Better Half

A Fresh Start in 4706

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 19:08:00 +0000

Today marks the beginning of the 4706th Chinese New Year. Based on the solar calendar, it is always the first day of the second new moon following the winter solstice, which took place on December 21st of last year. The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year, the day the sun ("sol") stands still ("sistere"). In other words, we are halfway through winter, a fact of which I am grateful.

To celebrate, many Chinese throughout the world will wear red, which is the color of fire and thought to drive away bad luck. Children will receive "lucky money" in red envelopes. Buddists participate in the religious ceremony of "Pure Light" in which they honor and reunite with their ancestors. The fifteen day holiday season ends with the full moon, which is February 21st. The Lantern Festival features fireworks and parades of the "Dragon Dance". These "frightening" creatures beat off all devils, paving the way for a year of good fortune.

This is the Year of the Rat, which indicates the start of a new 12 year cycle. Folklore describes the day Buddha (or God) named the twelve "Earthly Branches": He instructs twelve animals to cross the Yellow River to him, tells them he will name the years in the order in which each animal reaches him. In a clever maneuver the rat jumps on the back of the Ox, hops onto the shore at the last minute to win the race. The rat has the first year named in his honor, as well as the control of the strongest water element.

2008 is also a year of "Yang Earth" or "Big Mountain", which corresponds to the strongest of the earthly forces. This year unites the most intense energies of earth and water, much like a ship on a turbulent ocean. The captain of such a ship needs a "Plan B" if he and his crew are to survive. Our country may find itself in a similar situation this November.

Observing the Chinese New Year provides a second chance to many of us who have experienced a false start in meeting our January 1st resolutions. The first week of February seems to be the time every year when I decide to really lose that ten pounds and to really try to reach those goals I listed a month ago.

Why do I need this extra time every year? Perhaps it's because short little February leads to March and that means spring. I can see the light flickering at the end of winter's tunnel. At 5:30 pm yesterday it was almost dark as I was watching the does in our back yard. I found myself wondering which of them would deliver the fawns we'd see in June.

Chinese Astrology predicts that 4076 will be both exciting and unpredictable. Hopefully the crew of our ship will be ready for an altered course. Happy New Year!

The Gloves are on/Election 2008 Update

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 21:30:00 +0000

Don Imus describes the latest episodes of Election 2008 as "enormously entertaining". To many viewers, it is quickly beginning to resemble a championship fight. South Carolina brought out the beast in Hillary, prompting her to accuse Obama of being a "Chicago slumlord" who had worked for Antoin Rezko, an alleged criminal. The next days Drudge Report showed a picture of Bill and Hillary posing with the same man.

It's becoming glaringly obvious that Billary will say or do anything to secure the win for their team. Bill has become a weak link here, as he seems to have little control over the words that emerge from his mouth. Most recently he commented on Barack's overwhelming win in South Carolina as being reminiscent of Jesse Jackson's track record in the state. Huh? There is but one similarity between these two individuals. Why doesn't Bill just go ahead now and throw Hillary overboard with the brick tied to her foot? Al Sharpton tells Bill: "Shut Up".

In contrast, Barack seems to prefer the higher moral ground, calmly pointing out the distortion of facts by his opponent. His appears to be a class act in comparison, one that is not punctuated with the insulting language and scoffing innuendo of his competitors. The Clinton tactics have left a sour taste in the mouths of many Americans, including many in Washington. Today we witnessed a powerful scene at American University as we watched Barack stand on the same stage with three members of the Kennedy family, who passionately and eloquently voiced their support. If Kennedy can recover the very important Latino vote, Team Clinton will have a very competitive race to the finish. February 5th will be a compelling episode which will reveal each team's relative strength in the big arena.

Meanwhile, John Edwards patiently waits at the back, like the abandoned little brother. Because of his failure to alienate either democratic camp, he has placed himself in a prime running mate spot for November.

Remember the Republicans? Mitt and John are trading insults, but are hardly stealing public attention from the Democrats. In an amusing article in the National Review last week, White House Correspondent Byron York mentioned that most Republicans are becoming afraid of Obama. He described his recent experience at a Columbia, South Carolina rally for Barack. Accompanied by a Republican friend, he witnessed "one of the best political performances anyone has seen this year". His friend remarked that he was reminded of the scene in Jaws, in which the hometown sheriff "realizes how big the shark he's tracking truly is, and says, 'We're gonna need a bigger boat.'"

This show is real and has Americans buzzing. Everyone has their favorite team, but it's much too soon to predict the outcome of this race.

Election 2008/Best Reality Show Update

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:19:00 +0000

We're still tuning in. This new reality show continues to capture the attention of the american public, and rightfully so. Of course, we don't have much else to watch. Diehard football fans are dozing. The New England Patriots, now with 17 consecutive wins, are approaching the first 19-0 season in NFL history. Tom Brady isn't even mildly entertaining since he welcomed his son by Bridget Moynahan. He has maintained a stable relationship with his model girlfriend, Gisele Bundchen. Honey, could you please change the channel?

Let's see if Bill snapped at any reporters today. There's nothing like seeing him get all red in the face while defending his long-suffering wife. He was absolutely livid about the culinary union's deal in Vegas, but it turns out Hillary won anyway. Good for her. It was her turn, after all.

I heard someone say recently that the campaign was beginning to resemble a Publishers' Clearing House giveaway, which I thought was a perfect analogy. Every week seems to have a surprise winner. Just when you think you know who will be on the ballot in November, someone from the back moves up and cancels all your bets. It's simply great television.

John McCain looked fairly defeated after Michigan and Nevada. The autoworkers didn't want to hear that their jobs were gone forever, even though it was the truth. Romney successfully adopted Barack's "false hope" card there, and his lucky streak continued in Nevada.

Despite the Culinary Union's endorsement of Obama, Hillary won the most votes in Nevada. Does this mean that latinos prefer the lady? Or does it mean that they felt bullied by their bosses? The answer to this becomes a little hazy when we hear that Barack somehow garnered more delegates in the state. Don't ask me how this could happen, because it makes no sense to me either. Actually, I think a lack of understanding here only adds to the suspense. I can't miss an episode because each week's winner is impossible to predict. One has to wait till the very end of each episode to hear the shocking outcome in this exciting power struggle.

In South Carolina, we worried about our friend, John McCain. His losing streak was making his chances for continuing the race seem slim. We followed the numbers and again, we were relieved to see his win over the smooth-talking rich kid and the puffed-up sleazy preacher. And so, my friends, Mr. McCain will continue. And dear reader, if you suspect that I favor this man for November, you would be correct in your assumption. Forgive my lack of objectivity, but it's one of the few advantages I have, being the brilliant new, as yet undiscovered, writer that I am.

Meanwhile, we've heard hide nor hair of Oprah. I wonder what happened there? Is it a coincidence that, for the first time in four years, "Ellen" has been named as the best daytime talk show? Mmmmm....How quickly the alliances change in this nail-biter. Chuck Norris still hangs out with Huckabee, but who really cares?

Now, on to Florida, a state whose election results have entertained us in the past. Maybe this year the recount will give Fred Thompson and John Edwards the wins they need to see another day. Stay tuned. I know I will.

America's Best New Reality Show

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 20:08:00 +0000

It’s been ten weeks since the writers’ strike began. The media bosses have already lost hundreds of millions of dollars. Like kindergarten children, they are still refusing to share their enormous profits with the writers. The writers are the people who not only conceive the stories, but who bring the stories alive with realistic and engaging dialogue. To fill the void, the major networks are serving up rejected pilots, cancelled shows, re-runs, and, of course, those reality shows.

Are we watching? Some of us have just turned off the television to pursue more stimulating pastimes, such as reading, or talking to our spouses. Many of us, however, have tuned in to a new reality show. It is well written and focuses on issues that are meaningful to us. The people are passionate, articulate and intelligent. Perhaps most important, there is plenty of conflict.

"Election 2008" is the most engaging new show on television. My favorite episode so far was the one in which Hillary responds to a question posed during the New Hampshire debate. She was told that many Americans felt her opponent, Barack Obama, was more "likeable" than she. Her response was “Well, that hurts my feelings.“ It was an amusing and endearing moment, and probably had a little to do with her winning the New Hampshire primary. On another occasion, she tearfully acknowledged that the campaign had been very difficult. She showed us her humanity and we liked her a little more.

As the show progresses, we have voted off several nominees, and only a few remain. Things are starting to get a little dicey. In preparation for the South Carolina primary, where 50% of the voters are black, the race issue is surfacing. Obama supporters are still outraged about the comment Hillary made implying Obama was no Martin Luther King, Jr. Her chances for success have been severely damaged by this, as well as the disparaging remarks made by a member of her staff, Francine Torge: “…Some people compare one of the other candidates to John F. Kennedy. But he was assassinated…” During this introduction, Hillary didn’t bat an eye of disapproval, which I’m sure she now regrets. Unfortunately, there are no retakes in reality television.

Poor Hillary is scrambling to regain the ground she’s lost. Accusing Obama of giving Americans “false hope” was counterproductive. At this point, hope is the only thing many Americans have, and they don’t want to be told that it’s false. They are looking for another man with a dream, much like Martin Luther King, Jr. They are looking for another man who will attempt the impossible, like walking on the moon, as John F. Kennedy did.

She needs to reassess her strategy if she wants to compete in the final round, because Obama is indeed beginning to look like the fairy tale everyone wants. As is always the case, America will ultimately vote for the candidate who reminds them most of themselves. This is the candidate they will entrust with their future.

"Election 2008" will undoubtedly suffer in the ratings when "American Idol" premieres Tuesday night, but in the long run, I predict it will remain on top. You can be assured that at the end of the season, all of us will be tuned in. Only one candidate will be named “Leader of the Free World” in November. The others, as Heidi Klum would say, “will be out.” They will have to pack up their knives and go.

Electing a President

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:49:00 +0000

So far I've kept the promises I made to myself four days ago. One of these was to educate myself about the issues and candidates surrounding the presidential election. I've had the right to vote since 1975, and I've taken advantage of it during every major election. I guess that's more than some people do, but it isn't enough.

Historically, I've approached the second Tuesday in November as if it was merely the final exam for a pass/fail grade in college. The night before I cram as much information into my head as I can, hoping that it will be enough to give me credit for taking the course. I believe my aversion to politics stems from my feeling that what I hear is not necessarily the truth, or, as is often the case, not the whole truth. With this a given fact, I pay less attention to the issues, and more to the character of the candidate. Ultimately, the person I vote for may not address specific concerns in the manner I would prefer, but at least I will respect their ability and integrity to make sound judgements on important issues.

Having said this, I have to say I'm happy about the results of the Iowa caucus. I believe that Obama and Huckabee are as credible as you can realistically expect in this world. So far Obama has done nothing to make me question his character. Huckabee's recent slight of hand with the media has made me a little leery of him, but I'm willing to let one mistake slide. After all, he is human. My opinion of him will probably be decided in the next few months when I see how he conducts himself against Obama. Then again, maybe Obama isn't as perfect as he appeared last night, and I guess a competitive race is to our advantage.

Last night made one thing clear. It appears as though many of us want things to change. If the results in Iowa are any indication, the majority of Americans want a fresh slate. Unfortunately, John McCain will probably be a casualty of this thinking. This is a shame, because I'd probably vote for him if given the opportunity.

In November I'll be given only two choices, and I will work with what I have. Until then, I'm going to keep up with the classwork. This course of study is graded and I want to get an A.

The Writers' Strike

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 21:54:00 +0000

It's been 8 weeks and 3 days since the strike began. It occurred to me this morning that I knew next to little about the issues on the table. I was ashamed of myself, because I'm a writer. Granted, I've neither published nor received compensation for my writing, but I consider myself a part of this world, nonetheless. It's similar to the entitlement I feel as a member of the running community. I'm not a "successful" runner in that I'm not fast; I don't win races or earn prize money. But I am a runner.

I decided to find out how much an average working writer makes in a year. The word "working" is key here, because even the most successful writers have downtime in which they generate no income. One source said the average writer made $200,000/year, which I thought was a fairly nice bit of change. However, this same article stated that this would be true only if there was a continuous supply of work assignments. The figure drops to $60,000/year if you include the inevitable dry spells of the average writing Joe. I reflected that many writers who are modestly successful at their trade do so in large metropolitan cities like New York or Los Angeles. This salary in these cities is hardly decent.

The strike in 1988 cost the Alliance of Motion Picture and TV Producers (AMPTP) five hundred million dollars. This fact clarifies the vital role that writers have in this powerful industry. There's certainly enough money here to compensate them fairly.

According to Wikipedia the central issue at stake is the cut that writers will receive in "new media" sales. This term includes internet downloads, smart phone programming, video on demand, as well as several newer technologies. The AMPTP would like the residuals for these sales to be set at .3%, which is the current rate for DVD sales. The Writers Guild of America would like to see it increase to 2.5%.

I watched Jay Leno's monologue last night and thought it was really funny. He says he wrote his own material and I'm naive enough to believe him. He appeared to be especially pumped for the occasion, admitting that his only collaboration was with his wife. He said he woke her up in the middle of the night asking her "Is this funny?", just like the old days. According to the Writers' Guild, delivering last night's monologue makes Leno a scab. The strike rules "prohibit guild members from performing any writing services during a strike for any and all struck companies...includes all writing by any guild member that would be performed on-air by that member...if any portion of that written material is customarily written by striking writers." Well, whatever they want to fight about is up to them. It's obvious that Jay can write as well as he entertains. And last night he had to do both. Will he be able to take the place of an entire team of professional writers? It hardly seems possible. The bottom line is that good writing is key to any media's success. I'm confident that the bigshots will meet the demands sooner rather than later. Theirs is the side that has the most to lose.

Letterman & his Worldwide Pants organization made a deal with the Writers' Guild. Because of this, their full writing staff returned to work last night. I couldn't watch both programs at once, but the reviews of Letterman were very positive. He was funny too. The scuttlebutt is that The Writers' Guild will put pressure on NBC by advising celebrities to boycott its' shows. Personally, I don't watch these programs because of the personalities they host. The writing sketches are what attract me.

I'm not your most sophisticated television viewer. I'm not going to change my viewing habits because Leno is a scab or Letterman makes a deal. I'm sure Letterman would like to knock Leno off his pedestal, but I don't think this will happen. I do think the increased media attention on late night television can only help writers everywhere. It has managed to highlight what we as writers have always known. You can't entertain us unless the writing is good.

Living on the Edge at Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 02:14:00 +0000

Ho-Ho...Ho-Ho...Ho-Ho..Ho-Ho... We're not quite ready for the big day here. As a matter of fact, we haven't begun. Don't for a second say that we're cowards for not jumping in the fray yet. Waiting until the last minute is an act of courage that few attempt, even once, in their entire lives! We've decided it's about time we straddle the edge a bit.
Yes, probably tomorrow or the next day I'll rummage around the attic and try to locate every odd piece of holiday whimsy I can find. I'll shlep down the stairs with the old red felt tablecloth with the white fringe and put it on the kitchen table. Around the center oval I'll place my beloved six china figurines,even though each angel and caroler is chipped and its' color faded beyond recognition.
Yes, I'll hang the 4 ft. "NOEL" latch hook wall hanging I made years ago, right by the front door like I always do. Of course every puffy little figure in my homemade manger scene will be prominently displayed in the bay window.
The tree will get bought and I'll insist that it's (really) the prettiest tree we've ever had. I'll hang the wooden ornament and remember the year our youngest painted it every color we had until it was the ugliest and sweetest black snowman I'd ever seen. I'll drive myself crazy trying to decide the exact proper placement of each daughter's picture frame ornament.
I'll rant and I'll rave about the enormous task before me. My husband will say a million times "You say that every year and it all works out". And he'll be right, it always does. All the girls will be home this year. The ring of their cell phones will fill the air. Giggling children and tail wagging dogs will race round the place. It will be crazy and exhausting, but I wouldn't miss it for the world.
The blessings of the season are many. The holidays continue for me on December 26th, when I celebrate Peace on Earth Day.

I am a Freelance Writer

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 14:10:00 +0000

I am a Freelance Writer. I claim this title with certainty and audacious pride. I've garnered neither income nor accolades from this chosen profession, but it is mine to embrace nonetheless.

It is my answer to the question "What do you do for a living?". Am I misrepresenting myself to others, pretending to be a member of this prodigious community? Hardly. If writing is my "means of support or existence", as defined in my pocket Webster's dictionary and thesaurus, then it is my livelihood.

This world offers me the abundance of possibility. I walk its' path alone, yet I know many have wandered here before, lost like me. The horizon expands and moves farther away from me with each step I take. Make no mistake. This is no yellow brick road. The monkeys fly overhead, and I can hear the witch's evil cackle behind every tree, torturing me with her ridicule. I am but one of many,and I have so much to learn. Don't use that word again, write more concisely, find your niche, compose a perfect query letter, grab the reader. Write what you're passionate about. And so I am.

Some days I can only lay my head down in the meadow, hoping to silence the schizophrenic voices in my head. I wake up to a new chorus of ideas and the madness begins again.

Wikipedia describes a "freelance" worker as a "person who pursues a profession without a long-term commitment to any one employer". This is an adequate, yet somehow, incomplete assessment of who I am. Soon after I announced my intentions to be a freelance writer, my daughter gave me an extraordinary gift of Anne Lamott's, "bird by bird." Ms. Lamott describes her writing self as "the person who, after all these years, still makes sense to me." She elaborates on this theme by quoting "The Wild Rose", a love poem by Wendell Berry:

Sometimes hidden from me
in daily custom and in trust,
so that I live by you unaware
as by the beating of my heart,

Suddenly you flare in my sight,
a wild rose blooming at the edge
of thicket, grace and light
where yesterday was only shade,

and once again I am blessed, choosing
again what I chose before.

Welcome back, Imus

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 18:19:00 +0000

I must admit I'm looking forward to what Imus brings me in the morning tomorrow. I agree with the public outcry generated as a result of his verbal assault on the Rutgers University basketball team. I consider his temporary suspension from the sound waves a just response to his severe lack of judgement and sensitivity, although I think it would have been a more effective punishment if CBS hadn't made him $20 million richer.
I find this old fart an amusing fellow, however. I was reminded of him as I read the December 15th issue of Bottom/Line-Personal. On page nine I found this interesting: "...As we age, the frontal cortex-the part of the brain that censors thoughts-begins to shrink...". I've noticed this new phenomenon in myself, which often feels very refreshing and liberating. It has the added benefit of sometimes embarrassing my children, which has made the experience even more enjoyable. At other times, it's occurrence has caused intense regret. If you couple this new scientific knowledge with the inherent imperfection of the human race, the results can be unfortunate. The saying "He made a mistake, he's only human" comes to mind. He apologized for his behavior, and I believe it's time to move on.
And so I'll be interested in hearing what he has to say, because I, for the most part, have enjoyed his casual banter and unfiltered thought processes in the past. And maybe, just because, he's an old fart like me.

Merry Christmastime

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 20:41:00 +0000

I love Christmas. Who doesn't? I say this, but do I really mean it? I find myself, yet again, feeling like that frozen deer in the headlights, unsure of what to do, incapable of making the first move. I viewed the newsclips taken the day after Thanksgiving. I watched the eager shoppers storm the doors at 4 am, each one smiling and fully prepared to tackle the task at hand. Many of these people are finished with their shopping now, while I have managed only to write about mine. Theirs are thoughtful gifts, courageously sought after, purchased at phenomenally low prices. Meanwhile, I've scarcely begun. I have a few gifts for the grandchildren in our bedroom closet, well hidden on a high shelf in the back. A sheet covers them, preventing curious eyes from their discovery. (What can I say, old habits are hard to break.)
I'm exhausted at the thought of all I have left to do. Every year I hope for a simple and relaxing time with family and friends. I've never achieved much success with this, and yet, each year I try. Does knowing this stress is manufactured by me help? Not really.
I am my own worst enemy as I allow the magic I remember as a child to be replaced with such intense anxiety.
I am, admittedly, a neurotic individual. On a daily basis I spend an inordinate amount of time trying to decide what to do with my time. Then Christmas comes and I'm hurled over the edge of reason. My list of things to do is unrealistic and unreasonable, and would require herculean effort and ability to complete. When I fail to do so, I am an incompetent failure.
This year will be different. I will embrace that which is meaningful, ignore what is not. I won't spend money I don't have. I won't exhaust myself by attempting to do more than I'm physically able.
I will tell the people I love that I do. I will sit with each of them awhile this season and share myself with them. I will listen to what they have to say, and I will hear them. I will look them in the eye and they will feel my love. I won't have to depend on a store bought gift to do this.

Happy 30th Birthday, Richmond Marathon!

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 17:19:00 +0000

It’s now the eve of the Richmond Marathon. Although I can’t be there in person, all good thoughts are with you, Nicki, and I’ll be cheering you with great pride from home. Congratulations on getting to the starting line! As we both know, this is the toughest part.

Wikipedia describes it as “an annual marathon foot-race held in Richmond, Virginia, USA…established in 1978...” This particular event is special to me for two reasons. I was 50 years old on November 13th, 2004 when I completed my first marathon here. This particular item had been residing on my "life list" for 30 years. The timing of this fulfillment of my dream was not coincidental. It was only until I reached this age that I possessed the determination and strength to succeed. This fact bears witness to the premise of this blog: this is indeed the better half of life.

It also takes place in my hometown, which is an amazing city in its’ own right. The race is blessed with some of the most passionate and devoted fans, earning it the title of “America’s Friendliest Marathon”. The course is varied, introducing each runner to the diverse nature of the area…the majestic statues and spectacular homes of Monument Avenue…the beautiful hills of Riverside Drive, glimpses of neighborhoods like the fan district, Oregon Hill, Westhampton, Westover Hills, River Road…Downtown’s VCU campus, The Jefferson Hotel, Shockoe Slip…On a personal note, I will never forget the Lee Bridge, which hit me with punishing 30 mile an hour winds in 2004. Resisting the urge to jump into the James River, I progressed at a snail’s pace and focused all my attention on merely remaining upright. It was here that I discovered one of the reasons for man’s success as a species, as I witnessed complete strangers taking turns drafting each other with their bodies. As a result, I was able to survive the crossing and what would be, in retrospect, the toughest part of the race. The telepathic individuals who handed out coke and chocolate bars on the other side have earned my undying gratitude.

As I write this, tomorrow’s entrants are loading up on pasta and water. Today they’re picking up race packets, gathering goo and reviewing race plans in their heads. Some are still at their workplace, sitting at a desk in a cubicle, while others are on their way here, squeezed into tiny seats on an airplane. Both groups are diligently stretching leg muscles several times an hour, hoping to avoid discomfort and injury tomorrow. Tonight, numbers will be pinned to singlets, every “i” will be dotted…water bottle, check…disgusting sugar syrup packet, check…extra toilet tissue, check…gummy bears, check…inspirational quote, check…Putting 26.2 miles on your feet continuously is an enormous achievement. There are those who call the attempt foolhardy, pointless and physically dangerous. For me, reaching the finish line is the equivalent of arriving at the last line of a riddle. The question it asks is “Will I be strong enough to do this?”…And the joyful answer becomes “Yes”. I think of every mile that brought me here, every pain, every page in my running log, so painstakingly recorded. I am reminded of the times I wanted to quit, but didn't...of the moments of overwhelming self-doubt that I managed to nip in the bud.

Completing a marathon is a celebration and a fine reward for an endless investiture of time and energy. This distance taught me to never again question my own “true grit”. It empowered me and made me strong. And the icing on the cake was that this happened at an age many consider to be "over the edge", or on the downhill side of life. Not so. I had a new spark. There was an element of mystery and possibility in my future. This accomplishment felt far greater than anything I had previously achieved. Great things come to those who wait, like us.

At 8 am tomorrow morning over 5,000 marathoners will respond to the starting gun. One woman may break Irina Suborova’s 2000 record of 2:31:25. One man might complete the distance in 2:14:31 or less, which is one second faster than the men’s record set by Andrei Gordeev in 2005. I wish I could be one of the remaining 4,998 plus runners, but since I can’t, I’ve decided to take a VERY long walk in my 2004 marathon t-shirt. I will imagine running in the back of the pack with the other average joes. At mile 26 we will realize our success and understand our extraordinary greatness. It matters little that others will be blind to this, for to see it in ourselves is more than enough to make the journey worthwhile. When I return home, I’ll record the day’s mileage in my log as usual, noting the weather and the pace I was able to achieve. My heart, if not my body, will be running the downhill finish to Cary & 10th.

MySpace for Boomers

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 12:21:00 +0000

Do you yearn to socialize with friends on the web? Have you ever wondered what your children are talking about when they discuss their involvement on MySpace and Facebook? Some months ago I decided to find out. If you want a good laugh, check out my MySpace page.This is my sad little circle of internet friends. After joining, I realized there wasn't much going on here for me. Would you be inspired by a picture of a puking chipmonk, or want to discuss last night's episode of "The Office"? Does this lack of interest mean I don't care to socialize on the internet? Hardly.

In the September 12th issue of the NY Times Matt Richtel discusses the recent sites that have been started for "the older demographic". "Eons", "Rezoom", "boomertown", and "boomj" appear to cater to empty nest stage boomers, while "multiply" and "Maya's Mom" aim for those in the midst of child rearing, or Generation "Jonesers". Mr. Richtel calls boomers "sticky". We are less fickle and more likely to stick around once we discover an interesting link. This behavior is in sharp contrast to that of the teen audience or "tire kickers". The tire kickers hang around, cost the technology investors money and then leave.

It remains to be seen whether or not these new sites are successful. Using the venacular of technispeak, they may reach a critical mass and have a likely falling out.

Are you a Baby Boomer?

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 12:23:00 +0000

Wikipedia describes a baby boomer as any person born between 1946 and 1964 in Australia, United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. If you qualify under this definition, we welcome you to our blog. As you already know, you are not without company. At its' peak in 1957, the baby boomer generation welcomed 4,300,000 new Americans to its' roster.

We could choose to further divide ourselves as either "Leading-Edge Baby Boomers" (born 1946-1955) or "Generation Jonesers" (born 1955-1964). If your birthdate coincides with the former, you lived your teenage years and beyond at the height of the Vietnam War.

If your birthday places you in the second group, you grew up in the shadow of the former one. You are said to be members of the "lost generation", akin to the little brother who tags along but is never fully included.

In USA Today, Richard Wolf recently reported that the first baby boomer, Kathleen Casey-Kirschling, has decided to opt for early retirement at the age of 62. She was born on January 1st, 1946 at 12:00:01 a.m. in Philadelphia. On Monday she will apply for this entitlement. In the next 22 years, 80 million more could qualify for the same.