THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN By Garth Stein Harper Paperbacks, New York, NY (2009) When a friend loaned me The Art of Racing in the Rain, I was not thrilled by the idea of reading a book about a talking dog. But about one-fourth of the way through this fascinating book, I actually […]
Posted inLife Styles, Retirement
Batik, a Post-retirement Business Venture
Batik, a Post-retirement Business Venture By Vikka Molldrem and Ann Ziegler Lots of newly retired people dream about starting their own business based on some activity they love. We came up with producing and selling our own hand-waxed and dyed batik clothing. We enjoy working together and felt we had mastered the art sufficiently to […]
Posted inRetirement
Discovering Our Personal History
Discovering Our Personal History By Pat Jurgens Ever notice how interesting history becomes as we grow older? Growing up, we may not have cared about our great-grandparents, but as we move toward later years, they are pause for thought. Who were they? Where did they come from? What were their lives like? We […]
Posted inNature, Of Local Interest, OutLook for the Bay
Seven Swans-a-Swimming
OutLook for the Bay: Last Words Seven Swans-a-Swimming Perhaps it started with seven swans-a-swimming or escapees from the local zoos or parks, but their numbers quickly grew to more than 4,000 gobblers of the subaquatic vegetation in the Chesapeake Bay. The mute swan, as beautiful a sight as there is, was introduced to America […]
Posted inHoliday
Holiday Traditions Can Make the Season Bright
Holiday Traditions Can Make the Season Bright By Leah Lancione Of all the holidays, Thanksgiving probably shares the most similarities in American homes, with a family meal involving turkey and all the trimmings. What families do before and after the repast is where divergent traditions come into play. Some folks start the morning off watching […]
Posted inHoliday
Festive Greens: The most nutritious foods you can add to your diet this season
Festive Greens: The most nutritious foods you can add to your diet this season By Ellen Kittredge With the chill in the air, the shortening days and, of course, the turning of the calendar pages, it is undeniably fall. Fall is one of my favorite seasons, mostly because I enjoy cradling a big steaming bowl […]
Posted inHoliday
Deck the Halls with Eco-friendly Green
Deck the Halls with Eco-friendly Green By Peggy Markham “Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, of all the trees most lovely…” One of the biggest decisions to be made for the holiday season centers on the Christmas tree, that ubiquitous symbol of joy and celebration. This year, go green! Make an eco-friendly choice. Choose […]
Posted inFood, Holiday
WANT TO MAKE A BATCH OF OLD-FASHIONED COOKIES?
WANT TO MAKE A BATCH OF OLD-FASHIONED COOKIES? By Lesley Younes When masses of immigrants starting coming to the US in the 19th century, whether they were seeking sheer survival or escaping religious or political persecution, all the possessions they had were memories and perhaps a few artifacts from their homeland. Food was a comfort […]
Posted inGardening, Holiday
Amaryllis for a Spectacular Holiday Display
Amaryllis for a Spectacular Holiday Display By Neil Moran There are many ways to make your home more inviting for the holidays, including the usual Christmas lights, trees, wreaths and ornaments. If you gardeners want to really dazzle your guests this year, show them a display of bold and beautiful amaryllis blooms. Amaryllis is […]
Posted inFood, Holiday
Holiday Dinner
Holidays. By Emily Baran Holidays are an interesting concept. For some, holidays mean the big Thanksgiving, the Hanukkah or Christmas evening and morning feasts. For others, holidays mean getting family together whenever the time presents itself. Due to the fact that my family celebrates both Hanukkah and Christmas, in my book holidays mean spending time […]
Posted inGood Health, Retirement, Well Being
Wisdom and Words from a Gerontologist
Wisdom and Words from a Gerontologist Robert N. Butler, an Appreciation By Mick Rood Gerontologist Dr. Robert N. Butler died this summer. He should be remembered. Better yet, his attitude should be emulated. Butler coined the term “ageism” more than 40 years ago to describe how older people were discriminated against in the United States. […]
Posted inGardening, Nature, Of Local Interest, OutLook for the Bay
Saving the Bay: One River at a Time
Saving the Bay: One River at a Time By Kathryn Marchi Have you ever watched water gushing out of your roof gutters or streaming down your street during a rainstorm? These familiar scenes are played out in developed areas everywhere. In a time when conservation matters, one wonders how that water could be “contained” and […]
Posted inBooks
Outcasts United
OUTCASTS UNITED By Warren St. John Random House, New York (2009) Whether you are a soccer mom or a grandmom, this is the book for you. Soccer is the sport of this book, but what makes it stand out is Luma Mufleh, the charismatic young lady who turns a group of refugees who find themselves […]
Posted inVolunteers, Well Being
Prevent Heart Trouble: Volunteer!
Prevent Heart Trouble: Volunteer! If you don’t have any charity in your heart you have the worst kind of heart trouble. — Bob Hope By Leah Lancione Bob Hope’s sentiment was quite accurate. Volunteering is beneficial not only to the people and community who receive the service or charity, but to the volunteer’s self-worth as well. […]
Posted inDear Vicki
Dear Vicki
DEAR VICKI Dating Etiquette It’s my kid’s fault! How good it feels to say that because parents always get blamed for everything, don’t they? I’ve been a widower for a long time and my daughters finally talked me into signing up for a senior dating service. As a result, I’ve been in contact with a […]
Posted inBooks
Teacher Man
TEACHER MAN By Frank McCourt Simon and Shuster, New York (2005) For anyone who has read the award-winning novel, Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt, Teacher Man will be a 180-degree change in content. While Angela’s Ashes, was a somber book, Teacher Man is a bright testimonial to the tenacity and dedication of a high school […]
Posted inGames People Play
MAY THE Q BE WITH U
MAY THE Q BE WITH U By Maureen Smith As we get older we need all the teasers we can come up with to keep those brain cells generating. My husband and I actually race to see who will start the day’s crossword puzzle. One starts it and the other adds to it — and […]
Posted inBooks
THE BETTER PHOTO GUIDE TO DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
THE BETTER PHOTO GUIDE TO DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY By Jim Miotke Amphoto Books, New York (2005) White balance, mysterious icons, strange jargon. These new digital cameras take great pictures. However, it seems you need a PhD in funny sounding tech terms to learn to use them. Actually, you don’t if you pick up Jim Moitke’s Betterphoto […]
Posted inBooks
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope By William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer HarperCollins (2009) This fascinating true-life adventure details the life of a young boy who, without more than rudimentary knowledge of English, teaches himself to understand electricity and ultimately builds a windmill from scrap from the town […]
Posted inHike, Hike the Bay Area
For a Perfect Fall Day, Connect with the Mountain Club of Maryland
BAY CONNECTIONS For a Perfect Fall Day, Connect with the Mountain Club of Maryland By Edree Downing Can there be anything more pleasant on a fall day than walking in the woods enjoying the spectacular autumn foliage and fresh air? And could it get any better than to share the day with like-minded people? If […]