | community, clark, center - News - The Orange County Register

2012-01-25T14:11:00.000-08:00

Kick up your heels at father-daughter dance | community, clark, center - News - The Orange County Register

Every girl should be able to be her dad's date at least once!

Strange Food Items

2012-01-22T12:12:00.001-08:00

While shopping at Sprouts, my favorite food store, with my daughter-she showed me a whole world of "fat free, calorie free and sugar free" "foods"-amazing what can be done with chemicals nowadays.

http://fabulously40.com/blog/id/strange-food-items-22285

There's No Place Like Home

2012-01-20T09:39:00.000-08:00

No Place Like Home

Glinda, the Good Witch of the North was right-there really isn’t a place as wonderful as home. No matter how much you love where you visit, no matter how much you’ll miss those you leave behind or the sites you wish you could just look at for a bit more, once you’re on your way home, you can’t wait until you’ve arrived. It doesn’t matter how you want to drink in every moment of your time with those you love and no longer live near you either.

At least for me it works out that way. I could hardly wait to see our daughter, son-in-law and grandkids. Really. I was doing a countdown. The bags were packed, I was on the airline site 30 seconds before the 24 hour mark to print up my boarding pass and I could hardly wait until I saw our daughter in the pick-up lane of Sky Harbor Airport.

The week went by so fast I thought it was the clichéd “blink of an eye” and then, before I knew what was happening-I found my alarm going off at the ungodly hour of 5:20 a.m. and there I was back at the airport!

I found that first I missed my husband’s snoring. That happened on the second night. Then I realized that despite our daughter’s little American Eskimo cuddling up to me all night long-she wasn’t the same as having my arm pinned into a position that allowed our tabby to sleep alongside my body with his paws wrapped around my neck while he slept and sighed in my face all night.

Nope, not the same.

It was also not the same to have my precious little dividends come in at 7:30 and ask me ever so quietly, “Grandma-is that you in there sleeping? Are you up yet Grandma?” instead of hearing my husband’s ringtone of an Avril Lavigne song jar me out of a sound sleep.

Nicer, but definitely not the same.

And despite the trip to Wal-Mart to buy myself a mock version of the temper-pedic pillow like the one I sleep on at home-it was not the same to my neck and back as the authentic one that allows me to wake up without feeling as if I’ve somehow medically severed my neck from my spinal column. The bed wasn’t exactly lulling me to sleep either.

Skyping isn’t the same as talking to my husband face-to-face or kissing him goodnight. Making dinner in our daughter’s kitchen doesn’t have the same appeal as working in my own space either. And I’m not even going to discuss the differences in the master shower or the laundry room.

Having our daughter live so far away is lonely and troublesome-I miss her and the family desperately, but when I’m there, all I can think about is that I miss my husband/home and my life in Orange County.

I’m a creature of habit as well as a complete and utterly boring homebody-in a good way.

At least to me.

On stage Saturday, Sunshine Variety Show | lutey, performances, love - News - The Orange County Register

2012-01-19T16:11:00.000-08:00

On stage Saturday, Sunshine Variety Show | lutey, performances, love - News - The Orange County Register

Another type of Sunshine

2012-01-19T09:58:00.000-08:00

Here's my latest cover story for the Laguna Woods Globe, page 3. If you're local to OC, think about enjoying the show just for the sake of where the proceeds go:

http://epaper.ocregister.com/Olive/ODE/OCWLagunaWoodsGlobe/

Embarrassed?

2012-01-10T10:59:00.000-08:00

Embarrassed?

I was on Twitter earlier this week and someone commented on being embarrassed.

Looking at my life, I started thinking-embarrassed? Maybe it’s my life’s experiences, but I don’t think I’ve been caught red-faced or shamed.

Angry, yes. Disgusted, definitely. Frustrated? Hey, I’m a parent. But not embarrassed.

I know what you’re all thinking; I can “see” it. You’re thinking, “Her memory’s gone, I’m sure she was embarrassed when ‘child’ (fill in the blank with one of the names you’ve heard over the years) decided to break free and get lost in the mall.

Nope. I was frustrated and scared-not embarrassed.

One of you out there is probably thinking back to one of my anecdotes about a certain older person who we’ve been asked not to bring back into any given establishment.

Nope. I was disgusted and angry, not embarrassed. Let’s face it-I didn’t behave poorly and I’m sure, as is the norm, we apologized before, during and after as well as over tipped for the situation.

But embarrassed? Nope. Not a lick.

I did come close once-and now looking back, I’m thinking it was mighty darned close and I’m so glad the place was a tad on the dark side.

It was a very long time ago; I think our kids were maybe 6 and 8. We had family passes that year for Universal Studios, so we’d sometimes go to just see one of the shows. This was one of those times.

As we got into the park, one of the local game shows (The Match Game, with Gene Rayburn) was giving away passes to a taping later that afternoon. We decided that would be fun, if they’d allow the kids in. The crew giving out the tickets called and got the okay and we were off!

We got there; the kids were excited to see how a TV show was actually done. We took our seats. The stage had a few spots on the audience, but we were put in the back so it was pretty dark.

That’s when it happened. Sigh.

The warm-up comedian started asking everyone questions and people were shouting out what they must have thought of as being funny answers and people were giggling.

For whatever reason, the guy suddenly blurts out, “So was anyone here conceived in the back of a cab?”

You know what’s coming, don’t you? Yes, our younger dividend raised his hand and shouted, “I was-do I get a prize?”

The entire room busted up. Steve and I looked over at him and we both grabbed his arm and pulled it down.

Too late, everyone (at least it felt like everyone) turned around and looked. The comedian deadpanned it and said, “Sorry kid, this is a cheap set and I can’t even pay you for the great comeback.”

We hissed through our breath-“What on earth made you say that? What were you thinking?”

Being 6, he was thinking he wanted to win a prize. And NO, he was not created in a cab or any other public place. Let me make sure that part is perfectly clear.

And now, I leave you all to ponder as to whether or not any of you will ever take any of your living genetic material to a taping of a TV show ever, or at least until I get back from visiting our daughter and grandkids.

Ribs and Slaw

2012-01-07T14:46:00.000-08:00

It's ribs and slaw time-with a twist at my cooking column:

http://fabulously40.com/blog/id/im-going-to-az-22189

No Longer Chased by Demons

2012-01-06T12:52:00.001-08:00

Here's a great update on the author of one of my favorite books! page 6:

http://www.sunset-publishing.com/issues/january2012.pdf.pdf

I'm Just Saying...

2012-01-05T20:23:00.000-08:00

I’m Just Saying…

Have you actually thought about why so many people have problems understanding the basics of life?

Things such as:

1-To lose weight; eat fewer calories that you burn.

2-Don’t spend money you don’t have on things you don’t need.

3-If you take care of what you have, chances are-whatever it is will, in fact, take care of you.

4-When your doctor says you need to exercise; you really need to get up and move your extremities.

5-It’s an unwritten law; every family has to endure at least 1 member that makes life harder than it really needs to be.

Those are just five.

It never fails, when the obvious happens because of any of the above, whatever number-someone is flabbergasted by the outcome.

Let’s explore, shall we?

1-This is a given. Don’t blame the holidays, your unsupportive significant other, and your unfortunate set of genes. You gained weight because you ate more than you should-period. Accept it and either go out and buy a bigger wardrobe or (depending on just how much you’ve padded your body) spend the money on joining a gym, buying a new set of walking/running shoes, signing up with WeightWatchers (Jenny Craig, Nutrisystems, etc.) and do something about it.

2-This one is a bit tricky due to so many people being down-sized out of their jobs, but I’m not talking about this type of debt. I’m talking about a person who knows that every month, come hell or high water, that they only have a certain amount of cash and still spends more than what’s there and wants someone to “bail them out”, since the government won’t.

We have someone like this-they’ve been told they can’t afford to go to the movies more than once a month-and that it needs to be done without the purchase of soda, popcorn and candy. Yet, there it is when the account is checked-4 trips with amenities.

Why is this person surprised when the bailout isn’t to be and then they are chewed out? If you don’t like being in debt-stick to a budget.

3-This goes for cars, appliances, clothing and even relationships. My example-we were visiting someone for a few days and for the umpteenth time saw that they were using their washer as a hamper as well as an appliance. The method of laundry? Stuff it until the door won’t close, fill it with soap and turn it on.

No sorting. Problem-besides the expected white items turning other colors? The dirty and damp items cause the house to smell of mildew (actually reek), plus the washer itself groans. It’s a front loader-it needs to be wiped out at the end of the laundry session and the door should be left open a crack to let it “breathe”. The result-complete surprise when after a year, it broke down.

Don’t blame the machine-as with most situations like this, it’s the operator at fault.

4-For years, I tried to encourage my husband to do regular exercise. I told him it has nothing to do with weight. In the 31-1/2 years we’ve been together, he’s never been anything but perfect weight wise, but last year, he went for a physical and was shocked to hear, “Steve, I’m going to have to treat you for high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I want you to start watching what you eat, only 4-6 ounces of red meat in a week and you need to eat more fruits and vegetables.”
He was shocked! Dumbfounded really. I looked at him and shook my head. “what have I been telling you all these years? How can you be surprised at this?”

I must say though, it’s been a year and he’s still using the treadmill 4-5 times a week. One person on the “lesson learned” list.

And last,

5-This is a pesky problem. My feeling is this, instead of giving the person a “buy” and let them continue to embarrass, hurt, take advantage and disgust us-I say we all stand strong and together and do the famous Peter Finch line: I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.

Then let’s give each other the strength and permission to not feel the least bit guilty about making the trouble-causers take responsibility for their lifetime of bad behavior (no matter what their age may be) and learn to live with the mess they’ve created for themselves.

And now, I’m going to munch on some celery while clipping coupons. I deserve it after my 45 minutes on the treadmill and cleaning my stainless steel appliances and ignoring the “problem” who lives 4 miles from my door.

Grandmother shares the joy of wall art | one, mccabe, child - News - The Orange County Register

2012-01-05T14:50:00.000-08:00

Grandmother shares the joy of wall art | one, mccabe, child - News - The Orange County Register

As usual-as soon as I post the "hard" way, the easier and more permanent link comes through!

Bonding Through Art

2012-01-05T13:05:00.000-08:00

Naomi McCabe, former Occupational Therapist, mom of 6, grandma to 10 has a special way of bonding with her brood-read about her on page 3 of the Laguna Woods Globe:

http://epaper.ocregister.com/Olive/ODE/OCWLagunaWoodsGlobe/

Historical Society honors local couple | conners, one, help - News - The Orange County Register

2012-01-02T15:19:00.000-08:00

Historical Society honors local couple | conners, one, help - News - The Orange County Register

as usual-the paper came out with an easier and more permanent way to get to my article on a couple who are being honored for giving back to their community.

Kitchen Hints

2012-01-02T12:09:00.000-08:00

For the beginning of 2012-I'm giving some clues on how to get a perfect crust on a standing ribeye roast and tasty, beautiful mini-yorkshire puddings to go with it-and the clean-up hints add to the tastiness and ease.

http://fabulously40.com/blog/id/welcome-to-my-2012-kitchen-22165

Raising Kids in the Net Generation

2012-01-01T16:29:00.000-08:00

Recently I interviewed Scott Goldberg-head of Yeshiva University on the subject of raising kids in the Net Generation-interesting perspective in this month's Jewish Life:

http://www.ocjewishlife.com/site/raising-kids-in-the-net-generation/

I'm So Ready

2011-12-30T09:16:00.001-08:00

I’m So Ready

Thank goodness, I’m ready for 2012. 2011 was a very rough year. My husband was one of the few who “kept” a job when the owners of his company retired and corporate bought them out. Our son survived the cut as well-BUT it’s not the same.

Steve was told his position wasn’t viable anymore, so he’s back to sales manager and all that entails: working nights, working weekends and making almost the same (almost being the operative word). His stress level is way too high and his satisfaction is way too low. Our son has been working 80 plus hours a week, he too needs a break.

My health was a huge issue most of this year-not pleasant and I’m still trying to work at regaining just my “life” in general. Probably won’t go back to where I was a couple of years ago, but I’m at least seeing some actual improvement. Thank goodness for my various doctors and new meds-with them on board, life will hopefully keep on an upward spiral.

Our big upheaval was the loss of our beloved Sunshine. I’m missing her terribly. I’m still trying to explain to Steve how much I need more than an 8 pound lovable tabby to make me feel secure during the nights I’m all by my lonesome. Plus, Pepper is still crying and searching-he too needs a “fill-in” canine mom.

Steve’s holding firm that between his job “insecurities” and what I’m thinking is the grief of watching life ebb away-he’s just not budging. Sigh.

We’ve also had parent health issues to deal with and major expenses with our cars. All not unexpected-let’s face it our parents are all in their 80’s and our cars are over 8 years old.

What do I hope 2012 will bring? What everyone else wants of course-some peace of mind, less stress, better health, less hatred in the world, prosperity for all, more job satisfaction for my husband and definitely more assignments or a new “day job” for me. There’s more-continued happiness and good fortune for our kids and grandkids, our son getting a hopeful different position where he’ll feel more worth and our daughter-in-law to enjoy and flourish in nursing school. I’d love for my mom not to have to worry about her eyesight and my father’s failing memory.

I’d really love for a problem we’ve had for years to move and learn to live within the person’s means.

My husband turns 55 this coming week-so I really would love it if he could find his former satisfaction and joy in the job he goes to 5 days a week.
And last, may all the same wishes on health, wealth and satisfaction carry over in to all of your lives.

Good-bye 2011 and Welcome 2012!

Couple Chosen as Honorees by Their Community

2011-12-29T10:48:00.000-08:00

Normally, the Laguna Woods community chooses on person to honor-but this couple are so special, the Historical Society broke with tradition and is honoring them both.

cover story on page 3:

http://epaper.ocregister.com/Olive/ODE/OCWLagunaWoodsGlobe/

Thanks, I Needed That-Maybe

2011-12-23T10:38:00.000-08:00

Thanks I Needed That!

My kids are overly generous. No matter how many times we beg them to not buy us gifts-they do.

Many parents would say “just enjoy it, I wish my kids wouldn’t listen to me about this problem you’re having.”

You see, we tell them this because we know how hard they work and we just want them to “gift” us, by putting it away for their retirement. We want them to actually have a chance of having one.

Our son Adam and daughter-in-law Sam surprised me (bowled over really) by getting me an all leather version of my barely one year old La-Z-Boy rocker. (Extra info: both our son and my husband work for LZB, Inc.) I really love my even newer chair, really! But all I could think and dream of was-oh my, they spent all that money on me-what if they need it for some emergency??????

And they did. Billy, the younger of their two shelties, had to have some mighty expensive surgery. While I love them both dearly for doing this for me, I also feel terribly guilty.

Our daughter Sarah and son-in-law Alex, along with the grandkids bought me a group-on for a massage and sent me a beautiful bouquet. I must say, I had the same gut reaction. What if they had an emergency????

Guess what? They did. Even though it’s usually quite warm in Phoenix, they had some mighty close to freezing nights a couple of weeks ago and the pipes in the attic froze. They came home and were greeted by a fallen ceiling, wet insulation and a flooded kitchen and living room. Yes, they had insurance and a homeowner’s policy, but that still was enough to have me cringing.

All 4 told me to just enjoy-please.

I am. I came down with a head cold this week. So I’m in my rocker, drinking hot fluids and blowing my nose in between sneezes. I had already made the appointment to have that chocolate massage when the 24 hour cancellation time passed and couldn’t re-schedule.

Off I went. Garrett, the therapist assigned to help this arthritic granny with the monstrous head cold, was really nice. He asked, “I know you’re supposed to have the chocolate oils, but with that head cold, if you’re not allergic to peppermint, may I suggest my using that? It will help your muscles, joints and especially your sinuses.”

Bless him. An hour later I came out a tad less “tight and knotted” and my head was a bit less clogged. He warned me I’d be sore and apologized.

Apologize? What for? My head still hurts and the post-nasal drip hasn’t left the building but I do feel better-all over-except in the recesses of the ever-present guilt gland.

Happy Holidays to Everyone! May 2012 see us all having better health, much love and hopefully gainful and happy employment.

To stay in shape, he grips and rips | tennis, play, playing - News - The Orange County Register

2011-12-22T14:09:00.000-08:00

To stay in shape, he grips and rips | tennis, play, playing - News - The Orange County Register

This link takes you to the story below as it appears in the main newspaper!

Senior Tennis Player Swung it out in Turkey

2011-12-22T11:53:00.000-08:00

An athlete all his life-Henry Leichtfried was sent to Turkey to play in the world wide Senior championship in Turkey. Read about his trip on page 3:

http://epaper.ocregister.com/Olive/ODE/OCWLagunaWoodsGlobe/

Save a Penny, Eat Well

2011-12-18T12:37:00.001-08:00

This week-we're talking healthy and budget friendly ideas over on the flip side!

http://fabulously40.com/blog/id/how-to-stretch-a-buck-22085

Cloudy With No Chance of Sunshine

2011-12-16T09:53:00.000-08:00

My Mind is Cloudy with Wishes for a New Day of Sunshine

I realize I’ve been a drag since Sunshine’s passing-sorry, it seems to be getting worse.

There are reasons for this continual “cloudy” mood:

1-Pepper still cries while he sleeps and slams into the walls and windows hoping to see her in the yard.

2-I’ve had several very large men that come in pairs, come to my door at night and knock on it while my husband works late. Two of the duos knocked on the door the way my brother-in-law would. This creeped me out. One didn’t leave the archway for almost 5 minutes. He just kept on knocking. I had phone in hand and was ready to phone 911 when I saw him leave.

(I phoned hubby at work and told him he could get the mail, as I no longer felt near as safe in our very suburban block about going out in the dark)

3-While using the 20 year old treadmill gets the “job” of exercise done-I really enjoyed my walks with Sunshine and my IPod Shuffle in the actual out of doors and miss it, a lot.

And last, this time of the year the little bit I watch TV seems to show those heart-wrenching commercials with the abused dogs asking if you could be an angel and as soon as I hear Sarah McLaughlin cue up the song, I’m a basket case of tears. In fact, I’m welling up now.

My favorite rescue center (those interested: www.PetRescueCenter.org), run by Dr. Matthew Wheaton and his wife Blythe, has been having a certain 1 year old lab/shepherd mix named Miley at the facility since August 29th. Her family turned her in because of hip/elbow dysplasia. She’s fine with pain meds, house-broken, loves kids and cats and other dogs.

Shame and a pox on that family I say.

Seems to me that she’s been waiting on us to just go get her. I keep mentioning this to my husband.

He’s seemingly deaf to this entire subject. He says it’s because we can’t afford another mouth right now. I know of one we could easily ditch.

Personally, I think it’s due to his witnessing the “letting go” of Sunshine. As I’ve mentioned before-the kids and I handled our darlings, Snowy and Lucky while he stayed behind with the day care. So he only knew what a mess we were when we came back.

His way of grieving (again as I see it) is to insist we shouldn’t adopt another pup.

So, instead of Sunshine-I’m feeling Cloudy with a huge chance of continued salty showers.

Love that Hungry Girl!

2011-12-11T13:16:00.000-08:00

This week on the flip side-I'm sharing my new "heroine" in the kitchen's recipe for
"I can't believe this isn't Sweet Potato Casserole"-and I'm giving some hints to make it better!

But here's the link to the recipe!

http://www.hungry-girl.com/show/holiday-i-cant-believe-its-not-sweet-potato-casserole-recipe

for the handy hints-or just the recipe, here's the link to my column:

http://fabulously40.com/blog/id/love-that-hungry-girl-21998

when push comes to shove

2011-12-08T18:37:00.000-08:00

When Push Comes to Shove

About 6 weeks ago I saw my rheumatologist. As per usual this year, I couldn’t sit still. Not because I was “rarin’ to go”, but because I couldn’t find a place for myself that wasn’t torturing me with pain.

This has NOT been one of my better years. Not quite sure when the actual decline happened, but once the spiral did begin it just wasn’t stopping. Not comfortable. My rheumatologist sent me at the beginning of the year to physical medicine. He had done his best to stop the ice pick from continuing to drive further into hips, but decided a fresh set of eyes were what we needed.

I really liked him. He suggested (after the usual MRI) that we start with physical therapy and acupuncture. The acupuncture helped a lot, but the PT said “you’re in too much pain, get that under control and then come back”.

Really?

Anyway, I digress. I’m still seeing the acupuncturist. She really has helped, but with what the MRI showed, well, she’s a specialist in this field, but I don’t think she’s been labeled a miracle worker.

My MRI showed severe OA (what, rheumatoid wasn’t enough, I needed Osteo too?), severe levoscoliosis (had this since birth and dealt with it for years) and then the really good part-degenerative and bulging discs in both the lower back and the neck.

Back to my rheumy-who I am taking was feeling as uncomfortable watching me as I was living with it. He asked if the acupuncture was really helping. I said yes, but after a couple of days the pain went right back to “just shoot me, I’m done”. He said, “You know an epidural will help this. Look at it this way-how much worse can you possibly feel?”

I went home, thought it over and realized, as usual, he was right. How much worse could I feel?

Contacted the phys. Med. Doctor and set up the appointment for the beginning of last week. Went in and it was over in under an hour. I was told to rest up for the day and that the next day would be the worst of it. By Thursday, I was out and about enjoying time with my husband when I realized at about 4 in the afternoon that I HADN’T THOUGHT ABOUT EITHER MY BACK OR MY HIPS ALL FREAKIN’ DAY!

What was I so frightened of? Why in the world had I put myself through the torture of all this pain? My twice monthly shot of Humira is far more painful than that epidural was!

So my advice, when you are in blinding pain-don’t live with it, be proactive and do something to make yourself feel better at FIRST instead of AT LAST.
Of course, this is only my opinion-anyone out there has to come to their own conclusions.

Update on Special Needs Bakery

2011-12-08T10:18:00.001-08:00

A few months back I interviewed 2 brave moms who through sheer will and creativity were building a business on special needs foods-check out how they've been doing in this update:

http://epaper.ocregister.com/Olive/ODE/OCWLagunaWoodsGlobe/

SOUL creator helps others find unconditional love | book, love, soul - News - The Orange County Register

2011-12-07T17:52:00.000-08:00

SOUL creator helps others find unconditional love | book, love, soul - News - The Orange County Register

Jeanne Sanner is truly a inspiration on so many different levels-read all about her!

Healthy Cookies?

2011-12-07T11:12:00.000-08:00

I've said it before-I love chocolate chip cookies!

My new foodie heroine-Hungry Girl, shared her low-fat soft recipe with those who get her newsletter-so I decided to share it with my readers over on my flipside:

http://fabulously40.com/blog/id/save-the-waist-21984

Exhibiting Art Through Her Blindness

2011-12-05T10:43:00.000-08:00

My feature in this month's Senior Reporter on page 25 is about Helen Wiese, 96, who is almost totally blind and an exhibiting artist in this year's Shared Vision Show:

http://www.sunset-publishing.com/issues/Dec_2011.pdf

Cranberries, They Not Just for Thanksgiving

2011-12-04T11:13:00.000-08:00

Over at the cooking side of things-I was feeling as if I were in a rut, when what should I receive as an e-mail? All things cranberry, thanks to Ocean Spray.

Check it out:

http://fabulously40.com/blog/id/cranberry-trivia-21968

The Story of Pepper

2011-12-01T18:13:00.000-08:00

Pepper

One of my fellow bloggers mentioned to me that he’d love to hear the story of Pepper, our very dear and funny tabby of 8 years. His said that he had always had dogs and had always thought that cats weren’t exactly social creatures that did much more than eat and sleep.

This one if for Big Dave:

First of all, cats are soooo not boring! Growing up we had two-a mother and son duo. The mom looked like a feline version of our terrier mix and they got along famously-even sharing French toast and coffee on Sunday mornings and sleeping next to each other. The son-whom we dubbed Felix, because of his coloring, was in love with our terrier as well. He would lead her in and out of the house and get her to eat when she became blind with age. He mourned her death more than his mother’s and never quite recovered from the grief.

Our first “child” as a married couple was a beautiful pure white cat with a terrible thyroid condition that we called Snowy. She was our baby, but our daughter was all hers-she’d sit right by her during baths and feedings to make sure that I was “doing things right” in all areas of care. Till the day she passed, our Snowy was more than a pet-she was our love.

Obviously, since her thyroid condition caused her to do some very “unladylike” actions over the 13 years on this planet. We went through 3 living room carpets and 3 couches. I know some of you think we should have just put her out-but she loved all of us fiercely (even our shepherd) and we loved her as much.

Of course after her passing, as much as we loved her-we let the kids know we were oh so not going to be getting another cat.

Eight years later-our almost married daughter and son-in-law to be, who lived with us through the week, came home one Sunday night (they spent weekends with Alex’s mom) and with Alex promising us “Carine, I had nothing to do with this, I told her not to do this-I swear!”-our daughter plopped a little one pound bundle of gray into my lap.

He looked up at me and gave a pathetic “meow”.

Steve’s jaw first dropped and then it clenched and began to twitch-not a good sign.
Our daughter then regaled us with this story:

Mom, Dad, I had to take him. We were at the market and this older woman was giving all the kittens away. She couldn’t take care of them anymore. She found them with their dead mother up in a tree where she lives and rescued them. The rest of the kittens were taken right away, but this one has deformed front paws and he was freaking all the kids out. Everyone else didn’t want him. She was going to put him in a shelter. I couldn’t let him be killed.

Her mother’s daughter. I had a habit of rescuing animals as well.

Our son decided he looked like a “Pepper”.

Our then 7 year old Sunshine came over to me and had to see what was in my lap. One look at this moving creature and she fell in love.

She started kissing him and talking away at us and him! She literally scooped him out of my lap by his nape-the way any animal mom would and took him over to her bed and began giving him a bath.

Pepper looked up at her and a lifetime relationship was sealed. Sunshine took over making sure he behaved, used his litter box (more on slip ups here in a bit) and that no one disciplined this little baby except for her.

Not that this new addition didn’t have its difficult moments. Until Sunshine got him to realize the importance of using his litter boxes I came home to some very messy homecomings.

Once, I walked into my living room to find that Pepper had used the leather sofas as a place for his “leftovers” of life. That was the worst-happened twice. On the second time, I told our daughter that as much as I thought he was the cutest little guy-I wasn’t up to going through this rigmarole again in my lifetime and we’d need to find him a better home or a non-kill shelter.

No such luck-no available foster care and no one wanted a damaged kitten. Plus, Sunshine thought of him as her personal child and would’ve been heartbroken beyond repair.

Pepper-smart enough to know he had a good home never had another accident.

Not a one. As Sunshine aged, he was content to sit next to her and watch over her. His deformed front paws have never caused any problems-he climbs walls quite well. He’s given us immeasurable amount of joy.

Pepper would watch Sunshine use the yard and run around and hitting himself into all the windows along the way until I opened the door for her to come in. At this point he’d have sat down just out of sight near the washing machine and run after her and giving her “jumping hugs” all the way into a play session.

Every night at about 7-the two would have a game of tag going through the bottom half of the house for about a good 20 minutes. That lasted until Sunshine got too old to play.

He loves to chase after wadded up pieces of paper-he’s better as playing fetch than Sunshine ever was, especially in the middle of the night. When our son and daughter-in-law to be brought home their Maine Coon-Pepper took on the role of dad and showed Toby the ropes about what would and would not be tolerated.

When Sunshine became too old to come upstairs and do her “job” of waking us up in the morning-Pepper took over this position. Yep, every morning at 7:30, Pepper starts undoing himself from the cocoon he’s made of my armpit and starts pulling my hair. He moves from that action to knocking things off of my husband’s nightstand-ensuring that someone will get out of bed.

He took Sunshine’s passing extremely hard-crying and searching for weeks. He still smells her spots and cries in his sleep.

We love that little guy. And as for the story of his arrival-all of it was true, except for one thing: he was NOT found in a tree and Sarah spent $25 on assuring his spot in the Nadel household.

Thank you Sarah from the bottom of all our hearts.

Enjoy Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 10 | community, schafer, breakfast - News - The Orange County Register

2011-12-01T16:01:00.000-08:00

Enjoy Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 10 | community, schafer, breakfast - News - The Orange County Register

Here in my neck of the woods-we're inviting Santa to breakfast!

Soka U's Performing Arts Ctr

2011-12-01T13:42:00.001-08:00

Check out my story in this month's OC Jewish Life magazine on Soka U's new performing arts center:

http://www.ocjewishlife.com/site/acoustical-accessible/

Flip Flops & FABs...: Letters on Balboa Island Cover and Blurb

2011-11-28T19:16:00.000-08:00

Flip Flops & FABs...: Letters on Balboa Island Cover and Blurb: The countdown begins for the release of Letters on Balboa Island, my latest novel. And so I wanted to share with you the cover and the blu...

This is the news on good friend, Kathy Holmes, new book-check it out!

Just Enough Left to See Us Through

2011-11-27T11:35:00.000-08:00

Thanks to some good planning-leftover mashed potatoes and a "too dry" deep fried turkey-my epidural tomorrow doesn't mean we won't be eating good foods this week:

http://fabulously40.com/blog/id/im-full-and-not-much-leftover-21930

Blind Artist isn't Stopping

2011-11-25T13:30:00.000-08:00

this week, since it's a holiday and my kids are here-I'm passing on my usual musings, but here's a story about Helen Wiese, 96, who has been an artist all her life. Even with losing most of her sight, she's not stopping!

Read about her latest contributions to the arts, page 11:

And catch the story about Tassie the therapy dog and her "dad" on page 12!

http://epaper.ocregister.com/Olive/ODE/OCWSaddlebackValleyNewsLFLH/

Pet therapy comforts hospice patients | majewski, tassie, hospice - News - The Orange County Register

2011-11-22T12:25:00.000-08:00

Pet therapy comforts hospice patients | majewski, tassie, hospice - News - The Orange County Register

I wrote this story on Pet Therapy a while back, but it just came out-wonderful program!

Thank You Native Foods!

2011-11-21T10:03:00.000-08:00

guess what?!!

I won a Native Foods (vegan) contest!!! Steve and I are going to get to have a wonderful vegan "beef" wellington thanks to a contest at FB/Twitter!!!

I don't think I've won more than 1 other thing in my entire life!!!

they're even shipping it straight to my door and we can share it for dinner either tomorrow or Wednesday!!

Need Some Tried, True, Craveable New Sides?

2011-11-20T12:36:00.000-08:00

We aim for the healthy and craveable sides for our holiday get-togethers, here are two of my family's all time favs:

http://fabulously40.com/blog/id/other-ideas-for-sides-21847

Oh Me, Oh My

2011-11-18T09:10:00.000-08:00

Oh Me, Oh My

I checked the calendar and realized that I am now officially 54.

What I’d like to observe is that I am still well-preserved. Most people still give me that old, tired and much-appreciated line of: No, you can’t be and I really don’t believe you’re a grandmother!

I never get tired of hearing that. Never.

This year has been what I would’ve said in my teens “a toughie”. My health hasn’t been exactly positive, my husband is going through a bit of a rough patch on his job changes, our dog died and I’m not sure yet I enjoy being a human pincushion every week. I’ve had my fill of being pumped full of steroids too.

Nothing says fun like a year of “blue funk” and continued anxiety.

My daughter and family will be here for the holiday and as this column is coming close to Thanksgiving, I’ve decided to try a different tact-I’m going to name the top 10 things that I’m thankful for (and no column for you on Black Friday!):

1-I’m thankful for a patient and loving husband of 30 years. He’s more than a keeper and I love him more every year.

2-I’m thankful for 2 wonderful children and their wonderful spouses. A luckier mother-in-law than I? No, I don’t think it’s possible.

3-I’m thankful for having the 2 cutest grandsons on the face of the earth. I DARE YOU-ANY OF YOU-TO DISPUTE THIS FACT.

4-I’m thankful that my parents are here on earth and are able to be a part of all around them.

5-I’m thankful to have a wonderful sister and her family close by.

6-I’m thankful for our little 8 year old tabby, Pepper. He has made the pain of losing “our girl” Sunshine bearable and makes he never fails to make me smile.

7-I’m thankful for my rheumatologist, my physical medicine doctor, my acupuncturist and all the drugs supplied by modern medicine and my health insurance. Except for maybe the steroids. I seem to have a love/hate thing going on with them.

8-I’m thankful for all the good friends and colleagues that have boosted me up and at times held me up when I didn’t think I had the strength to continue to do so.

9-I’m thankful for having a comfortable home in a nice neighborhood. I’m also thankful for having finished the complete gutting and remodeling and hope that I do NOT have to think about doing it again anytime soon.

10-I’m thankful for all of you who come here.

See you in December-Happy Thanksgiving!

An Enchanted Land to raise funds for Haiti | broadway, moore, cambridge - News - The Orange County Register

2011-11-17T17:34:00.000-08:00

An Enchanted Land to raise funds for Haiti | broadway, moore, cambridge - News - The Orange County Register

Salad it is!

2011-11-14T12:10:00.000-08:00

It was decided that rather than discuss new spices/rubs etc. to do to our "bird"-a non-traditional salad would be nice, so I found a great roasted beet with beet greens and feta on epicurious.com to share.

check it out and let me know what you think!

http://fabulously40.com/blog/id/salad-it-is-21810

Warning: Snarkiness May Follow

2011-11-11T10:52:00.000-08:00

WARNING-I’M FEELING JUST A TAD SNARKY

Yes, I really am. I see you rolling your eyes out there. Many of you, who have read my musings for a while probably even knew this type of column was coming, so I’m just putting it out there for you to decide how far down you wish to read this week.

BEFORE I even start-let me tell you all something, you might have noticed that for some reason, my favorite blogs are no longer on the left side of the page (or anywhere). I did NOT do this! I swear, I have no idea what has happened to cause their disappearance! I went through the template settings-they’re there and all the check marks seem to be saying that they should be showing-but obviously, they ARE NOT. If anyone has a clue as to what more I can re-check, please tell me. This only adds to my present snarky mood.

Nothing really happened to put my mood into gear-except I’m tending to send the blame at my latest round of prescribed prednisone. That stuff just puts my panties in a real knot.

As most of you know, I’m very open about my life with my arbitrary and close body inhabitant-rheumatoid arthritis. Through my years I’ve been as close to remission as any person with the disease can ever hope to be AND I’ve also been practically crawling the walls from the pain and the residual effects.

Such has been my life in the later form for almost the last year. About 2 months ago, it was decided that enough was enough and it was time to change my major medication for a different company. Basically what that means is that I stopped one which left my system pretty much on the same day as my first injection of the new drug.

Oh the joy. It takes about 8 weeks for the drug to get to its full height-so for me; I’ve termed it “RA purgatory”. Nothing has been going right. The rheumy decided after watching me squirm and hearing that I’ve had absolutely no relief from either the anti-inflammatory and/or the painkiller and found myself riding the old porcelain bus and living on ginger ale-put me on prednisone to tide me over until the meds were up and running.

I have a love/hate relationship with steroids. I feel their value when the pain relief comes, but hate things like my increased cravings for carbs and feeling like a balloon. It’s a part of life-a precarious part, but a part no less.

Steroids also make me moody, sarcastic and a pain-in-the-rear to live with-bless my husband. Pepper is quite understanding as well. I think our daughter and son are glad they no longer have to deal with mom and her steroid “banter”.

Anyway, back to my snarkiness. Monday I got an assignment that needed immediate attention. This magazine has a very short turnaround and I needed to get my subject corralled for an interview quickly. Ordinarily I’d be laid back and give the people time to get back to me.

This time, after the third voice message and accompanying e-mail-I started to send a blind CC to my editor. It took a bit of firm wording as well. I don’t like having to strong-arm someone I’m actually giving help too. But somehow on steroids, I was now starting to act like a heartless harpy.

Whatever, the man in question finally gave me a day and time and I was set for that one. And when all was said and done-the gentleman had a great sense of humor and that made for a terrific interview.

Next I got the okay to do a story on a man who teaches a form of stone art. He’s retiring and one of his students thought he’d make a great feature.

The editor of that paper agreed-but wanted me to know the man’s reputation as being a real, well, let’s just say that he and his wife were not highly thought of throughout this community and most saw them as being “trouble-causers”.

My question was-if they were so disagreeable, why did this student like him? Maybe because the class he taught was a dying art and he was the last person to teach it?

In my present state, I feel like asking him outright-why is it that while people like the way you teach this class-you have no real friends in this town???

But my underlying intelligence says that I’d better leave that question off my sheet while doing that interview. As of this writing, that may not matter-he hasn’t even bothered to return either of my phone calls.

At least I’ve been forewarned. I’m pretty good about dealing with nasty humans-I managed to not disown the woman who gave birth to my father until I was 19-if that’s not enough to show you my restraint, then let me tell you that I’ve also managed not to give a certain other woman who gave birth to someone I love the verbal thrashing she deserves in over 30 years.

A testament to my civility if there ever was one-I assure you. And that is the end of my snarky column. You see, I’m not feeling “kind” enough to come up with my usual endearing wrap up.

Author’s book now in Holocaust Museum gift shop | book, through, grossman - News - The Orange County Register

2011-11-09T14:38:00.000-08:00

Author’s book now in Holocaust Museum gift shop | book, through, grossman - News - The Orange County Register

I was fortunate enough to re-interview the author of one of my top 5 books EVER to read-come and see what she's been up to!

Mealtime Main Event

2011-11-07T10:34:00.000-08:00

We've done the appetizer, we've talked about the soup-should we start forming a recipe for a dinner salad or move on to our group main dish?

you decide!

http://fabulously40.com/blog/id/and-now-for-the-main-event-21756

Giving Back

2011-11-06T10:46:00.000-08:00

We first met Marty Kakar when he took over our favorite bagel and coffee place last year. At that time, he was waiting on opening a full kitchen and wanted to tell me about how he feels about giving back to the community-well we did have that chat!

check it out on page 12:

http://epaper.ocregister.com/Olive/ODE/OCWSaddlebackValleyNewsLFLH/

Another Month Has Arrived

2011-11-04T10:44:00.000-07:00

Happy November!

Hard to believe-but our brief visit to our kids is already over. Why is it vacations take forever to arrive and then are over before you have a chance to blink your eyes?

Our trip going was a bit tense. Steve, my husband, checked the TSA rules and we packed accordingly-our goal was to not have to check in our carryon bags. Quicker to see our daughter, son-in-law and grandkids that way.

Unfortunately John Wayne (JW) Airport had other plans. Honestly-we didn’t see in the rules that for every “group” travelling that you were only allowed 1 gallon sized Ziploc baggie. We both gave the agent the stink-eye. I asked why if we were travelling separately we would each be able to have 1 bag, but if we were together we still only could use one.

No real answer-let’s just say we put on our shoes back on and went out to check our bags in.

Then per our pilot-Phoenix had “extreme air traffic” and we were now going to sit in our plane at JW until he got word that it was clear for him to land.

Okay.

Our daughter made dinner reservations for 7:45. She had groupon coupons and wanted to be sure we’d have a table for 6. The place was small and the boys would be hungry. Did we know that???

We landed 20 minutes late and had to wait 15 minutes for our “terrorist” pieces of luggage. Somehow we made the reservations. Even if we hadn’t, there was plenty of room.

Our grandsons are now 3-1/2 and 4-1/2. For those who aren’t aware-at 4-1/2 kids become very adept at hatching what they think are “perfect” plans for getting what they want. That said, Dylan’s “plan” was to ask grandpa for a “hook-e-lau” every night and tell him if he could do that all the time if we’d just move next to him. (A hook-e-lau is basically a noogie, for those of you who aren’t savvy to my husband’s sense of humor) He also kept on pointing out that he and Aidan didn’t mind sharing their bathroom with us and that the bed we were sleeping in was plenty big for not only us but to snuggle with them every morning.

I believe Dylan is as determined as his mother was when she was 4-1/2. Aidan, our peace-maker and supporter of all things “Dylan” just kept telling us “yeah grandma, yeah grandpa-that would be good wouldn’t it?”

And so it went during our Thursday and Friday enjoyment with the boys while their parents were at work. We took them to a couple of parks, walked through the outlet mall and Wal-Mart, watched soccer practice, watched Pinocchio and then met up with their parents to see “Cat-in-Boots” (Aidan’s name for the obvious new movie) and dinner at Johnny Rocket’s.

Saturday we were up at 7 and out the door for soccer pictures and the big game. Dylan scored 4 goals while Aidan and his lady love ran after each other and scored for the other team. After a bath, the boys had 2 birthday parties. Sunday, we went out for brunch and to a pumpkin patch. The boys loved riding the horses, picking out their Halloween pumpkins and seeing the petting zoo.

After dinner-we all went to meet up with one of the first non-family member babies in our day care/pre-school. Her mom, whom I always liked, found me on Facebook! Turned out, they lived about 30 minutes away from our daughter!

Of course that “baby” is about to be 19! We had a lovely and fun time over yogurt (okay, I sat there and gabbed). I couldn’t believe Alyssa was a grown young woman who was studying to become a nurse. Her mom, Mary, couldn’t believe our “little” Sarah was almost 30 and a mom of 2.

Yes, time has a real way of passing when you’re too busy living to notice.

The next day, while their parents had work-we had the boys for one more day. We took them to the park and made them take a nap so they were up for trick-or-treating.

Our son-in-law loves Halloween-he dressed up as Obi Wan Kenobi. Dylan was Darth Vader. Aidan is still into superheroes and was thrilled to be Spiderman. While Sarah stayed at the house and passed out candy-we went with the boys through the neighborhood.

Before we knew it-it was Tuesday morning 6 a.m. and we were getting in the car for the last time. The boys wanted to know why we had to leave-we pointed out that Uncle Adam and Auntie Sam were wonderful to have watched Pepper (our tabby), but that it wasn’t fair for him to first lose Sunshine and then for us to leave him as well.

They started to cry. We walked them into their classroom and gave them a last kiss and hug. Watched the big puppy eyes and tears and said good-bye. Dyl had an especially hard time.

Later our daughter called to tell us that she had just gotten off the phone with Dyl’s teacher-he kept crying and saying “I did everything right and it still didn’t work-they still left us and went home.”

One of life’s hardest lessons-no matter what you wish for and no matter how hard you work at getting it, sometimes what you want just isn’t going to happen. It’s a horrible thing to ask a little guy to understand.

How can we make him understand, when we’re not at all sure we do?

Baby it's Cold outside

2011-11-02T15:44:00.000-07:00

over at fabulously40.com-our opening course in our joint venture meal is a bowl of winter squash soup-take a look:

http://fabulously40.com/blog/id/winter-squash-soup-21742

The New Physical Therapy

2011-11-01T15:42:00.000-07:00

Need physical therapy, but of a personal nature? Read about womanology!

Page 25

http://www.sunset-publishing.com/

Double the Read

2011-11-01T15:37:00.000-07:00

this week in the Laguna Woods Globe-read about 2 interesting stories that keep people active in retirement!

Pages 3 and 22

http://epaper.ocregister.com/Olive/ODE/OCWLagunaWoodsGlobe/

While I'm Gone

2011-10-26T09:18:00.000-07:00

While I'm gone-I've given all you foodies a challenge:

http://fabulously40.com/blog/id/while-im-gone-21714

Appetizers anyone?

2011-10-23T12:28:00.000-07:00

After a week of talking about creating an appetizer, here are the results! However, it sounds like more of a side dish to me.

http://fabulously40.com/blog/id/appetizer-21707

ALERT, ALERT!!! Since Halloween is meant for children of all ages, we've decided to go spend a few days with the grandkids-so there won't be a blog out on Friday.

To all who come here-have a safe, happy and fun trick-or-treat day!

News host reflects on the past 42 years with Channel 6-TV | channel, love, rob - News - The Orange County Register

2011-10-21T16:52:00.000-07:00

News host reflects on the past 42 years with Channel 6-TV | channel, love, rob - News - The Orange County Register

In an Instant

2011-10-21T11:12:00.000-07:00

In An Instant

Life is strange-and not always in a “funny” way. At times it’s downright catastrophic.

I’m sure you all heard about the rampage that happened here in the great OC of California in a small beach town called Seal Beach-the one where a deranged man came in and open fired at the hair salon where his ex-wife worked? He killed 8.

My parents’ live a mere 5 miles from this salon. The kids in that community went to both junior and senior high school with me. My grandparents lived in the retirement community that occupies probably over half the actual mileage of the town. In short, I have a history with the little burg.

What on earth drives people to such despair that not only do they drag themselves into oblivion, but feel that they can’t leave it at that and must take others who are innocent with them?

Did this supposedly “wonderful and devoted father” (this was said by neighbors whom were interviewed by local TV reporters) think before he gathered all these weapons that by killing his son’s mother that he was forever changing the course of all their lives-AND NOT FOR THE GOOD????

As if this tragedy weren’t enough-he had to completely destroy all those other families? Maybe I’m a bit touchy about all this because I also was on the CSU, Fullerton campus during the killing rampage there way back in the mid-70’s or maybe because I’ve lost a sibling to a horrible death right in front of me at age 4-it could even be because I’m still grieving for the loss of my fur kid, whatever it is-I’m furious that this has happened to this little boy.

Someone in the neighborhood who didn’t want his name known said it best-“I have no idea what’s to become of this sweet and innocent victim of his father’s stupidity. He lost his mother to a violent death created by his father and he will now go through his life with the knowledge that this man who contributed to his birth is a mass murderer of untold proportions.”

We all do things that we later regret-whether it’s minor like overindulging in food or drink or a major gaff like talking/texting on our cell phones while driving and causing an accident, unfortunately it is human nature to make bad choices at various times of our lives. Hopefully, we all learn from them and become better people after our atonements.

But what will this man do to correct his gargantuan sinful mistakes? When the things one does are so bad that there’s not even a scale to measure them, how can even the slightest bit of healing begin?

I for one don’t care about the perpetrator’s soul-he deserves to be in purgatory, but I do care about the friends and families of the victims-they will move on, the horror they feel will eventually lessen, but it will never leave or be forgotten.

Appetizer Results have Begun!

2011-10-20T13:55:00.000-07:00

Okay-over on the flip side, over 65 people read the column, but only 2 people had ideas for what food items we should include in our first course group recipe!

The items are: Squash, apples and grapes.

Please take a look, leave me a note here or on the column itself, if you are a fabulously40 member and put in your ideas of what spices, herbs, type of squash, etc... we should use!

http://fabulously40.com/blog/id/the-results-for-appetizers-21693

Rob Merritt-News Anchor since 1969

2011-10-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Rob Merritt, a fellow CSU, Fullertn grad has been one lucky journalist! He started as an intern at Channel 6-a closed circuit cable station back in 1969 and he's been there ever since. Read all about him on Page 3:

http://epaper.ocregister.com/Olive/ODE/OCWLagunaWoodsGlobe/

Kids enjoy crafts, rides, petting zoo at fall festival | simon, kids, kidgits - News - The Orange County Register

2011-10-19T19:55:00.000-07:00

Kids enjoy crafts, rides, petting zoo at fall festival | simon, kids, kidgits - News - The Orange County Register

Fall is here and the local mall is keeping kids busy!

Mothers of Multiples Club offers garage sale, support - News - The Orange County Register

2011-10-19T19:51:00.000-07:00

Mothers of Multiples Club offers garage sale, support - News - The Orange County Register

Here's one of two slide shows I did this weekend!

Let's Create a New Fall Menu

2011-10-17T14:51:00.000-07:00

Everyone needs some help in the inspiration area at some point-well this is my fall challenge to you!

Go to this week's food column and help start a recipe for an entire Fall Menu, this week we're starting with appetizers:

http://fabulously40.com/blog/id/its-time-to-create-fall-dishes-21659

Years are Passing

2011-10-14T09:15:00.000-07:00

Getting Older

Do you mind getting older? I mean aside from all the aches and pains, etc…

My “baby” sister turned 48 on Columbus Day-I did what many others did and wished her a Happy Birthday to her on FaceBook. I did the dastardly thing and put down both of our ages.

Bear in mind, we both look pretty darned good for women who are middle-aged. At first my sister said she was a bit miffed that I “outed” her on that score, and then she thought about the fact that we did look younger than our years and because I put down my age, she decided it wasn’t so bad after all.

Me, while I’m not enjoying the added doctors’ appointments, the added medications, the various health idiosyncrasies and such, I figure I’m actually okay with getting older. It’s the byproducts I’m not enjoying.

I know, I know-my yearly “birthday” column has me lamenting my age, but really-the number itself never has bothered me. At 30 I didn’t freak out that I was, well 30. I looked great, I was in the best shape of my life and I was proud to announce that I had crossed over and past my twenties.

When I was about to hit 40, I thought-okay, I’ve got some medical issues and need cataract surgery-still, I looked pretty darned good (I was hoping the fact that I saw no wrinkles and lines had more to do with good genetics that the cataracts) and life went on after the new decade took effect. Plus, I was doing okay with the writing and had an enjoyable “day job” situation, so life was good.

Now when I saw 50 approach, I figured I was already a grandma and had now been down-sized out of my “day job”, what more could happen?

The “what more” was that according to several articles in the newspaper I free-lance for and numerous internet news reports said “The likelihood of a woman in her 50’s who has been laid off from her job getting another full time position in her lifetime ranks up there with being the victim of a shark attack.”

Really? Evidently so. I was laid off from my job 3 years ago and have filled out over 150 applications that have garnered me a whopping 3 interviews. All three interviews seemed to go extremely well-2 had more or less had told me all that was left was to call me with a starting date, all 3 fell into the abyss of “don’t call us, we’ll call you”.

What I’m realizing is that the getting older isn’t bothering me, the health issues will ebb and flow (that is NOT an age issue in my book) and my grandkids are getting older. What does bother me is that the world views my life as not being one that can still flourish and grow but as one that is on a downward spiral!

It’s not depressing to be getting older-I’ve earned the right to crow about what my life has been and how happy I am to be living it. What is depressing and shameful is that so many employers don’t think that women over 50 deserve the time to be promising, talented and useful additions to their staff.

The worst are our fellow women who make their older counterparts feel as if we’re not worthy of a chance in continuing our contributions to the world.

That said, I guess I’m off to acupuncture so that I can move enough to enjoy the week to come.

GIVE MY REGARDS

2011-10-13T09:29:00.001-07:00

This week's cover story in the Laguna Woods Globe is all about 4 women who are bringing Broadway to the city:

pg 3

http://epaper.ocregister.com/Olive/ODE/OCWLagunaWoodsGlobe/

something different

2011-10-11T15:07:00.000-07:00

Decided to try something different in the kitchen this week. We're always eating chicken-but this one has a crust of panko and pistachio:

http://fabulously40.com/blog/id/something-different-21623

Friends

2011-10-07T13:29:00.000-07:00

Friends

Friends are hard to come by and in today’s virtual world, you may not even know a person, well-in person, but I treasure them all the same.

I’m not a party girl, I don’t really do “girls night out”, I prefer the constant company of my husband in the confines of my home more than anything else, but sometimes I do need to comment on how warming it is to commiserate and have friends who know what you’re going through.

In the last few weeks I’ve unfortunately shared the feelings of furkid loss with two friends. One started off as a colleague-a PR woman who loved her Labrador for almost 9 years when cancer struck. It hit me hard because I knew what was about to happen in our own home and it made it seem all the more timely and real. We do know each other as colleagues, collaborators and lunch buddies.

It seems hollow to say, “I know how you feel”. Let’s face it, we all grieve differently. While some may find themselves okay knowing the loss was better than watching their animal in pain, others don’t go through it with the same amount of bravery.

We knew that what we were doing was not only the best but only thing we could do, but it’s hitting us deeper than the loss of our last cat and dog. Maybe because we’re older, maybe due to knowing the pain that was about to happen and realizing it was just something that was going to have to be. So we just let the grief happen.

The week after Sunshine’s passing; a cherished and dear friend whom I’ve never met in person lost one of her precious pups to cancer as well. Our condolence cards and grief seemed to literally crossover to each other through cards and e-mails. Our husbands and we, we’re very much pet people. Many’s the time we have found ourselves admitting that some humans we know could take a lesson in decency from our canines-and we’re dead serious on the point.

And then, a friend my husband and I have known for years did the sweetest thing. This lady is also in the “fur parents of the world unite” club and has lost a couple of wonderful pups herself in years past. Knowing how much Sunshine meant to us and how deep our grief she sent us a loving, sob producing gift.

A wooden frame with the following inscription:

They say memories are golden, well, maybe that is true. You never wanted memories, you only wanted me. You’re the best family a dog ever had. If love alone could have saved me, I never would have died. In life you LOVED me dearly, In death, you me still. In your heart I hold a place no one else could fill. If tears could build a stairway and heartache a lane I know you’d walk the path Heaven and bring me back again. Although it hurts to lose a friend, know I will be with you till the end. SUNSHINE

Immediately, we put our favorite picture of the world’s best lab/retriever mix into our prized possession.

And with friends like these, you then realize that there are people who really are as wonderful as any pet could ever be-and to those of us who are lucky enough to have known this love, you also realize what a compliment this is.

Latte Da Bagels owner gives back to the community | bagels, kakar, hills - News - The Orange County Register

2011-10-06T20:01:00.000-07:00

Latte Da Bagels owner gives back to the community | bagels, kakar, hills - News - The Orange County Register

local businessman loves to give back to his community.

Chocolate, I Need Chocolate

2011-10-04T10:28:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks have been rough-I caved and made these Chocolate Rocky Road cookies. Give them a try yourself:

http://fabulously40.com/blog/id/chocolate-i-need-chocolate-21579

Senior Reporter Profiles 2 Women

2011-10-03T20:10:00.000-07:00

This month my columns in the Senior Reporter profile more of two ladies you've read about-Patrice Goldberg on Page 25 and Selma Bukstein on Page 23.

http://www.sunset-publishing.com/issues/October%202011_October%202011.pdf

More on Teaching About Tolerance

2011-10-01T16:58:00.000-07:00

Many people wanted to know more about Selma Bukstein, the doll lady who at 85 is looking to pass the torch on teaching children about tolerance-here's a longer version of her life's work in the OC Jewish Life magazine:

http://www.ocjewishlife.com/site/teaching-about-tolerance/

I Raced for the Cure

2011-09-30T12:58:00.000-07:00

Racing for the Cure

I’m a walker. Yes, I’m one of those people who wear a pedometer, own AND USE a treadmill or enjoy the outdoors and actually put in many, many miles of time on my feet.

A few months ago an editor who has become a friend asked me to do a 5K with her. I figured, “this could be fun. I walk at least that every day-so I’m ready!”
It was a first time walk for a local assisted living home. There probably weren’t more than about 100 or so of us. We had a good time and it helped those who needed to live there, yet really couldn’t afford it.

A few weeks ago, my friend asked if I wanted to join her jazzercise class and do the Susan G. Komen 5K in Fashion Island, Newport Beach. I decided that the organization is by far a noteworthy enough cause to get up at 5 in the morning for.

We chose the 7:30 race, held our own in the traffic, the extra walking to get to the starting line, enjoy the pavilions afterward and the 22,000 others (including Dr. Oz and his wife) who were just trying to find a spot to walk. While gabbing away, we wondered:

What does it take to put together an event like this?

After we were done-we found the media booth and picked up our packet of information, which included the following statistics:

Water-1250 gallons (only figure that we thought would be higher!)
Cups-50,000
Port-a-potties-281
Trash boxes-450 and 1,800 bags to go in them, 7 large dumpsters (thought I’d put the trash news together for you all)
Tents-155
Tables-452
Chairs-939
Buses-18
Parking signs-150, Cones-290, Fencing-4,500 feet (traffic covered)
They also had 25,400 tee shirts (22,000+ for the walkers, the rest for volunteers and event personnel)
Walkie Talkies-168.

We couldn’t get a figure on how many pounds of bananas, apples and oranges there were or how much coffee was around for all of us.

It was an amazing morning that truly helped out a lot of people.

A really happy note I’m thrilled to share-while we were waiting for our team to be complete, another group was having a double celebration-a 5 year survivor was using the morning to get married. She walked the race with a veil and holding her new husband’s hand and in the company of her family.

For me, it was a way to do something good for others and to commemorate the 1 week mark of our Sunshine’s passing. I passed the finish line at the exact moment we left the vet’s office.

Enjoying Everything-Including what's Next

2011-09-29T14:41:00.000-07:00

Read all about a lady who's making the most of her retirement on Page 3:

http://epaper.ocregister.com/Olive/ODE/OCWLagunaWoodsGlobe/

How to Give Back to Your Community

2011-09-27T10:53:00.000-07:00

This month in my city column-a local restauranteur tells how he gives back to the community:

http://www.ocregister.com/share/profiles/?slid=bf3d273e-aaca-d8a4-f59d-4f0c97d2eb69&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckUserId=bf3d273e-aaca-d8a4-f59d-4f0c97d2eb69&plckPostId=Blog%3abf3d273e-aaca-d8a4-f59d-4f0c97d2eb69Post%3a57da0cc2-fd37-48cb-88b1-6facfc232ede&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest

Omega-3's

2011-09-27T10:34:00.000-07:00

Getting in those Omega-3's

http://fabulously40.com/blog/id/get-your-omega-3s-21533

Sunshine

2011-09-22T12:37:00.000-07:00

Our Sunshine is Gone

Considering ourselves blessed for every one of the 14 years and 3 days we had her we still knew the day was coming, but honestly-we were just hoping it wouldn’t be this soon.

Since her accident on July 4th, her cognitive skills had plummeted and the accidents more frequent-but through it all, our darling Sunshine was still as sweet as any pet could be. Loving her hugs and kisses, she enjoyed playing with Pepper her cat and seeing our grandpups once a week. When our grandsons visited she would watch over them like a mother hen.

At 15 and some change, she was older than most large dogs-her vet would say she’s here because of all the love she receives. Agreed, but we feel that we got just as much as we gave.

About 7 a.m. on Sunday I heard her cry. I couldn’t get down the stairs very well, so my husband went. He found that she had somehow locked herself in the bathroom. That had never happened before. He tried to help her out and realized that her hind legs were stiff out in front of her and she was balancing on her front paws.

It took a while but we got her out by helping her scoot out of her predicament. Our hope was that she was just a bit stiff and once she stepped down into the family room her legs would move. No such luck.
We knew what needed to be done. I called our son and daughter-in-law and they came on over to help. I called the emergency pet clinic and they gave me a few options about where to go and what to do.

Being Sunday-we couldn’t call our vet nor could we wait.

We called and decided on where to go. The woman who answered was very sweet and helpful-unlike the first 2. We all went. The technician saw her and petted her-Sunshine gave her a kiss. Even on death’s door our sweet girl was still loving.

The vet was a very nice young woman who gave us time to say good bye and shed a good amount of tears herself.

It never took anyone long to fall in love with Sunshine.

We were blessed for 14 years and 3 days.

When we brought her home, I wrote a story and said, “From now on, no matter what the weather is we will always have our own ray of Sunshine.”

I guess I didn’t want to realize it-the sun eventually came Sunday, but it sure wasn’t very sunny. And it feels right now as if it will be a very long time before it will warm the Nadel clan again.

Tolerance program needs help

2011-09-22T11:48:00.001-07:00

Selma Bukstein has taught kids about tolerance for over 50 years-now, she's looking for help to keep it going! Page 3:

http://epaper.ocregister.com/Olive/ODE/OCWLagunaWoodsGlobe/

An Outage is Not a Time for Romance

2011-09-16T10:09:00.000-07:00

An Outage is not the time for romance

Many of you may have read about the outage here in the West last week. Over 5 million people were without electricity for what seemed like an eternity. At least it did for many of us. We were part of those left in the heat and dark.

It all started on one of my husband’s days off-Thursday. It was really hot and humid out-so much so that even my a/c pinching hubby lowered the temp on the unit and tried to cool off the house. We had a documentary to watch and put it into the Blu-ray and were quite enjoying it when-BAM, as Emeril might say, everything went out.

Hmmm. We thought it was just the heat and humidity and expected it to go right back on. The day before our a/c blew and we couldn’t turn it on for about 4 hours, but we did have the rest of the needed power. I could still cook, open the fridge door for a drink and do the laundry. Okay, I did it all while sweating profusely, but I could still do what needed to be done.

No such luck this time. Couldn’t use the house phones-all of them are cordless. Yes, I have a gas stove and oven, but they ignite electronically. No TV, no computers/internet, no listening to the CD player, no whole house fans (which wouldn’t have done much since it was over 95 outside). It was still daytime, so we had light. Our energy went off at 3:20 in the afternoon.

We were planning on BBQ chicken, but our sides were going to be some quinoa pilaf and grilled veggies. No problem with the veggies, but our old BBQ didn’t have a burner-forget the quinoa. It was decided that we’d just pull out a 2fer coupon from the drawer and go out and eat.

Peachy idea-all the traffic lights were out. It took us 25 minutes to go 3-1/2 miles. We had never been to this fast food Mexican restaurant, but I had been forewarned by a fellow food writer that it wasn’t too good. He was right, it wasn’t good. But it was cool and the drinks were re-fillable.

After that “tasty” meal, we walked in the deadly heat to the Home Goods store and moseyed around in there. We found a stainless steel trash can on the clearance aisle for $30. Seemed to be a good idea-our white can didn’t fit the theme of the kitchen anymore and we saw the same one at Bed, Bath and Beyond for $100.

We happily went home in our naïve state-figuring we’d have power by now. It was after 6. One could only hope.

So much for hope-it was so darn hot that as soon as we walked in we noticed our furkids looking half dead. We couldn’t even give them some ice water-icemaker couldn’t work and we were afraid to open up the fridge and let any warm air in.

Warm tap water was about the best we could do for them-and they already had that.

Since it was only slightly better outside, we took the old girl and the middle aged boy (in a cage for him since he came to us de-clawed) out in the yard with us and we read some magazines and worked some crossword puzzles until it got dark at 8.

We used our cell phone and called up to the local Barnes and Noble to see if they had power-yes! Score! We hopped in our car and went to hang out there. It seemed everyone had the same idea-there was “no room at the in” in the coffee area and everyone was moaning and groaning about the lack of something to do. We found a couple of empty benches and I put down my orthopedic cushion and we read until about 10 and went home.

My husband, in all his wisdom, thought it might be a good evening for romance. I said, “Really? We were upstairs for less than 5 minutes and we were drenched and changed clothes in the laundry room-why would we go back up there?”

With that, we decided we’d sleep on our employee issued La-Z-Boys. Let me tell you, it’s not as easy as you might think. I have micro-fiber and Steve has leather. Both, even when covered by cotton sheets, make you sweat in the now dropped temperatures of 85! Also, mine isn’t very comfortable for sleeping when you have degenerative neck and lower back discs along with severe arthritis in various forms.

We then tried to stretch out on our couches. I’m only 5’1-1/2” and the love seat wasn’t too bad, but quite narrow. My husband wasn’t very comfortable on the 6’ couch since it has very puffy arms.

Thankfully, at about 11:30 the power clicked on! We immediately opened the windows and turned on the fans to draw in what was now cool air. Next was re-setting all the clocks and cooling down the furkids with some much needed ice water.

We fell asleep in our bed and woke up to a new day. The only power yet to re-boot were all the traffic lights and our realization that the next time, we’d better have radios that actually work and a better back up plan for the pets.

Grandparent of the Year

2011-09-15T10:50:00.000-07:00

A trend that might find its way across country-Grandparent of the Year on Grandparents day!

Page 3 tells about the first one:

http://epaper.ocregister.com/Olive/ODE/OCWLagunaWoodsGlobe/

Cooking in the Dark is NOT Romantic

2011-09-13T14:51:00.001-07:00

We had a power outage here and it turned our romantic bbq into a night of being wandering nomads:

http://fabulously40.com/blog/id/power-outages-are-no-fun-21324

Ever After Celebrations

2011-09-09T18:11:00.001-07:00

Here's a lady so cheery that even with her business being to create family events to host a funeral, she's able to do it with a smile:

http://epaper.ocregister.com/Olive/ODE/OCWSaddlebackValleyNewsLFLH/

Trials and Tribulations

2011-09-09T11:59:00.000-07:00

Trials and Tribulations

My trial: Learning how to navigate through our new drug insurance plan.

My tribulation: see above.

I’m getting pretty close to age 54 now and I’ve never dealt with any medical insurance other than our HMO-Kaiser Permanente.

Now, for those who don’t know, Kaiser has their very own pharmacy located in each and every single clinic and hospital. In fact, the hospitals usually have 2-one for the outpatients and one for the inpatients.

The staff is usually helpful, courteous and treat you like a person-not a card number or a statistic. At least I can say that for the ones I’ve dealt with-don’t know about other counties in Cali or other states. This is only my experience, for what it’s worth.

My “trial” began when my husband’s employer decided that they’d drop the Kaiser pharmacy and give us a private drug plan. In short-we get to keep the medical, but not the pharmacy. Obviously, this was the cheaper route for them.

We found out in a rather rude way about this change-I went to go fill a prescription and they informed me that my total for the one generic drug was $64.88! I said, “No, we only pay $10 for a generic.” The tech, said, “you know, I thought something sounded odd-you’ve never paid more than $25 and that was for your name brands.” She checked and informed me we no longer had drug coverage with our plan.

“What?????”

I told her I couldn’t afford the meds and please put them back. I mainly said that because my head was spinning with the knowledge that I had 3 weeks’ worth of a drug in my fridge that had an asking price of $1,588 a month!!!

Got home and guess what? In the mailbox were our new cards for our “pharmaceutical needs”. I called and asked for the price of the prescription (the tech gave it to me) and with the new policy, this one was $10. Phew!

However, I called “specialty drugs” and asked them about my high end designer drug and was told, “We don’t cover that-you’ll have to find a way to pay for that yourself!”

Stars and dizziness hit. So did a wave of queasiness. I called my rheumy who said that “They can’t deny you this life preserving medication. If they do, you can sue them. I have their number from a few other patients, they will approve this, don’t worry.”

A couple of days later an e-mail from my wonderful rheumy was in my box-it had the approval code and my new order number.

I think I’ve mentioned that my rheumy is the best doctor in the world, no?

However, our new plan-it seems everything other than typical antibiotics runs us about 2-1/2 times the amount we normally paid the Kaiser pharmacy. My “life preserving drug”-it was $25; we are now paying $75. My restassis was also $25-I paid a few cents under $50.

Then came the need for another month’s supply and some idiot in this department put down that I had 1 order, which was thrilled-they forgot to put the “2” next to that one that was on the prescription. There I was and the nurse and the doctor going through the entire process again.

Still, at least I’m getting what I need.

Now for the “good” news-after 8-1/2 years on that “life-preserving” drug-the rheumy and I decided that despite trying to re-boot its former efficacy, I’ve pretty much run its use into the ground and it’s now time to move to one of its cousins.

Sigh-here I go again.

Be a happy booker – visit the library | library, village, moore - News - The Orange County Register

2011-09-09T11:57:00.000-07:00

Be a happy booker – visit the library | library, village, moore - News - The Orange County Register

much easier link to my story on a very special library.

Visit This Private Library!

2011-09-08T10:39:00.000-07:00

A private club has created a reading oasis for those living in their village, read about it on page 3:

http://epaper.ocregister.com/Olive/ODE/OCWLagunaWoodsGlobe/

Falling into Autumn

2011-09-06T10:51:00.000-07:00

Over at the cooking half of things-we're talking favorite comfort foods for the upcoming Fall Season:

http://fabulously40.com/blog/id/falling-into-autumn-21263

Dental Disease

2011-09-01T12:40:00.000-07:00

Dental Disease

Yes, this week’s subject is probably going to turn into a rant on dentistry. Oh, and periodontal disease.

Mind you-in 53 years on this planet, I have NEVER even had a real cavity. This means I was unaware of just how disgusting Novocain and its effects are and how uncomfortable it is to have both arthritis and vertigo in a dentist’s chair for 2 hours.

It all started with a “regular” visit to get my teeth cleaned. It started off wrong. I was the first one to arrive that morning. They called me in second. No, it wasn’t because the hygienist or the dentist was the “other” patients. No, this is just the way this office rolls.

Then I stood there waiting for 35 minutes for the dentist. I was curtly told to have a seat in the “chair”. I kept explaining that sitting hurt after an extended period of time-and where were the dentist and the hygienist anyway?

Finally the doctor arrived, took a 2 minute peek and mumbled for the umpteenth visit “won’t make any money off your mouth” and told me the hygienist would be in shortly.

I asked what was “shortly”, given the amount of time I waited for him. He came back and said “10 minutes”. It was 20, but at this point-who was counting, except me?

Let me back up-the previous 4-6 visits the dentist actually wound up doing the cleaning. Something I would suggest VERY STRONGLY that you never allow to happen (you’ll know why in the next paragraph).

A perky and very nice hygienist came in and proceeded to check my gums. Then she laid the very unexpected news on me: I had bone loss in my lower jaw, the beginnings of periodontal disease and something about extreme PLAQUE build-up from “obviously not having my teeth cleaned.”

At that I replied, “Not cleaned? I come in every 6 months no fail and Dr. Tran has done the cleaning every time for the last 2-3 years! I guess we can see HE missed that course in college.”

She merely looked at me at that remark. Anyway-she told me that I had to be anesthetized and have a very deep and thorough cleaning, irrigation and 8 shots of antibiotics into my jaw to clean up the “infection” and hopefully help the bone loss.

Read that: We’re billing you $600 and sending a bill to your insurance company for $2,100.

EEK!!!

I immediately called my husband to share the news with him. You know, he didn’t sound very happy about this either. And he didn’t even have to endure the 4 “quadrant” Novocain injections, the irrigation, the hanging almost upside down in a chair built for torture and the 8 extra needles. May I add the 3-1/2 hours of numbness or the ensuing 24 hours of throwing up???

He told me to use the “Care Credit” card that we used for our cat Pepper’s dental surgery.

Hey, according to that company-medical is medical, whether you walk on 4 legs or 2.

As for the bone loss, I’ve been taking Fosamax since the “broken foot” incident 5 years ago, so I believe this is the “very slim chance” side effect that I’m having. Believe me, I’m visiting my rheumatologist either as you’re reading this or will have returned. We will definitely be discussing this “bone loss” thing.

I guess some good came out of this-I don’t think the dentist will be allowed to practice being a hygienist anymore (at least I’m not allowing him to come near me anymore) and I had something to share with all of you this week.

Remedy foods

2011-08-30T12:20:00.000-07:00

It was with great relief that I took to my pantry after unexpected dental surgery:

http://fabulously40.com/blog/id/the-importance-of-remedy-foods-21209

Ever After Really Can Be a Celebration!

2011-08-26T14:50:00.000-07:00

Just ask Patrice Goldberg-she helps others through her very different event planning business!

Check it out:

http://www.ocregister.com/share/profiles/?slid=bf3d273e-aaca-d8a4-f59d-4f0c97d2eb69&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckUserId=bf3d273e-aaca-d8a4-f59d-4f0c97d2eb69&plckPostId=Blog%3abf3d273e-aaca-d8a4-f59d-4f0c97d2eb69Post%3af2afc131-56d7-4c40-b7a9-87ff1c2e5152&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest

So Long, Farewell

2011-08-25T15:58:00.000-07:00

So Long

No, I’m not going anywhere, but a magazine forum that I’ve been a member of for a very long time is shutting down.

The publisher of the site owns numerous magazines. I started out being a member of 3. Then I realized I don’t have that kind of disposable time and needed to pare back on making contributions to them all. It wasn’t that hard.

About a year ago one of the remaining two shut their forums; the one I felt was most expendable was next. Many of the “regulars” came over to “our” site. Then came the news-this one was closing as well.

It’s not that we can’t go on or think of this haven as anything but a good place to garner ideas for dinners, vent our frustrations or share tips on how to save money or just gossip, but still, we all got along and had a great cyber-relationship. So we are sad to see it go.

A couple of adventurous and tech-savvy members created alternative boards-but we all know how those go: many will start and few will stick it out. A lot of us are in our “middle” years and are not what anyone would dare to call “skilled” in computer electronics that will let us segue into a new format all that easily.

Some already have remarked on one of the sites that “this is just too hard to maneuver and I won’t be coming back-everyone have a nice life.”

The publisher and the remaining moderators have asked us to go to their last remaining forum-some of us are trying it out as well. I’ve already decided that as much as I like the moderators, I’m not crazy about this site and removed it from my list of favorites.

Only time will tell if we all get used to the various new surroundings. I know I will need to decide which one I’ll stick too-again, the reason I chose this one of the original 3-4 was because I liked the camaraderie of the women there.

The moderators were really good and even showed me how to become a better moderator myself on another forum. I’ll miss them a lot. 3 of them have moved over to the one they recommend, one was told “goodbye” after 10 years of loyal service.

We all know that things change and that every business is looking for ways to cut back on expenses, but it doesn’t make it any easier to adjust too. And there’s no set of rules saying we have to enjoy or embrace whatever comes our way.

I liken it to adjusting to different stages in your life-some are easy to walk into and through and others have you pulling out your hair and screaming. This is one of those stages that are in-between, it leaves you feeling a bit down and a tad sad about walking away from it, but hoping that what comes next will not only fill the hole, but add something new and unexpectedly good.

Giving the gift of life | mckinney, gobles, one - News - The Orange County Register

2011-08-25T15:07:00.000-07:00

Giving the gift of life | mckinney, gobles, one - News - The Orange County Register

Here's an easier link to the story on Jim McKinney

Giving the Gift of Life

2011-08-25T09:12:00.000-07:00

for Rev. Jim McKinney it was just what he needed to do-donate one of his healthy kidneys to a complete stranger.

Read about my cover story in The Globe on page 3:

http://epaper.ocregister.com/Olive/ODE/OCWLagunaWoodsGlobe/

Thinking Outside the Box

2011-08-23T12:45:00.000-07:00

I want everyone to think about creating dishes that many have started to buy in "boxes", but do it the healthier way-from scratch! And not only will it be better for you not really cost any more (maybe less) it will taste better people and in the same amount of time!

http://fabulously40.com/blog/id/think-outside-the-box-21168

Art Linkletter was Right

2011-08-19T09:07:00.000-07:00

More Funnies From Kids

I realize that this is the 3rd time I’m writing about “kid-isms”, but I can’t help myself, really.

Our son Adam and daughter-in-law Sam picked the boys up for a “road trip” back home. I did my best to tire the boys out for them. The goal was to try and have them so tuckered out that they’d sleep at least 2 of the 6+ hour drive.

Promising them one last fling at our best park (dubbed so by the boys because they love dinosaurs and this park was completely dinosaur and fossil themed), we left and I let them do their finest running, swinging, sliding and dinosaur hunting for almost 2 hours. Took them home, cleaned them up and fed them a good amount of sleep-inducing protein.

The problem with this was that I was the one who was most “tuckered” out. Let’s face it, a woman in her almost mid-fifties with numerous joint issues should not be trying to keep up with a 3 and 4 year old while carrying a bag filled with drinks and snacks, her own purse and for some reason a camera (as if our younger grandson ever looks my way as the camera clicks) around a 2 acre park.

Whatever, as long as their few remaining hours with me were thought of as fun.

When their “ride” came, it took the 3 adults about 20 minutes to load up the luggage, the toys, the snacks, get them pottied one last time and into their seats. One last kiss and hug, a reminder to my “kids” to please call, no matter how late, and let us know they got through the desert safely.

My ploy worked, sort of. Aidan, the 3-1/2 year old fell asleep for the entire first half of the ride! Lucky Uncle Adam and Auntie Sam. However, Dylan didn’t sleep more than a few minutes. Sam told him to let his eyes rest and it would be a faster trip home, but he wouldn’t give in.

Here come the kid-isms: The reason Dylan wouldn’t give in to his exhaustion? “Auntie Sam, I can’t go to sleep, Aidan’s sleeping and I have to keep watch and protect him.”

Aahhh, who can resist an angel like that? Even if a mere few hours prior to this statement he tried to yank him off the third level of the twisty slide?

Later, as they pulled up into the driveway of our daughter’s home, Uncle Adam turned around to him and said “Dyl, I just want you to know how proud I am of you. You were such a good boy and I really appreciate how well you behaved this whole day.”

Dyl responded, “Don’t tell me Uncle Adam, my mom needs to hear it!”

I’m rolling on the floor as I’m typing this-Art Linkletter had it right all along, kids really do say the darnedest things.

Cruising to be 100

2011-08-18T10:33:00.000-07:00

John Miller is about to turn 100. Not that unusual for the residents in Laguna Woods Village-but he's taking a cruise and taking his girlfriend with him!

read about him on page 22:

http://epaper.ocregister.com/Olive/ODE/OCWLagunaWoodsGlobe/

I Miss Them Already, But

2011-08-16T16:00:00.000-07:00

My grandsons went home and while I miss them terribly already-I did enjoy only making dinner for 2 last night-and a spicy one at that!

http://fabulously40.com/blog/id/i-miss-them-but-21130

PS-This is my 600th entry!

The Simplest Things

2011-08-12T10:18:00.001-07:00

The Simplest Things.
There’s an old cliché about parents bringing home a Christmas gift for their kids in a huge box. They spent a fortune on the gift and were anxiously waiting to see the looks on the faces of the little ones upon opening it-with that the kids throw the gift aside and play with the box.

All of us who have kids and grandkids now this couldn’t have a truer ring. Last week I kept Dylan and Aidan happy by taking them to a nearby park with some saved hummus containers and plastic spoons. I took our bubble machine as well. The boys were the envy of the other kids who had actual sand toys and shovels. I can’t tell you how many kept asking my two “where did you get the cool toys? Can we share?”

Then they left their fancy items in the sand and played with the extra hummus containers I brought.

The day I filled the wading pool in the yard-I gave the boys some plastic drink cups leftover from our last family gathering and my cooking spoons, those kept them entertained for over 2 hours.

On the day I told them they were going to be junior reporters for me, the planner was nice enough to put bracelets on their wrists so they could join in the fun. What did they chose? Was it the face painting? No, too long a line. Was it the photo booth? No. My two had a blast talking and playing at the play-doh table and drawing on the chalk table. Oh-and hugging Scout the Safety Dog. It was an added and unexpected bonus when they were given coloring books and a stuffed version of Scout.

I promised them that if they behaved and did a good job of taking pictures (great-grandparents gave them cameras) and asking questions I would take them to do whatever they wanted.

They did and what did they want to do? No, not Disneyland or Knott’s Berry Farm. Not a trip to the beach or a movie-nope, nothing like these fun kids things.

Dylan and Aidan wanted to go to Von’s and get to ride in the cart with the car in front that had a TV in it!

I thought they’d at least say dinner at McD’s!

I happily took them to the market, let them get in the “car” and buckle up. They had a choice of 3 shows to choose from. They decided on Jake and the Pirates.

I pushed them up and down the aisles and made the grand purchase of a new big box of Crayola crayons. After all, Scout the Safety Dog gave them each a brand new coloring book-how would old crayons do?

When we got home, they happily colored in the books, I even added some paper for freehand art all the while I made a nice dinner of baked chicken breast, rigatoni made in chicken stock and salad. We all ate well and enjoyed the simple meal, the fun day and best of all-we enjoyed each other without breaking the proverbial bank.

We should all take a lesson from Dylan and Aidan the next time we think our kids/grandkids need big ticket items.