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Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water
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Medicare on My Mind
August 25, 2015
— 3 Comments
Silver Sneakers
I will only pay four more ridiculously high premiums to the Aetna Insurance Company before we break up forever. They are leaving the state at the end of the year, and I will be eligible for Medicare at the same moment. I think I am lucky with that timing. I will not need to learn about anything other than Medicare, but it is a complicated task. I did not change my private insurance policy when the new regulations came into effect because I had only a couple of years left to use it. Now that I have a chance to design and create a plan that may really benefit my health I am pleased.
My investigation started with a referral for a health insurance agent. My friend’s agent referred me to a Medicare specialist who will see me this week for an initial appointment. Karyn Damschen is the agent who will walk me through the basics and help me decide on the best plan for my needs. After a short phone consultation I was happily relieved to know that an impartial independent representative of all insurance companies can advise and guide my choices. She works for me but is paid a commission by the insurance company whose policy I purchase. She also is my support for using the system and making the most of tax credits I may deserve. I probably could navigate the computer system when the policies and pricing become available in November, but the decision is important. My future health care (at least until the market opens again next year) depends on making a wise purchase. The more I know the better. I look forward to the guidance of a professional to help me make a wise decision.
Silver Sneakers is a program I plan to use to pay my health club dues. My club has the program, so in January I will be able to assign my dues to the insurance company of my choice. This is a gift that goes on giving. Now that I have paid into the insurance pools for years and extracted no benefits, I am ready to receive something that I value. There are specialty classes created for the senior set to enjoy in good health. My club offers Zumba Gold and a senior strength/flexibility class. I have not participated, but think it is an excellent idea to give special attention to this part of the population.
Zumba Gold
If you are eligible soon for Medicare I urge you to find an agent to help you make the best of it. Who knows, maybe I will see you at the Tucson Racquet Club sometime. I will be there enjoying my excellent benefits. I will be in the steam room if you need me.
Listen with Compassion
August 23, 2015
— 3 Comments
politics as usual
One skill that is central to peace of mind and well being is listening. We hear sounds all the time. People talk to us with varying degrees of sincerity and interest. Our job is to distinguish and sort the grain from the chaff. By paying attention it is possible to harvest harmony from the symphony of sounds and sentences we hear. To listen with compassion is a difficult task. Defending our own position rather than truly comprehending other points of view is one of the most common substitutes for listening. Understanding others is not a sign of weakness but a sign of maturity. We can’t agree with everyone, but we can look for ways to increase loving kindness in our lives. To love thy neighbor as thyself involves a degree of allowing that neighbor to express himself. As we in the United States fall deeper into the political season each day I expect some wild rhetoric. To remain happy, detached and centered is my goal. I am setting guidelines for myself ignored to keep my cool and enjoy life while those around me might loose it.
- No need to respond to political statements made by anyone on line
- When hearing news reports, suspend judgement and consider the facts
- Keep my own negative feelings about candidates to myself
- Attempt to understand the logic behind all points of view presented
- Realize that many factors contribute to elections, most of which have not yet happened. A wait and see attitude will serve me well as time passes.
By conscious meditative contemplation I will not only survive but will find my center during the presidential election hoo-ha. I can admit that the last two elections disturbed and distracted me. I became enraged at the robo calls and the parties making them. Now I know that this too shall pass. I am gearing up to listen with compassion and a distinct sense of humor during the political crazy season. I wish you a sane election season, gentle reader. Best of luck.
party
What is Fiduciary Responsibility?
August 20, 2015
— 2 Comments
Americans are not financially literate as a group. The depressing collapse of the markets in 2008 followed by a bank bail out has left the country with gross inequity. Working folks with real estate holdings, retirement plans and other investments took big hits while the banks returned to business as usual. Regulations designed to curb the abuses of financial institutions, like Dodd/Frank have not been implemented. We are still in a situation dominated by lenders, bankers, and mortgage brokers. Stock brokers have been able to operate under an assumption that suitable, reasonable investments were the only offers made to clients. In reality any system that is commission based encourages transactions. The broker makes a cut from each trade, and wants to maximize the client’s contribution to his total commission. His company also rewards him for selling in house products by offering a higher commission for the sale than competitive products may have. The client becomes the least of the broker’s concern within this structure.
I switched to a fiduciary to manage my investments years ago. I am much more secure and happy with my portfolio since I made the change. I worked with brokers from different brokerages in the past, but never found one with my interests in mind. There is a simple reason for that. The rewards were structured against my financial well being and in favor of trades to create commission. Now I split the profits with my fiduciary firm, which works perfectly. I make as much money as they make. If they make nothing for me I pay them nothing. This incentive to make good decisions for both of us carries weight and works like a charm. I do discuss the strategy a few times a year to make sure we are on the same page, but my involvement is very light. We are in the same financial boat which makes me feel happy.
Brokerages are starting to lobby the public with misleading ads about this new proposed regulation. I urge you to take some time to understand the issues. Brokers pretend that fiduciary responsibility to you will somehow cut you off from good advice. What it will do is make it illegal to sell you products that are not the best investment or the best deal in terms of fees for your situation. This is a protection Americans need to stay financially stable into retirement. Caveat emptor, gentle reader.
Lydia Peabody, 9th Great-Grandmother
August 19, 2015
— 2 Comments
Peabody coat of arms
My 9th great-grandmother was born in New Hampshire and died in Massachusetts. My 9th great-grandfather died young, and Lydia remarried.
Lydia Peabody Howlett: Birth: Aug. 30, 1640 Hampton Rockingham County New Hampshire, USA Death: Apr. 30, 1715 Boxford Essex County Massachusetts, USA d/o Francis Peabody / Lydia Perkins bapt Hampton, Rockingham Co., NH A member of the church at Rowley and by a letter of dismission was admitted to the Boxford church 21 Feb 1702/03 – by her father’s will she received five pounds besides what she had already had. m [1] 1662 Essex Co., MA Thomas Howlett [Jr.] They had 2 children – Mary m Lt. Thomas Hazen, Lydia m
[2] 8 Jul 1667 Essex Co., MA Thomas Perley They had 6 known children – Thomas m Sarah Osgood; Lt. Jacob m 3X; Lydia; Hepzibah [Hephzibah] b/d 1694/1695 Boxford ; Mary; Sarah ca1675 – 1769 ref: MA Boxford VR Topsfield Historical Society Lydia died 30 Apr 1715 Boxford, Essex Co., MA – The Peabody Gen. by Selim Hobart Peabody 1909; Essex Probate Court Record; New England Marriages Prior to 1700 C.A. Torrey Family links: Parents: Lydia Perkins Peabody (1617 – 1649) Spouses: Thomas Howlett (1637 – 1667) Thomas Perley (1641 – 1709) Sibling: Lydia Peabody Perley (1640 – 1715) Isaac Peabody (1648 – 1727) Burial: Mount Vernon Cemetery Boxford Essex County Massachusetts, USA Created by: BluMoKitty Record added: Sep 04, 2013 Find A Grave Memorial# 116523513
Lydia Peabody (1640 – 1715)
is my 9th great grandmother
Mary Howlett (1664 – 1727)
daughter of Lydia Peabody
John Hazen (1687 – 1772)
son of Mary Howlett
Caleb Hazen (1720 – 1777)
son of John Hazen
Mercy Hazen (1747 – 1819)
daughter of Caleb Hazen
Martha Mead (1784 – 1860)
daughter of Mercy Hazen
Abner Morse (1808 – 1838)
son of Martha Mead
Daniel Rowland Morse (1838 – 1910)
son of Abner Morse
Jason A Morse (1862 – 1932)
son of Daniel Rowland Morse
Ernest Abner Morse (1890 – 1965)
son of Jason A Morse
Richard Arden Morse (1920 – 2004)
son of Ernest Abner Morse
Pamela Morse
I am the daughter of Richard Arden Morse
Goody Cole was a local “character” in Hampton who ran afoul Francis’ wife Lydia and another neighbor, Sarah Perkin. She was later apparently tried for witchcraft though she was not convicted.
Nov 4 1645: in the oldest book of records of Ipswich court, entry reads “Eunice Cole to sit in the stocks at Hampton and to make acknowledgement of her slanderous speeches concerning Susan Parkings and Lidia Pebodye and to pay to the witness Isaac perkins 7d and the feas of the court.” [Ref: PeabodySH PEABODY p8] 1645: Eunice Cole publicly acknowledges her slanderous speeches against Susan Perkins and Lydia Peabody. That these two were connected seems possible [Ref: Noyes PEABODY Francis] Mar 4 1649/50: Seating at the Meeting House, assigned Second seat on east end of the south side, as “Goody Pebody” [Ref: Noyes PEABODY Francis] Her surname appears as PERKINS in various Internet sources (most noteably the LDS Ancestral File), daughter of Isaac PERKINS who was their neighbor in Hampton, but no confirmation found
Mount Vernon Cemetery, Boxford, Essex, Massachusetts
What Are Missions on Empire Avenue?
August 18, 2015
— 2 Comments
My Empire Avenue Profile
The stock trading game Empire Avenue is a daily activity for me. I enjoy meeting people from around the world and connecting for all kinds of reasons. I have friends on the Avenue that represent many different viewpoints, ethnicities, nationalities, and philosophies. I may have met them as investments, but now I appreciate their support and camaraderie in the social networks. For me, Empire Avenue can be a clearing house for new contacts. I buy a few shares, check out the profiles and content the individual promotes, and often find friendship and mutual interests. I don’t look at the game as a platform to promote my business interests, but I support many players who do. The mission system is a great way to meet, promote, and discover new players and content.
What is a mission on Empire Avenue? It is a contract between players. An offer of EAVs (the funny money that fuels the Empire stock market) is made in return for a visit to a website, tweet, blog, or any other digital destination. By accepting the mission and the payment a player indicates an interest in the subject, but there is no requirement to endorse, retweet, like, or comment on a mission. In other words, the mission completion is an honor system. Like all systems of this kind, some take advantage by running off with the fake bucks without visiting the content. In the game we can see when other players do this. It can be a mistake, but if a player rips off missions frequently everyone becomes aware of it. It is permitted to block a player in the game if such behavior is discovered. I have not blocked any players, but I have sold my shares in a few.
If you are active in social media, have an interest in international concerns, and like to make new contacts, Empire Avenue might be fun for you. There is no fee for playing. Your imaginary wealth from the EAVs grows with daily dividends from your portfolio of players. The value of the contacts, the content, and the sharing is something that each individual must judge for themselves. The time I spend both creating and completing missions on Empire Avenue is well rewarded. If you decide to play, gentle reader, let me know and I will buy your shares and run a mission to help you get started.
Summer Sun and Skin Safety
August 10, 2015
— 3 Comments
reflection in my pool
Summer ends with monsoon season here in Tucson. The humidity builds and storms bless the desert with rain in July and August. September can go either way, but normally it is dry, and just a little cooler. I do love our hot weather and spend time chilling in the pool to stay cool. I wear protective clothing, hats and sunscreen when I am outdoors. Recently my dermatology exam revealed a couple of spots worth of further testing. I had two biopsies taken, one from my shoulder, and another from my forehead. The results have not yet returned, but the physician’s assistant was certain that I am heading for surgery soon for both of them. This is the first year I am glad to see the hours of sunlight receding.
I am freaked out by the idea of cancer growing my skin, but am very happy that I can take care of them now before they become serious. A friend from the beach in California had a similar experience recently, but her medical doctor had to be convinced to examine her spots more carefully. She had to ask for a second opinion, and then was correctly diagnosed. (scary) Dermatologists can recognize the potential problems based on their extensive experience and training. The dot that will be removed from my forehead is practically invisible. It shows itself as a tiny red blotch, no roughness. The spot on my shoulder is a little rough to the touch, but I did not suspect it was cancer. Neither of these seemed like anything to me.
You may guess where this story is going, gentle reader. Sunscreen and hats are no guarantee against damage. We do owe it to our skin to be careful with exposure and use products to guard against damage, but the best defense is regular consultation with your dermatologist. With the expertise they possess and the techniques available now your outcome is likely to be good if you stay on top of your visits and exams. I am lucky my doctor, Dr Hu, at Specialists in Dermatology is located very near my home. I have spoken to a friend who had mohs surgery from Dr Hu for a spot on her nose. She is very grateful also to have nipped it in the bud. In both of our cases the early diagnosis when few apparent signs of danger were obvious to the untrained eye has made a big difference. No matter where you live, plan to visit the dermatology office on a regular basis. The face you save may be your own.
Tucson Sun
Learning from Mistakes, Genealogy
August 6, 2015
— 18 Comments
Pam and the Fam on the farm
I study my ancestry and family history. This fascinating subject consumes as much of my time as I allot to it. I have spent six years on Ancestry.com working on my tree. I am more skeptical now than I was in the beginning because I have been burned by specious data. It is painful to discover an error in one’s research, yet it is better to know sooner than later. I once had a magical surprise experience in Rhode Island at a very special private family home from the 1600’s. I was treated to a tour of the home and grounds since I announced that I was a Carr descendent. I was given instructions to find the family graves by my long-lost “cousin” who still lives on the property. I was in heaven. It turns out I was also delusional about my connection to that family because I had made a mistake a couple of generations earlier in my research. I discovered this error after I had returned home from my trip, and had to laugh about it. I also had to start again to retrace the lineage. That correction was easy because I had some good documentation to verify the facts. Other problems I have discovered or had pointed out to me have left me with a dead-end when I removed the phantom limb.
The odd phantom feeling after chopping off limbs and branches is caused my the attachment formed while studying them. There are several very common names in my tree including Scott. When I began my sturdy I started with notes written by my maternal great-grandmother about her knowledge of the family. She stated that my 2nd great-grandfather, Thomas Scott, was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War. Even though we know his full name, Thomas Ewing Scott, born in 1842 in Ohio, I can find no decisive record of his military service. There are too many Thomas Scotts from Ohio for me to be sure. My maternal 2nd great-grandfather was, indeed, a soldier for the Confederacy. I am positive about that because I have a copy of his service record as well as his Confederate pension application that he made late in his life in Texas. After his death his wife also applied for a pension as a surviving spouse. I have her application documenting her husband’s service also.
If you find written documents of a private source they may or may not be accurate. Only when you can back up your story with official documents do you have a solid case. I have learned the hard way to verify all the connections fully before jumping back to another generation. There are many trees on the Ancestry.com site that have unverified connections. Copying the work of others without making sure of it can lead to bigger and longer errors. This is not even as safe as the cold war when we trusted by verified. Don’t trust until you verify. This practice may save you many hours of wasted time. After I have recovered from the vexation of discovering I had been wrong I still had certain affection for those people who turned out not to be related to me. My philosophy now is that I learned about history while I was out on the wrong limbs, and I have never claimed to be a professional genealogist. I am more of a time traveller. Do you know any of your family history, gentle reader? How did you learn about it?
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- Carr fam cemetery
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- Carr plaque
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- Carr home
Fitbit Addicted
August 1, 2015
— 7 Comments
Fitbit monitor
My iPod touch has suddenly lost its mind and ability to function. This might not be a big deal but when it crashed it took with it my ability to sync my Fitbit. This turns out to be a much bigger freak out than I could have imagined. I have reset and attempted to sync it with my other devices but it refuses to operate. I am unable to count my steps/miles/calories since early this morning. I had no idea how addicted I have become to knowing how far I have gone at what time during the day. I dance or walk 5 miles in the morning and then put in between 3-4 more miles during the course of the day. I love watching my little graphs and numbers move as I do. I might be completely obsessed with these graphs, truth be told. This temporary interruption of technical feedback shows me I need to back off the addictive qualities and enjoy the fun aspects of the Fitbit a little bit more. Long ago in a land far away I had exercise anorexia. I hardly suffer from that problem now, but this is reminder to keep my attention on what is important..healthy fun.
I have found a place in Austin that will repair my iPod at a reasonable price, but since this death happened on Saturday it seems I will need to wait until Monday to communicate with the repair shop and ship the device to them. I have done this before with an ancient iPod with success. I believe a battery replacement will get me back to normal quickly. If not ,I can consider repairs and costs they will present to me after a diagnosis. All in all it will be simple for me to get my favorite device back in order. I have an iPhone and 2 iPads, so I am not really suffering without connection. I have all my internet powers EXCEPT my sync for the Fitbit. I hate to admit how seriously I love those graphs and numbers on the Fitbit. I have reset the Fitbit several times, but this is not working.
In order to embrace how helpful it is to have the graphs as well as how the graphs only represent reality, I need to chill in this situation. I can move and dance to my heart’s content even if the Fitbit is not reporting my good deeds back to me. The feedback has been helpful, especially the information I have gained on my sleep patterns. The tool is only a tool, however. Reality is the important aspect of my fitness program, not how self competitive I can become with my Fitbit. This short break might bring me to a happier medium, but when I can once again sync I know I will be very happy. Do you have a movement monitor, gentle reader? I highly recommend the systems. Just be careful you don’t get too crazy about your numbers as I have. The numbers matter less than the reality.
Blue Moon Opportunity
July 28, 2015
— 1 Comment
This July, 2015 is full of unusual astrological events. The most obvious is the blue moon in Aquarius on 31 July at the end of this week. This second full moon in a month is rare, and will not occur again until January, 2018. In astrology terms, the sky is full of aspects, squares and retrograde planets that do not bode well for relationships and power struggles.
Full moon is a time of plenty, a time to reap and be grateful. As tides swell and retreat, the moon (from our point of view) grows large until it is directly opposite the sun at full moon, and then it diminishes in size. Since ancient times farmers have followed the moon’s phases to find the right times to plant or harvest, feed, or weed the crops. The new moon begins a cycle which comes to fullness about 2 weeks later when it reaches fullness. Each new moon I make a mental and physical sweep of my space, clearing and cleaning. I have learned that for me this important step makes clear a new beginning. Projects that have been abandoned can be refreshed on the new moon. Obvious excess, including commitments that don’t benefit me, are examined for possible removal at the new moon. It reminds me of soil preparation and planting seeds. During the time between new and full your enthusiasm and efforts must continue to nurture the new project or you will arrive at the full moon with little to show. A continuum of careful execution must be carried out with mindful purpose in order to attain the goal, or the harvest we desire. Each new moon is a chance to start anew. Each full moon is a time to count our blessings and feel our successes.
This special blue moon seems to me an excellent time to examine life goals, large and small. Relationships from the past may be haunting the present. This week my meditation is about cleaning up and forgiving in order to move into the future with ease. This task is simple, but it always needs to be repeated, at least in my life. I wish all my gentle readers a joyous and adventurous blue moon.
Full Moon
Mango Madness
July 23, 2015
— 7 Comments
mango chutney
I grew up in Pennsylvania in the 1950’s. I ate iceberg lettuce from Kroger’s and frozen produce from my grandparents’ farm in Arkansas. I liked fruits and vegetables, but had only been exposed to a small range because in those times produce was not shipped around the world and stored. It was eaten close to the place where it was grown. When I was 13 my family moved to eastern Venezuela, where my yard contained around 30 super large mango trees. There were also tamarinds, limes, coconuts, a breadfruit, oranges, and papayas right outside the back door. There were so many mangos falling to the ground when they were ripe that a man came daily to our yard to fill a big trailer with ripe mangoes to feed to his pigs. Had he not gathered up the thick layer of ripe mangoes every day we might have drowned in compost. We did eat them and give them to everyone who wanted them, but we still had a huge excess.
I loved my new yard and the orchids my mom grew in the courtyard of our house. It was a big change from suburban Pittsburgh, and I approved. I learned to make jalea de mango with green mango, which was when I discovered my extreme skin allergy to green mangoes. If I handle them I break out I hives where they have touched my skin. Oddly enough, ripe ones don’t bother my skin at all, and I can consume both the green and ripe fruits once they are cooked without any problems. Another wonderful way to eat green mangoes is in a pie. You treat it just like an apple pie, and the flavor is slightly similar. The fruit is green and crisp when it is used it for pie.
orchids
This week I had a plethora of ripening mangoes which made me investigate different ways to preserve them. Yesterday I made chutney which turned out very well. I used a chile from our garden,one small lime, raisins, mustard seed, cinnamon stick, cloves, black pepper, lots of ginger, brown sugar and apple cider vinegar to season the ripe mangoes and create a savory and spicy condiment. This is a quick easy way to create a custom flavor burst with your own twist. I followed a recipe but cut the sugar in half to get the taste I was seeking. It is delicious with goat cheese. I think will make more chutney, with ingredients like tomato and onion, because they are simple and add a lot of bang for the buck to a meal. When my partner tasted the mango chutney he said “Get back, fancy restaurants! This is fantastic.” His enthusiasm has encouraged me to groove on down the chutney trail with new ingredients.
I still have a few ripe mangoes today, as well as some strawberries that need to be eaten. I am going to prepare a fruit compote with the two fruits plus a little orange juice, lime zest, and a touch of agave nectar. This creation will need to be consumed in the next day, but the chutney will keep for a month or so in the refrigerator, should it survive for that long. Do you have a favorite way to eat mangoes, gentle reader?
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