Boomer Galaxy

Remember Raffi

noreply@blogger.com (Monica - footloose) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:19:00 +0000

Baby boomers and others have been honored to listen to the irreverent and funny, Raffi. I know him from when my kids were very young. He made new singable songs for kids - kind of like the Shel Silverstein of singing. Perhaps some of you younger boomers heard him in your youth.

Now that I'm a grandparent, I need more songs to draw from my brain to sing to my grandbaby. I'm thinking that this chant is the way to go:

If you get up in the morning at a quarter to one
and you want to have a little fun,
You brush your teeth ch ch ch ch, ch ch ch ch....
If you get up in the morning at a quarter to two
and you want to find something to do,
You brush your teeth ch ch ch ch, ch ch ch ch....
If you get up in the morning at a quarter to three
and you want to hum a tweedle dee dee,
You brush your teeth ch ch ch ch, ch ch ch ch....
If you get up in the morning at a quarter to four
and you think you hear a knock at the door,
You brush your teeth ch ch ch ch, ch ch ch ch....
If you get up in the morning at a quarter to five
and you just can't wait to come alive,
You brush your teeth ch ch ch ch, ch ch ch ch....

Remember Raffi with Raffi music

That tune is sung on his Singable Songs for the Very Young CD. Go for it, see how much your memory recalls, and have a good laugh, too.

Lily, the Famous Black Bear

noreply@blogger.com (Monica - footloose) — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Back in January I noticed an article about a video first - of a black bear named Lily, giving birth. It caught my interest because it took place near Ely, Minnesota, and I was born in Minnesota. Also, technology never ceases to amaze me. To capture a live bear birth from the den is just as amazing as walking on the moon in this baby boomer's mind. Lily gave birth to Hope on January 22, 2010, and videos are all over the web.

The main site is the North American Bear Center. It is certainly worth checking out. There is a whole menu about Lily and Hope with FAQ's and photos and videos. The biologist (Lynn Rogers) also started a "Lily the Black Bear" site on Facebook. That too is quite interesting. Of course, numerous videos are on You Tube as well.

I figured a blog about Lily was necessary. After all, maybe some of you recall reading something about her, but never had time to look into the results? We all get terribly busy in day to day events that affect our lives, so this dramatic story may refresh them, and highlight life in general.

The Center has a mission statement worth repeating. I quote:

"The mission of the non-profit North American Bear Center is to advance the long-term survival of bears worldwide by replacing misconceptions with scientific facts about bears, their role in ecosystems, and their relations with humans.
There is a huge need for accurate information about bears worldwide.
Bears have been unfairly demonized for centuries. Exaggerated perceptions of danger historically led to eradication campaigns using bounties, poison, trapping, and shooting. All eight bear species around the world are now listed as vulnerable, threatened or endangered in all or portions of their ranges. Remote habitats that once insured isolation and protection are now being occupied by people, and the attitudes of these people will determine the future of those populations.
The Bear Center is dedicated to replacing misconceptions with facts worldwide. It is also working to conserve bear habitat, stop poaching for bear body parts, rehabilitate injured and orphaned bears back to the wild, and implement methods to reduce conflict between humans and bears."

I live in an area where bears and humans overlap too much. This is happening all over the country and we all need to be aware of the dire consequences. This blog is my way of supporting the Bear center.

1973 Musings

noreply@blogger.com (Monica - footloose) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0000

A look back at the year 1973 came about when I wondered while I smiled at the memory of the delicious apothecary of Crabtree & Evelyn. It was founded in 1973 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The name "Crabtree" brought up sights and scents of great beauty. The packaging of the all natural products was enough to give me great pleasure and desire for the products.

A certain Celtic tree love stimulates my inner time traveler when I look at the lovely crab tree. It bears apples (wild apples of more than 1,000 varieties exist), and all sorts of tree lore. The many remedies of the crab tree even include divination.

Yes, love and prosperity were foretold in more ceremonious ways than at the present time. Now, one practices apple bobbing, or tossing an apple peel over the left shoulder to see if it forms the initial of a certain individual when it lands.

Apples aid digestion, cure constipation, and the bark of the tree can be used as a tonic reducing fever. The crab apple detox can be internal and external (poultice). The fruit leaves are also used.

1973 was a big year for most of us baby boomers. Pontiac Firebirds were hot. The World Trade Center became the tallest building in the world. Roe v Wade was made into a legalized U.S. Constitutional right. Brando refused to receive his oscar for Best Actor in The Godfather (Best Picture). The American troops left Vietnam (finally).

Overseas the OPEC folks restricted crude oil flow and the price increased 200%. Not good! Europe entered into a recession.

Funny how some of this history seems to resonate today, in 2010. One thing though, Crabtree & Evelyn have a wonderful online outlet with discounts up to 75%. This is an amazing grace of all natural health and beauty products including; spa goods, soaps, candles, fragrances, and even scented drawer liners. Maybe even some of the discounts are like the 1973 prices.

Baby Boomer Romance Novels

noreply@blogger.com (Monica - footloose) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:37:00 +0000

Remember those hazy days of summer of youthful romantic fantasies that may have become a weaving never finished? A mind weaving of interconnected relationships with strangers from any space in the thoughts emanated from imaginative daydreaming. I find it quite possible and entertaining as well, to reach back to those possibilities, and shake them free of my confining mind.

One way is by devouring romance novels (not for women only). Some of the vastly popular categories to choose from are:

historical romance novels
paranormal romance novels
western romance novels
gothic romance novels
contemporary romance novels, and many more.

Mostly they are entertaining, sometimes familiar, and often great escapism to be had at a reasonable price. In fact, there is a great romance novel sale occurring here at Barnes and Noble. The link will take you to the sale, and you can easily shop for DVD's, games, music, and other goodies if you want to enhance your summer romance!

Baby Boomers have wonderful imaginations when left to their own devices. Where else do these great novels come from? Experience and memory mix with the creative flow from imaginative mindfulness, and loose threads begin to gel. A story is born, a tale told, and the reality may be somewhere in between, or not.

Check out the romance novel you may be searching for.

Summer Sale and A Great Read

noreply@blogger.com (Monica - footloose) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:24:00 +0000

Since I've returned from a 6 week hiatus in New Zealand, I feel summer is moving along way too fast. After all, this is June 30th, and the heat is on. The states are gearing up for various 4rth of July bashes, and I noticed that a great sale is happening that may interest you - 4th of July Sale - Save 45% on thousands of books, toys, games, and DVDs!

I've been enjoying the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. She is a New York Times best selling author with a great sense of drama and humor in this very addictive and enjoyable series of books about an eighteenth century Scotsman and his wife from the twentieth century! History at a delicious and enthralling possibility just envelops me to get my work done so I can read! Hopefully I won't go into a deep downer after I finish the series. Luckily Gabaldon has books about one of the characters (Lord John Grey), whom I am beginning to like, so maybe I can continue with his stories.

Please comment if you have read the series and how you liked them. I'd love to hear your take. Also, for foreign readers (other than the USA), the first novel is titled Cross Stitch, in the UK. Here, it is titled, Outlander. I read Cross Stitch in New Zealand, and had to figure out the different titles because I never saw that title here. Maybe you picked it up out of the US?

Remember to check out 4th of July Sale - Save 45% on thousands of products!

First Time Grandma finds Grandma Faith

noreply@blogger.com (Monica - footloose) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:18:00 +0000

Grandma faith is experiencing new grandchild bliss amidst initial misgivings. Not only do new parents (first time parents) have some misgivings, but they also have a great faith in grandma wisdom. It seems like a tall order initially, but the rhythm of love, mutual support, and encouragement becomes clearer as the bonding grows.

I've been graced with an incredible experience as a first time Grandma. I have shared it here. Some of the delightful benefits from my experience are:

bonding deeply with 3 others
providing support
trusting my Grandma instincts, and renewing faith in the human nature of nurture!

Luckily I was able to meet other Grandma's from around the world, and compare notes. A lovely thread of mutual knowing and respect in each other's care taking really takes place in the baby boomer Grandma galaxy.

Although current Grandma-hood care taking methods may differ from our mother's Grandma-hood methods, they still involve support in some form. It could be; doing laundry, cooking, babysitting, companionship, advice, etc. Having Grandma faith that all is as it should be sure helps.

Baby Boomer Dilemma: Grandma or Nana?

noreply@blogger.com (Monica - footloose) — Thu, 06 May 2010 07:08:00 +0000

New baby boomer grandmothers need to be aware that they may be asked what they want to be called. It can be quite a surprise if it is an unusual custom to them.

I speak from experience as a new grandparent. I am from the States and my grandchild was born in New Zealand (which is where I am presently). Much to my chagrin, I was asked which I was going to be, "Grandma or Nana?" I stumbled around verbally, and used the excuse that I didn't realize I had a choice in the matter, but I would have to decide. I was asked numerous times before I decided. I went with Grandma and my nickname.

After a little research about this question, I have realized there is no pat answer. Traditionally in the States we are called Grandma. Personally I never knew I had a choice in the matter, I just figured whatever the child could speak is what I’d be called, and then as the child grew older it would be “Grandma first or last name,” and that would be that. I prefer having a choice in the matter. I like my nickname best, so that is what I chose. I love the term “Nana,” but always pictured the English being attached to it - like in the Peter Pan story.

Some say it is a family preference. That appears to be common. Whatever has been in a family as far as how grandparents are called on both maternal and paternal sides holds steadfast. Others leave it to what the person wants to be called, which is smart if a divorce was present. Still, it can merely boil down to where one lives. The local traditions are followed, and some of the names:

Nanagrandma
Grandmanana
G-ma (less traditional)

Whatever your situation, be prepared for the dilemma so it won’t be too ponderous. Oh, and know you can probably change your mind as the baby grows into childhood, teen-hood, and beyond.

Baby Boomer Grandparenting

noreply@blogger.com (Monica - footloose) — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 17:28:00 +0000

One thing many baby boomers have in common, besides our labeled birth years from 1946 - 1964, is the next step up from parenting. That would be Grandparenting. I am being graced with the title of Grandparent this very day, as I blog!

Our daughter and son-in-law are living in New Zealand, and the mystery of birth is upon them. I have been so anxious, so I texted them only to find out that the waters had broke, and the midwife was on the way! This is so very awesome, our first grandbaby will be here soon.

Some of the pre-boomer grandparenting challenges have been how to gracefully share that:

yes, names have been chosen, but we don't know what they are
no, we don't know the sex, and neither do they
waiting to pack all the lovely baby goodies for the trip to NZ until we know the sex because we have been given many gender specific items
cheering the parents-to-be on with their choices of where and how to birth, and not sharing those choices with others who may not agree, or inadvertently say something negative
and of course, wondering if we will really remember all those newborn tricks, and safety rules, and what not.

In short, being a good Grandparent does take some know-how. I'm counting on the parenting experience to re-live in all the loving ways that include humor and mistakes. Right now, I'm holding our daughter, son-in-law and the baby in the womb in my heart with loads of love and light. I plan to hold them all in hugs physically soon.

What a good deal being a grandparent will be. I will get to spoil the little love, and pass on wise stories. I will know a fake cry for a real need cry. I will be able to be a source of extra security and affection for the little love. I will provide the best dining room table chairs for fort making, and pulling up on, when learning to walk. So much to look forward to.

Presently I am gifted to be an "auntie" to a friend's 13 month old, just walking, adorable little boy. Yes, while my grandchild to be is making her/his way into this world, I am playing with another's child. What a blessing. Those little ones are such great teachers. One plus is learning patience.

The patience of practicing good grandparenting by honoring the choices made by the parents, and prayerfully awaiting the birth outcome. I am happy to announce the birth of a grandaughter! A new angel to love.

Eve of Winters End

noreply@blogger.com (Monica - footloose) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 02:46:00 +0000

Colorado weather is so very ironic on this last day of winter. The snow has been hurtling like daggers from the above, causing very cold temperatures and lots of school closures and others around the state. Funny, I always thought of the vernal equinox, or first day of Spring coming rather than the last day of winter. Especially today, March 19, 2010.

At approximately or precisely (whichever you want to believe) 1:32 pm tomorrow, the sun will cross directly over the equator making day and night equal in length. It would be nice if we see the sun tomorrow!

This event was marked by many previous peoples from cultures world wide. The Egyptians built the Great Sphinx so it points directly toward the rising sun on the day of the vernal equinox. Machu Picchu, the Inca castle in the sky, is considered to be an observatory for events such as the vernal equinox. I was there in 2000, maybe that's why I feel so strongly about this upcoming event.

Today is definitely being taken note of because it has been like waking up to return to sleep. Now the eve is more like staying awake time. Maybe the time change (spring forward) is just catching up, or maybe the sudden weather change is just living up to the March description, in like a lion, out like a lamb. Except that the lion is roaring, and the closest to finding the origin of that saying is in this cartoon. Check it out, and have a sunny vernal equinox!

Saint Patrick's Luck of the Irish

noreply@blogger.com (Monica - footloose) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:34:00 +0000

The lucky man from Britain who was enslaved on The Emerald Isle has been immortalized as a patron saint and a spiritual shepherd who led the Druids from a four leaf clover to a three leaf clover symbolizing the Catholic trinity.

One of the most widely celebrated holidays is Saint Patrick's Day, March 17th. It doesn't matter whether one is Irish or not, the holiday has grown so popular that many countries hold parades in honor of the Irish tradition. In fact, Saint Patrick's Day has become a celebration of not just the lucky saint, but of all things Irish.

Saint Patrick Quiz

What are some other names of the great saint? Answer; Maewyn Succat, Patricius, Patrizio, Paddy or St. Paddy.
Where was he kidnapped from? Answer: the British mainland.
What was his slave job? Answer: shepherd.
What does his pagan birth name (Succat) mean? Answer: warlike.
What does his baptismal name (Patricius) mean? Answer: noble.

My heritage includes Irish from both parents, along with some other ancestry. I recall my parents getting in friendly, funny arguments. Mom would say to me, "You're Roman Catholic, and dad would counter with, "No, you're Irish Catholic." Then they would fondly call each other a mick and a wop. Now I know that I am half Irish, and we always celebrated March 17th, somehow.

The wearing of a green hat, shamrock, or drinking something green, as well as attending a parade or certainly Mass, was always part of the day. Why green? Well, Ireland is known as The Emerald Isle, and the clover is green, and the holiday is in the Springtime which signifies green for new growth. I have seen lovely photos of green rivers dyed so on the holiday! It is also the color of sympathy for the time Ireland was trying to get independent of Britain in the late 18th century. So green has become a national color, enhanced on March 17th.

Things Irish Quiz

Where in Ireland is Saint Patrick's Cathedral? Answer: Dublin.
Name a famous Irish dance troupe. Answer: River Dance.
Name a famous Irish singing group made up of all females. Answer: Celtic Women.
Name a famous Gaelic game similar to hockey. Answer: hurling.
What are some of the foods served on Irish holidays? Answer; corned beef, Irish stew, potato dishes, shamrock shaped cookies with green icing.

Finally, ask where the phrase, "Luck of the Irish" came from. My research just suggests that the Irish have survived stolen lands, famines, and war so the phrase has aptly described their plight. Here is an example of an honoring of the Irish survival.

John Lennon Luck of the Irish Lyrics

If you had the luck of the Irish
You'd be sorry and wish you were dead
You should have the luck of the Irish
And you'd wish you was English instead!

A thousand years of torture and hunger
Drove the people away from their land
A land full of beauty and wonder
Was raped by the British brigands! Goddamn! Goddamn!

If you could keep voices like flowers
There'd be shamrock all over the world
If you could drink dreams like Irish streams
Then the world would be high as the mountain of morn

In the 'Pool they told us the story
How the English divided the land
Of the pain, the death and the glory
And the poets of auld Eireland

If we could make chains with the morning dew
The world would be like Galway Bay
Let's walk over rainbows like leprechauns
The world would be one big Blarney stone

Why the hell are the English there anyway?
As they kill with God on their side
Blame it all on the kids the IRA
As the bastards commit genocide! Aye! Aye! Genocide!

If you had the luck of the Irish
You'd be sorry and wish you was dead
You should have the luck of the Irish
And you'd wish you was English instead!
Yes you'd wish you was English instead!

So you see, I consider the Brit, Patrick, to have the luck of the Irish. His legacy and legend survives from the Celtic tradition with some myth and beautiful literature thrown in as March 17th approaches every year. Go ahead, celebrate! Create a snake dance, and undulate to a green field to search for a four leaf clover. Go golfing, or participate in horse racing, there is always some way to celebrate Irish.

FYI - this is a reprint of an article published by me on InfoBarrel (under a pen name).

March Myriad Addendum

noreply@blogger.com (Monica - footloose) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:34:00 +0000

I just received this e-mail and I am sorely disappointed - angry even. All affiliate marketers should be alerted to this, no matter what state you live in. From my understanding, Colorado had the highest number of affiliates turn out to oppose the proposed legislation. It still passed. What the heck is wrong with our legislators, anyway? Do they not get that this is the future means of making a living for thousands of people?

I am dismantling any links to Amazon from this blog. I have numerous articles published online with links to Amazon products. Now, if readers click through and purchase, I won't receive a cent. Many affiliate marketers count on this extra income, especially now. This is so wrong.

Colorado is just being added to the growing list of states that have passed similar legislation. Beware, and be watchful. Our dear nation is severely ill. Here is the email from Amazon:

Dear Colorado-based Amazon Associate:
We are writing from the Amazon Associates Program to inform you that the Colorado government recently enacted a law to impose sales tax regulations on online retailers. The regulations are burdensome and no other state has similar rules. The new regulations do not require online retailers to collect sales tax. Instead, they are clearly intended to increase the compliance burden to a point where online retailers will be induced to "voluntarily" collect Colorado sales tax -- a course we won't take.
We and many others strongly opposed this legislation, known as HB 10-1193, but it was enacted anyway. Regrettably, as a result of the new law, we have decided to stop advertising through Associates based in Colorado. We plan to continue to sell to Colorado residents, however, and will advertise through other channels, including through Associates based in other states.
There is a right way for Colorado to pursue its revenue goals, but this new law is a wrong way. As we repeatedly communicated to Colorado legislators, including those who sponsored and supported the new law, we are not opposed to collecting sales tax within a constitutionally-permissible system applied even-handedly. The US Supreme Court has defined what would be constitutional, and if Colorado would repeal the current law or follow the constitutional approach to collection, we would welcome the opportunity to reinstate Colorado-based Associates.
You may express your views of Colorado's new law to members of the General Assembly and to Governor Ritter, who signed the bill.
Your Associates account has been closed as of March 8, 2010, and we will no longer pay advertising fees for customers you refer to Amazon.com after that date. Please be assured that all qualifying advertising fees earned prior to March 8, 2010, will be processed and paid in accordance with our regular payment schedule. Based on your account closure date of March 8, any final payments will be paid by May 31, 2010.
We have enjoyed working with you and other Colorado-based participants in the Amazon Associates Program, and wish you all the best in your future.

Best Regards,
The Amazon Associates Team

March Gadget

noreply@blogger.com (Monica - footloose) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:48:00 +0000

Greetings and I hope you enjoyed the blog read like an actual newspaper. I'm constantly learning new goodies about technology, and wanted to share the above. You can actually create your own "newspaper" on this site. It only takes a few minutes, and it is free. No need to sign in or anything. Just click HERE to check it out. I think it would really be fun for home schoolers or even in the classroom as a teaching tool. If you are an affiliate marketer, this would be an eye-catcher for a promotion. Enjoy.

Maybe I'm just gearing up on my new baby boomer role. I'm going to be a Grandmother soon, and this would be a great way to announce the baby's arrival! Life is so very rich. I'm so blessed.

Writing Passion: My Bad

noreply@blogger.com (Monica - footloose) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:00:00 +0000

I can't trace my passion for writing, but it might have been from a memory I have of childhood play. I was with a friend, playing in a muddy, dirt filled area. It was late into a lovely Indian summer, so we were warmed by the sun, and very chilled as the sun descended. We were deep into the creation of some village. We used mud, stones, sticks, grass, whatever. There was some large story going on with the created villagers.

Now, looking back, it feels ancestral as ways of knowing some past life was being re-enacted. It's a strong memory of story creation, and possibly where my writing passion has evolved from.

The history of writing is vast, and it evolves from pictorial to hieroglyphical to phonetic. Many different writing tools were used:

sticks
feathers
quills
clay
stones
shells, and eventually papyrus, paper, and computer.

The author of this book considers writing a great invention and I concur.

There is some suffering involved in this ardent means of conveying the spoken language. The writing organism consists of those grammar skills that can plague a writer endlessly. Luckily, with daily practice those skills sharpen so editing doesn't have to be such a pain. With daily practice comes the memory of childhood play.

Nevertheless, the process leads to such open-mindedness and interesting research that I do believe it aids in keeping one young. Certainly it can be used to empty the demon thoughts that don't pay rent in one's head! It is great mental exercise. I consider writing as anti-aging treatment.

Since we distinguish our humanness from other beings by writing our language, it helps to keep it in the now - current. This is where some playfulness can come into writing, and playing is anti-aging!

Writing About Writing

noreply@blogger.com (Monica - footloose) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 06:06:00 +0000

Any writer gets to the blank page syndrome and suffers from not writing. A paralysis type grip seems to download on empty pages to remain empty. I'm feelin' the pain, now and then, too. So there are ways to upload the words. Here's some offerings for anyone else needing some inspiration.

Let yourself be conscientious about the not writing blank page syndrome, but don't feel guilty and beat yourself up. Piling remorse on the pain doesn't really do anything to de-stress the situation.
Read some bad writing. Really, poorly written crap. You know you can do better. Allow for some contemplation on the doing better part.
Exercise differently than you normally do- like go bowling instead of weight lifting, or go swimming instead of skiing. Your creative juices may just start flowing in ways you'd never imagined.
If you are reading a really good book while trying to write, you may be comparing your writing to a published, famous author's work. Don't. That author started somewhere, sometime, and experienced blank page syndrome too.
Write down your random thoughts without worrying about grammar. Don't re-write or correct any misspellings or punctuation. Just write. Don't try to make sense of your words. No one else has to read them. You don't even have to. It is just a way to get your page full; a way to begin again.

Writing is so about beginning and continuing. It is about those scraps of paper in your backpack, purse, on your bedside table, in your car, next to the toilet. It is about the pictures in your mind and in the sky and on the beach.

The thing is - one must actually be mechanical about the physicality of writing. Pen in hand, or keyboard ready- feel the words coursing from fingers to tools, to paper. It's a start to continue.

I really enjoy Natalie Goldberg's books to keep me inspired and writing.

The Cat's Meow: 1920's Article

noreply@blogger.com (Monica - footloose) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 01:56:00 +0000

Hello readers. I thought you might enjoy this article I wrote for InfoBarrel. It's a great site to get articles published and make some $$$ from adsense. You can sign up for InfoBarrel (it's free) on my link if you'd like to write. Here's my article reprint.

Those jazzy 1920's created a time that is probably as revisited as the 1960's. A swanky fashion, created by liberated women such as Coco Chanel was matched by gangster fashion inspired from the one and only Al Capone. The prohibition of alcohol didn't stop the youth from having a good time, instead speakeasies flourished. A flapper sub-culture became legend thanks to the Ziegfeld Follies. In short, the 1920's was the cat's meow.

Numerous words were said with a knowing tongue-in-cheek attitude:
· bump off - to murder, kill
· cheaters - eyeglasses
· copacetic - wonderful, fine, allright
· hoofer – dancer
· gams - a woman's legs
· heebie-jeebies - the jitters
· keen - attractive or appealing
· pinch - to arrest.
1920's history even included the introduction of the popular Chinese game, Mahjong.

New Morality
Although folks were singing the Blues, mainly laments about a mate, there was a new, looser morality going on. Cars with a combustion engine (rather than a steam engine) had been introduced, so more people were driving the more affordable cars. The increase in consumer products made for more affordable pricing. There was an emphasis of youth culture over the older generation. This was a sort of coming out from a stricter generational view of society.

Relationships in the dating sphere changed. Dating became informal - no chaperones. Couples went out and the man paid for the night out. Singles broke away from parental authority and enjoyed an emerging independence. Let's imagine a dating scene. Jo picks up Sally in his automobile, and they drive through some newly invented traffic lights to a speakeasy. Sally is dressed fashionably with a feather boa adorning her flapper dress. They order hair of the dog (shot of alcohol), and maybe even indulge in some Indian hop (marijuana). Then they become hoofers to a jazz singer's soulful tune, or maybe some ragtime piano music. They can do the shimmy, turkey trot, and bunny hug. Once Jo's dough (money) is spent, they take off in his car and maybe park for awhile, since they realize they are stuck on (having a crush on) each other. See how this new morality looked in the 1920's?

Bee's Knees - phooey

It wasn't all the bee's knees (extraordinary, the ultimate). They didn't write self-help books about making up like nowadays. Certainly the new morality led to trouble, infidelity and sorrow for some. One famous actress of the 1920's history was Evelyn Nesbit. Her affair ended with her husband murdering her lover. It was quite a big story at the time, and not exactly the cat's meow.

Along with the inventions mentioned, penicillin and band-aids can be added. This was great, because baseball players like Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees needed to stay well to hit 60 homeruns in 1927. So did Charles Lindbergh with his first successful transatlantic flight. No doubt those two fellows did some talking to the Sky Boss with their great endeavors.

There were five major movie studios; Warner Bros., Paramount, RKO, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and 20th Century Fox. One of the more famous films was "The Jazz Singer" with Al Jolson acting in it. He didn't win any awards at the time, however. Here's a link to a short video about 1920's history, enjoy, and Don't take any wooden nickels!

Valentine Central

noreply@blogger.com (Monica - footloose) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:40:00 +0000

Poor St. Valentine. The dude was beheaded in 296 by the Roman emperor Claudius, and 200 years later Pope Gelasius declared him a saint. Since then, Feb. 14th has had something vaguely to do with love. Valentine was the patron saint of lovers, although he may be a wee bit chagrined at how the 21st century materializes his day.

Another famous dude, Paul, wrote a famous, timeless letter to the Corinthians, and a part of it is quoted all over the world. 1 Corinthians 13: Love Quotes shares the beautiful words from the letter, and gives a little more meaning to love on the 14th.

In the mean time if you aren't able to give your love a kiss and a hug or a hand written card, or bring her/him coffee or tea and a treat in bed, maybe you'd like to be material and purchase some love gift. Nothing wrong with that. Here are some ideas for her:

Savon de Marseille with Crushed Local Flowers 300g-Lavender (French lavender soup)
Valentine Raspberry Hearts Box - 25 pieces (Intentional chocolate)
Sterling Silver Pendant Cubic Zirconia CZ Heart Journey Pendant Necklace - For Valentines Day Gift

and here are some gift ideas for him:

An added note about love, loving oneself is not selfish. To believe that you are a part of something bigger, and that you are so much greater than what happens to you, that is a great maturity beyond material loving.
So, love yourself this Valentine's Day.

The Knockout Dropper: 50th Mission

noreply@blogger.com (Monica - footloose) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 04:06:00 +0000

I've been obsessed with the myriad history of World War II. Specifically the Flying Fortress of the U.S. Eighth Airforce. Exactly, about a plane that completed 75 missions, The Knockout Dropper. It was a B-17 that came through the war with little damage, and was scrapped at Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1945.

My father (1st Lt John P. Manning) was the Knockout Dropper's pilot for it's historic 50th combat mission. He wasn't one to ever speak much about the war so most of what I know has been through research and old newspaper clippings that I am fortunate to have copies of. He also left a journal of his time at Molesworth, England that I found when he was dying. All my siblings have copies of it, and my mother has the original.

There were many heroes from the men and women who served in WW II. I don't mean to dismiss any of them. This particular blog post is just focused on referral to the U.S. Eighth Airforce that mentions the Knockout Dropper. Here are some books that I have found that mention the B-17.

These two for sure mention the Knockout Dropper's 50th mission.

These look good also:

My dad's flying history while based in England for the European theatre was probably pretty much like other heroes - it's just that he was my dad, and I have wanted to know more about that plane and that event that seems harder to research as time passes. Perhaps you would like to know more about it also? There is much more offered in my article, "The Knockout Dropper: 75 Combat Missions," that you may find helpful.

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Baby Boomers Wisdom is for Everyone

noreply@blogger.com (Monica - footloose) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:30:00 +0000

To begin a blog about baby boomers wisdom being for everyone, one should realize that truly wise baby boomers know that wisdom comes from people of all ages. When we were young parents, we were willing to learn from our children. We allowed to let them be teachers, our teachers. Later in life, we can continue to allow that and the natural reciprocity (being reciprocal) with others just enhances our own wisdom.

So, I saw an interview with Will Smith, who is not a baby boomer (his birthday is 9/25/68), but the wisdom he shares is very worth passing along. If you need an inspiration break, or just a wisdom reminder, please view it.
It's a short 10 minutes to lift your spirits.

Great, huh?

Another wisdom source from a true baby boomer is the marvelous Marianne Williamson (7/8/52). I have read and studied and discussed many of her writings. The books that really spoke to me are A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles", or A Return to Love CD, and Illuminata: Thoughts, Prayers, Rites of Passage. This is the link to the hardcover, which is a beautiful book, there is also a paperback version. She is a wisdom writer for all ages, and her sincere honesty really is reflected in her work. I'm glad I was turned on to her many years ago, because her work is often a fallback for me when I am at that trying time - needing a faith renewal.

The well known Wayne Dwyer, who is not a baby boomer (5/10/40), has spent much of his life sharing wisdom. I have enjoyed many of his books and watching him on PBS. He is able to break through the intelligentsia psychology in lay terms that we all can relate to. Two notable books of his are: Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life (this is really a classic, before he added Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao). The other is Wisdom of the Ages: 60 Days to Enlightenment. One certainly doesn't have to stop here. These are just a few of his many offerings.

Baby Boomers wisdom is the knowing to pass on wisdom from sources everywhere. The earth is a wise teacher too. Listening is one way in to the wisdom world. Please pass it on as a well known phrase teaches, "You can't keep it unless you give it away."

Celestial Wisdom of the Heart
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Getting Your Stats

noreply@blogger.com (Monica - footloose) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:55:00 +0000

As an affiliate marketer I should look at numbers. By this I mean, stats showing; the amount of visitors, where the visitors are from, if they are repeat visitors, and numbers of visitors daily, etc., etc. One way I do this is through a free, reliable, invisible web tracker called StatCounter. Just type it in your browser and sign up if you are interested.

Of course "driving traffic" to my blog is what I am really focusing on. This alone entails some study and application of different methods that are readily found all over the internet. Publishing posts by "pinging" (another free service) that delivers to various other websites is one way of getting indexed in the search engines (Google, Bing, Yahoo, Cuil, etc.). Publishing in various social networks like Facebook, Myspace, Del.icio.us, or Zimbio are more helpful ways of driving traffic to a blog.

Getting listed in Technorati (having a claim code like 5PUHA6SCGAMU) is another highly suggested pathway to more traffic. Recently I read about BlogCatalog and checked it out too. It definitely looks do-able for listing one's blog, plus the community seems quite readable.

Writing for online ezines is also a great traffic driver. Ezine Articles, GoArticles, ArticlesBase, and SCRIBD are but a few of the many offers to choose from or add to. All these suggestions do include stats: the more one writes the more one is published the more traffic is driven to one's site!

One common way is Driving Traffic to your Website using eBay 2 Audio CD 2009 Edition. I haven't used e-bay, much to my own chagrin, yet I know many who have, quite successfully!

Best of luck to you, and if you would like to add to this short list of ways to drive traffic via more freebies than not, please comment.

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Baby Boomer Options During Cold January

noreply@blogger.com (Monica - footloose) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:04:00 +0000

January is such a cold month here in the Rockies. Granted, Colorado is a very sunny place despite the cold, but January still is my least favorite time of year here. Like today, it's presently 9 degrees, and very sunny. Who wants to go skiing or walking in this frigid weather? Not me, so I find myself waxing nostalgic indoors, at my computer. I have found all sorts of interesting bookmarks.

One thing I came across that is definitely shareable is The Baby Boomer eMuseum. It is a website with a gallery menu ranging from; cars, food, toys, companies, lifestyles, art, etc., etc. The photos are classic and registration is free to members for log in. I was immediately attracted to the trivia quiz. There are some great questions that relate to growing up in the 50's and 60's. Try it, you may find yourself fascinated by your quick responses. Also, on the homepage is a daily calendar with boomer facts - (example) titled, "On this Day in Boomer History: January 8." The historical references are provoking and draw on forgotten memories.

I find it very easy to research (whatever comes to mind) on the internet, and then become so involved reading that I discover I am still in my robe and haven't brushed my teeth and it's supper time! Not that you ever experience this, but if you do, here is a 12 step resolution to keep in mind.

12 STEP PROGRAM FOR NET ADDICTS

1) I will have a cup of coffee in the morning and read my PAPER newspaper like I used to, before the Web.

2) I will eat breakfast with a knife and fork and not with one hand typing.

3) I will get dressed before noon.

4) I will make an attempt to clean the house, wash clothes, and plan dinner before even thinking of the Web.

5) I will sit down and write a letter to those unfortunate few friends and family that are Web-deprived.

6) I will call someone on the phone who I cannot contact via the Web.

7) I will read a book... if I still remember how.

8) I will listen to those around me and their needs and stop telling them to turn the TV down so I can hear the music on the Web.

9) I will not be tempted during TV commercials to check for email.

10) I will try and get out of the house at least once a week, if it is necessary or not.

11) I will remember that my bank is not forgiving if I forget to balance my chequebook because I was too busy on the Web.

12) Last, but not least, I will remember that I must go to bed sometime... and the Web will always be there tomorrow!

Stay warm.

G-spot, music, a video, books and 2010 Hope!

noreply@blogger.com (Monica - footloose) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:25:00 +0000

Greetings dear readers, and of course, Happy New Year!

I am in day 4 of 2010 and have found some interesting reads across the net. Today's is most funny and surprising (baby boomers will really love this one!). It is a report from a Brit team that say the G-spot might be a myth. How amusing is that? How many have searched for the elusive body part and either been discouraged or delighted? Ahh, wasn't that a search many of us baby boomers were encouraged to discover? Now what - shall we re-enter the Victorian era, or forge ahead, despite researchers research. Please comment if you'd like to converse about this latest find (giggle, giggle).

Next, I came across some dynamite guitar music, and a video showing the artists playing. Shine is a CD for Hanuman - artists are Rodrigo and Gabriela. Here is a lively video of them playing.

If you like that you will probably really enjoy this deluxe edition with DVD. It's titled 11:11.

So, now I have shared a controversial article and some great music. How about a thoughtful book When the Dragon Stirs: Healing our Wounded Lives through Fairy Stories, Myths, and Legends? I keep being drawn to it, yet haven't read it. It is an archetypical journey of finding one's true nature. It's not that I'm still looking, but it sure is fun discovering all the different selves that make up me.

Actually, I am currently thoroughly enjoying Blue Horizon (Courtney Family Adventures) by Wilbur Smith. It is a timeless adventure story written by a true master. Smith writes about Africa in many of his books and honestly, I can't believe I hadn't read this one!

Lastly, some comfort for this new year that already has promising technological and scientific advances. Spiritual advances do come from within, but we are all connected. I was reminded of this from a sermon by Father Joseph (from St. Benedict's Monastery in Old Snowmass, CO). He spoke about hope, and the transcendent and transcendental via a quote from Vaclav Havel. I found a memory within myself about hope, something I struggled with for quite some time. The memory was an acronym for hope. It is Heart Open Please Enter. Maybe it will be helpful to you as well.

Cheers to a hopeful New Year.

Winter Solstice Afterthoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Monica - footloose) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Somewhere and sometime I was celebrating the winter solstice. Whether I was lighting a fire or a candle, feasting or preparing for a feast, or practicing generosity by giving of myself, the ritual was symbolized in a life-death-rebirth deity way, or as the year reborn whilst the sun ebbed.

The Shortening Winter's Day
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Farquharson,...
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Solstice means standing-still-sun. Ancients celebrated and observed this phenomenon all over the earth. Stonehenge is one site where ancients and moderns observe both winter and summer solstice. It's an awesome manifestation of wonder. So is the Sun Dagger site in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico. It is "An assembly of stone slabs on an isolated butte in New Mexico collimates sunlight onto spiral petroglyphs carved on a cliff face. The light illuminates the spirals in a changing pattern throughout the year and marks the solstices and equinoxes with particular images. The assembly can also be used to observe lunar phenomena. It is unique in archeoastronomy in utilizing the changing height of the midday sun throughout the year rather than its rising and setting points. The construct appears to be the result of deliberate work of the Anasazi Indians, the builders of the great pueblos in the area." The quote is from The Solstice Project, a site about protecting Sun Dagger in Chaco Canyon.

My afterthoughts about this December 21st were brought to awareness after reading a poem by St. Francis of Assisi.
                      Wild Forces
There are beautiful forces within us.
   Let them turn the mills inside
         and fill
          sacks

   that feed even
       heaven.

I quote from Love Poems From God.

The wild forces within me are the rituals and celebrations that still live. Perhaps I just want to acknowledge a Celtic awareness along with the many winter solstice symbols. There are 5 that all symbolize protection and:

evergreen - prosperity, life continuity
holly - good luck, old solar year
oak - endurance, strength, new solar year
mistletoe - peace, fertility, rest
ivy - fidelity, healing, marriage, and victory.

All of the above are lovingly renewed mid-winter as well as many other symbols.

Music tends toward sacred old hymns, bells, flutes, faeries, and specific ethnic songs from around the earth. Here are some examples:

As you can see, the standing-still-sun has grown somewhat commercial in these present times. At the very least we can give tribute to the many offerings these products and memories or protection of memories that still revel around this magnificent earth. We can also continue to wonder . . . wonder what the Druids would think of the commercialization of the sun ebbing.

Help For Returning Warriors

noreply@blogger.com (Monica - footloose) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:42:00 +0000

In all my years of life on earth there has always been war. One can take this negatively or not since war doesn't have a very good rap. One positive result from war that has evolved is attention to helping our returning warriors. Since war seems to be non-stop, we must look at our sons and daughters that have made it out of war alive. They are suffering, too.

A friend of mine, Laura Whittemore, has co-authored a book about helping these warriors. "It is a guide to help our veterans orient themselves to a new way of thinking about this life changing event that has affected over 300,000 military service personnel and is being called the “signature injury” of the current war. The book provides insight into the symptoms of MTBI and suggestions for treatment to expedite the healing process. Most importantly, this book inspires hope to the veterans that they will get better, they will learn to compensate and discover their own resiliency and resourcefulness."

Now you may wonder, "What is MTBI?" It stands for mild traumatic brain injury - an unfortunate and common returning warrior symptom. The title of the book is Recovering from Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI): A Handbook of Hope for Our Military Warriors and Their Families. When you click on the book title you will be at the Brain Injury Hope Foundation site. You can order the book there, and receive some valuable information and hope for "those with a MTBI (Mild Traumatic Brain Injury) get back on their feet, so once again they can help themselves become the self sufficient person they once were. Therefore being able to give back to the community financially while sharing their authentic self with the world."

Perhaps you know of someone who could use this help? If so, please pass on the book and site info as a giving gift. Healthy Holidays!

Gandhi: Eye for an Eye

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Delicious, Easy Gluten Free Meals and More

noreply@blogger.com (Monica - footloose) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:29:00 +0000

The excitement has begun with healthy meal recipes. A true revolution of delicious, easy gluten free meals is showing up everywhere! Major brands of processed food like Betty Crocker, and General Mills are now offering gluten free cake mixes! I never thought I'd see the day this would happen.

Are you always hungry for great healthy meal recipes? Personally, I would rather cook on my own so I'm sure that I'm getting organic, low glycemic, gluten free meals. I am grateful that the big food mills are finally awakening to the gluten free revolution, but they are more expensive than non-gluten free mixes. Just check them out in your grocery store, and compare prices.

I have a solution for you. It is a great,one of a kind cookbook with 75 recipes that are completely:
* gluten free
* sugar-free (except fruit)
* digestion-friendly (eliminate IBS)
* allergy friendly (wheat, gluten, soy, etc.)
* low glycemic and delicious too!

This book, Fun With Gluten Free/Low Glycemic Food! offers the added benefit of low glycemic foods. They are highly important for optimum health, because they affect hunger, appetite, and blood sugar levels. The glycemic index of foods is actually a ranking of foods and their result on blood sugar levels. High glycemic foods are cabohydrates that break down quickly during digestion. Low glycemic foods are carbohydrates that break down slowly during digestion; they release glucose into the blood stream slowly.

Two great advantages of using (eating) low G.I. foods are:
1. they help burn body fat, not muscle
2. they help fill you up, keeping your appetite satisfied longer. So, you satisfy your appetite while releasing fat.

Most of the recipes also have guidelines for sugar and flour substitutes. Diabetics can also use these recipes. In fact, it is the first cookbook of it's kind because it is easily converted with vegan and vegetarian options too.

Bonuses, plus an 8 week 100% money back guarantee are your with Fun With Gluten Free/Low Glycemic Food!.

Chocolate Love: Intentional Chocolate Love

noreply@blogger.com (Monica - footloose) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:12:00 +0000

Do you always get a good vibe just thinking about chocolate? I do, and it gets to be a challenge waiting for the urge to eat chocolate to dissipate. Sometimes I tell myself that once I have accomplished a certain task (post a blog, vacuum a rug, exercise, etc.), then I can eat a chocolate treat. It's a similar challenge to my first cup of coffee in the morning, I get it after I meditate.

Naturally these challenges are not always fulfilled in the orderly fashion just mentioned. The chocoholic in me may lack discernment about need, desire, addiction, and overwhelming gotta-have-some-now thoughts. Ahh, so maybe here is where intention enters. Not only my intention about eating chocolate, but the chocolate vendor's intention. I'm referring to a product called Intentional Chocolate. It is chocolate that has been "infused with positive intention by meditating Tibetan monks." Not only that, but the company donates half its net profits. It looks quite nummy, and is considered a gift from the heart by many.

One way to give this is through an Intentional Chocolate $25 Gift Certificate. If this isn't enough, then go big with this.

Chocolate is cultivated from the cacao tree in; the Caribbean, Africa, South East Asia, Samoa, and new Guinea. Intentional Chocolate is grown in Hawaii by founder and CEO, Jim Walsh.

The word cacao is Mayan (found on pottery as early as 500 A.D.). No one knows how much earlier the bean was used, however the general consensus is that it was used earlier. Once Chris Columbus checked it out and sent it back to Europe, it was mostly used in beverage form until sugar was added to it. Then the Dutch got serious with chocolate production in 1828. They produced a powder from roasted cacao beans, and eventually a solid. Thank you, I am intentionally and eternally grateful for the Dutch endeavors. The Swiss followed along quite nicely, too.

Chocolate is a worldwide phenomenon that seems divinely related because of the "feel good" nature of it. There is caffeine, theobromine, phenylethylamine, and anandamide found in various amounts in the cacao bean. They are all chemicals that are stimulants, except the last which is a neurotransmitter that is found naturally in the brain. These may be the reason for the HIGH, the good feeling from eating chocolate.

Top that information off with monks embedding positive intentions and the good vibes just don't get any better!