Joan’s Boomer Blog

Here are two more luau party games from my friend Cindy over at CoconutRoads.com. She’s also in the over-50 crowd and thinks these are perfect for my boomer blog as they are fun, don’t require the flexibility

Learn the Hula!

of Twister or Limbo but speak to our sharp minds (except those inconvenient “senior moments”) and love of a good time.

Kimo Says

Played like Simon Says only with a Hawaiian twist – or hula move that is. Begin

by teaching a few basic hula moves. If you are booking hula or Polynesian dancers, arrange for your guests to be taught some simple hula movements. Otherwise, go to http://www.alohafriendsluau.com/hulamoves.html for some basic moves, and then type each move you want to learn into YouTube. You can get a good idea just from the web page, but it helps to the dancers in motion.

Many of the hand motions, such as for swaying palms, rain and the sea are fairly intuitive. Whether your luau’s entertainment teaches the moves or you do, it might also help the guests to have them sketched on a large board for easy reference during the game. And a bonus to this game is that everyone learns some hula!

Don’t expect moves to be performed perfectly. Dancing hula will likely be a first for most of the guest so expect lots of laughter! As long as the contestants are doing an ami instead of the hula gesture for love, they are stay “in.” If someone jumps the gun or performs a completely wrong move, then the person is out.

Hawaiian Pictionary

Knowledge-based games have lots of appeal for those of us over 50 - after all we’ve accumulated a lot of knowledge – some trivia, some important – in our lifetimes, a game is a fun way to show it off! Even more is a game that involves a skill not all are so good at because it adds an element of silliness. Enter Hawaiian Pictionary. This may be a bit easier than the Luau party game - Hawaiian Charades, depending on your guests’ acting and drawing skills. If you draw people like I do, then your Hawaiian Pictionary drawings may resemble ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs more than text book art but that adds to the fun!

Party Pictionary Supplies

Depending on your budget and how creative you want to get with your supplies, here’s what can work.

The important thing is to have a drawing board that is easy for all to see. This can be an easel with large sheets of drawing paper, or something as inexpensive as a roll of blank paper purchased from the local newspaper with a new piece quickly taped to the wall for each player taking a turn. Alternatively, a wipe-off white board with dry erase markers requires no paper, and if you have children in the home, they can enjoy this too.

Pictionary Subjects

Anything from Hawaiian culture is fair game. To slant this towards the over 50 crowd, consider movies, songs, books, personalities and other Hawaiian topics from the 1950s through early 1970s. This also happens to be a time when thanks to Statehood, jet travel and Elvis, all-things-Hawaii became of great interest to the U.S. mainland. For specific topic ideas, see my blog “Luau Party Games – Hawaiian Charades.”

Get more ideas and directions for luau party games.

Decorations for your Luau

Today I have a Guest Blogger, my friend, Hawaii Culture & Travel Writer, Cindy Blankenship. Check out Cindy’s Hawaiian travel website at Coconut Roads.com

Luau Party Games for the Over-50 Crowd – Hawaiian Charades

Hawaiian charades is a perfect game for baby boomers! Here’s why I think so. Most of us were old enough during the 1960s to have witnessed the huge increase in Hawaii-themed entertainment in that era that was propelled by the first jet service to the islands and Elvis’ Blue Hawaii shortly following Statehood in 1959.

Also, “Hawaii Calls” broadcast weekly from Waikiki Beach was at its height of popularity on the U.S. mainland in the 1950s through early 1970s and introduced many of us to the music and culture of our Aloha State. In other words, Hawaii was a popular subject in mainland American homes when we were growing up.

Many movies were made in Hawaii previous to Statehood and many more since the Golden Age of tourism, but the 1950s through early 1970s lend a vast number of subjects for Hawaiian-theme charades. Below the directions you’ll find a list of some of these (and a few newer ones) to help you get started.

How to Play Charades

Directions – There are many ways to play charades. If you want to make it a competition, divide your luau guests into two teams. You can create the Charades cards with subjects ahead of time, or you can have each team write subjects (see list below for ideas) on slips of paper, folding each paper in half and then placing in a basket or hat (a coconut woven basket or hat would be perfect!).

Each team player will have a chance to act out the subject on the card, while his team tries to guess the subject. No words can be used. The actor is not allowed to speak. A timer is set for 3 to 5 minutes (make it the same amount of time for each actor). If the actor’s team guesses correctly, that team scores a point.

Now it’s the other team’s turn. With each turn a new actor draws a subject from the hat to act out. Everybody gets a turn! Team members yell out their guesses. It’s important that the team choose a slip of paper or card randomly from the opponent’s basket. In other words the team doesn’t get to create their own subjects. Alternatively, the party host can create the subjects and allow the actor to draw from the basket.

Once all have had a turn at acting out a subject, you can go more rounds or end the game there. Decide ahead of time on this. Also be sure you have enough subjects for each team member to have a go at acting out.

At the end of the game, the team with the most points wins! If you’d like to play just for fun, simply have the subjects on folded cards or papers in baskets and take volunteers to act them out. Charades is probably the most or one of the most popular party games. It’s a lot of fun!

Hawaiian decorations for your luau

Hawaiian Charades Topics for your Luau

Movies Filmed in Hawaii

• From Here to Eternity (1953)
• South Pacific (1958)
• Blue Hawaii (1961)
• Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961)
• In Harm’s Way (1965)
• Hawaii (1966)
• Paradise Hawaiian Style (1966)
• 50 First Dates (2003)

More movies filmed in Hawaii for your luau games (charades or trivia!)

TV Shows Filmed in Hawaii

• Gilligan’s Island
• Hawaii 5-0 (original with Jack Lord or current)
• Magnum PI
• Lost
• Bay Watch

Hawaiian Songs

• Akaka Falls
• Aloha `Oe
• Beyond the Reef
• Blue Hawaii
• Hawaiian Lullaby
• Hawaiian Wedding Song
• Honolulu City Lights
• Hukilau Song
• I’ll Remember You
• Lovely Hula Hands
• Little Grass Shack
• Mele Kalikimaka
• Morning Dew
• Pearly Shells
• Sea Breeze
• Sweet Leilani
• Tiny Bubbles
• Waikiki

These songs are good ones for Hawaiian karaoke too!

A quick search for Hawaii’s most popular songs will bring you lots more.

Famous People of Hawaii (from Hawaii or had a home there)

• Alfred Apaka
• Bette Midler
• Charo
• Don Ho
• Don the Beachcomber
• Duke (Duke Kahanamoku)
• Elvis Presley
• Father Damien
• George Harrison
• IZ (Extra point for his full name: Israel Kamakawiwoʻole)
• Keola Beamer
• Kealii Reichel
• King Kamehameha
• Hilo Hattie
• Hapa
• Harry Owens
• Prince Kuhio
• Sam Choy
• Queen Liliuokalani
• Wayne Dyer

Books about Hawaii

• Hawaii ( by James Michener)
• Jack London’s Stories of Hawaii
• Roughing It (Mark Twain)

Words & Phrases

• Aloha
• Beach
• Mai Tai
• Coconut Tree
• Dolphin
• Hawaiian Punch
• Hula
• Kane (man)
• Kapu (tabu)
• Surf
• Fish
• Mahalo
• Poi
• Luau
• Paniolo (Hawaiian Cowboy)
• Pineapple
• Rainbow
• Samoan Fire Dancer
• Shark
• Snorkel
• Tahitian Dancer
• Tiki
• Tourist
• Tsunami
• Volcano
• Wahini
• Whale

Places

• Diamond Head
• Volcano National Park
• Honolulu
• Waikiki
• North Shore
• Kauai
• Oahu
• Pipeline
• Maui
• Hawaii Island (Big Island)
• Kona
• Highway to Hana
• Lahaina

Hawaiian Party Tips: Depending on their ages, your over-50 guests will have grown up in the 50s, 60s and 70s. You don’t need to get too technical but do consider the largest age group when planning games that require some cultural knowledge. Aim for the majority but include something for everyone. Or to make it easier on yourself, let your guests help come up with ideas for Charades and other knowledge-based luau party games!

Finally, don’t stop here. Get more ideas and directions for luau party games.

Stay tuned for Joan’s Boomer Blog post: “Luau Party Games – “Kimo Says” and “Hawaiian Pictionary”

Thanks so much Cindy! I can just imagine a warm summer evening, soft Hawaiian music playing, the patio decorated for a luau, and enjoying some of these luau party games with friends.

One for the Road by Lynne Marshall is the first romance novel I’ve read in many a year, I must admit. Because the topic of my blog is boomers, Lynne graciously sent me a copy of her book to review and although my last exposure to this genre was 30 years ago, I was curious to see if older heroines just might start a welcome trend.

One for the Road by Lynne Marshall

The heroine of One for the Road is D’Anne Palmer, a recent widow who found out her dead husband was up to some suspiciously dangerous things. The two of them had taken off on a trip across country in their new deluxe 40 foot motor home, when Reese died suddenly, an apparent suicide. D’Anne was left stranded, alone far from home, and broke. How would she get back to California without any money?

Hiring out the RV with herself as driver seemed like the perfect answer. She was less than happy though when the first person to approach her was a has been country singer, Tyler White, who needed transportation for his band to a series of appearances, ending up in Las Vegas. Could an uptight, 40-something California woman with two grown sons find true happiness with a washed up country singer trying to make a come back?

I have to admit, after years of reading about reed thin beauties who find love with handsome (and of course rich) hunks, it was a bit disconcerting, if refreshing, to find a heroine who worries she’ll have a hot flash at an inopportune moment or feels self-conscious because of her crow’s feet or a couple extra inches around her middle.

The hero of the book is also in his 40’s, suffers from high blood pressure and is a few pounds overweight. He examines his hair to see if a suspicious spot on his head is showing scalp and sucks in his gut, resolving to skip breakfast.

His view of D’Anne is “for an older gal, her curves are holding up real good” and she sees him as a “little over the hill, creased and broken in like a favorite chair.”

Still and all, romance and passion for the over 40 set is still alive and well! Sparks fly and we are given a good reason too why D’Anne the recent widow could so easily fall for a broken down cowboy on the comeback trail.

One thing I liked about the book was Marshall’s handling of the reality that the characters came from two different worlds. When we’re young, we tend to think love conquers all but as we age, we know that to keep a relationship going, we really do need to have many things in common. When D’Anne meets up with her two grown sons and a good friend at the end of the road in Las Vegas, she sees Tyler through their eyes and wonders if she’s crazy to even consider falling for him.

It’s easy to see why D’Anne’s sons thought she’d lost her mind. When a normal middle-aged mom hooks up with an aging country singer and his band and travel the road with them, it might just give the kids some moments of worry! It’s very real too, to think that a mother might look at herself through her grown children’s eyes and suffer doubts about what she felt and what she was doing.

Lynne Marshall has a very entertaining style and her middle aged characters’ romance is wonderful to read about. I think the story appeals to all of us who ever  think about packing up and taking to the road, living a different life and finding love along the way. If you like romance novels but you’re tired of beautiful, thin heroines and hunky rich heroes, pick up a copy of One for the Road.

On her blog, Lynne says she didn’t seriously pursue writing until age 50 and got her first book sold shortly before her 56th birthday. What an inspiration to all the baby boomers out there who think it’s too late to pursue a dream.

Visit Lynne Marshall’s blog to learn more about One for the Road and her other contemporary romance novels.

Retirement Party Ideas for Indoor and Outdoor Events

The next consideration in planning a retirement party is the location, and this will depend on factors such as

credit Abigail's Bake Shop

your guest of honor’s interests and personality, number of guests, the weather, the formality or informality desired, number of guests, the weather and food and activities planned,

Retirement Party Ideas for Outdoor Locations

If there’s a sunny forecast and you’d like to hold the party outdoors, consider local parks. Many parks let you reserve pavilions (usually for a fee) and some of have electricity and kitchen facilities, such as covered barbecue grills and sinks. Amenities to consider include aesthetics, ample covering in case of unexpected rain, facilities such as restrooms and cooking areas. If children are attending, a nice playground close to the pavilion is desirable.

Also consider how the park accommodates the type of activities you want to have; for example, if you want to have a band, some parks will allow this while others, such as national parks may not but may allow for recorded music if not too loud. If you want to have games, ensure the park has the lawn space or whatever is needed.

Other outdoor venues that have party facilities include places such as arboretums, public gardens, decks and gardens of lodges and hotels in the mountains and at lakes, and even amusement parks. If you plan to serve alcohol, check on the regulations  - some allow, some don’t, and others have special requirements, such as paying or a security guard for big bashes.

Beaches are another option if the retiree loves the beach - again check the amenities. Some beaches have fully serviced pavilions, and at others you need to set up tarps and bring chairs and tables. If your retiree loves boating on the lake and the guest list isn’t too big, renting a party boat on a lake is a creative option. Another option is a restaurant’s outdoor banquet room.

And don’t forget the backyard. A kitchen will be handy, and other logistics will be simpler. If your retirement party is a luau, a backyard pool or garden waterfall setting would be perfect. By the way if you want to make this a luau, you’ll find lots more location (and other) retirement party ideas at Hawaiian Luau Party Ideas

If holding the party outdoors do ensure that there is ample protection from the elements so that nobody is passing out from heat stroke, shivering from the wind or getting drenched. Also be prepared to rent chairs, tables and other outdoor furnishings as needed (some of the more senior guests may not be able to sit comfortably on a picnic table’s hard bench). If you plan well, you can throw a wonderful retirement party in the great outdoors!

Retirement Party Ideas for Indoor Locations

Not everyone wants to host an outdoor retirement party. Perhaps the weather isn’t going to be so hot, or it is going to be hot. Maybe it’s to be a dining and dancing event. While you can rent outdoor dancing  stages, depending on the venues in your area, renting a community clubhouse, restaurant or country club banquet room might be work better. If it’s a black tie event with a good sized budget, a swank hotel ballroom is another option.

An informal indoors retirement party could also be held at a community center rented for the evening, Elks Lodge banquet room, and many churches also rent large rooms with kitchen usage.

Last but not least, if the retiree is young at heart and has a favorite amusement park, many of these or their hotels offer party venues. For example, parties of 50 to 350 can kick up their heels at Knotts Berry Farm’s Wilderness Saloon.

Wherever you decide to throw the retirement party, consider your retirement party ideas first so that you can select a venue that will best accommodate them!

When considering retirement party ideas, brainstorm activities that honor the retiree’s accomplishments and contributions, as well as celebrate new beginnings. And above all, keep the party relaxed and fun for all and focused on the guest of honor! Besides providing food, drink and a relaxed and comfortable setting, consider…

This senior is enjoying a retirement party tailored just for her. Courtesy of Hawaii Tourism Authority/Tor Johnson

Some ways to honor the retiree - besides a gold watch and toast -  is to invite colleagues (co-workers, superiors and underlings) to step up to the mic (if you have a sound system) and say a few words about the guest of honor.

To get the ball rolling have a masters of ceremonies make an initial speech, highlighting the guest of honor’s contributions in his career(s) as well as current interests. The retiree will usually make a speech as well. And don’t forget the toasts!

Other ways take a bit more planning -  colleagues could be asked to share stories about the guest of honor, such as remembrances via email (typing them up in their word processors and attaching or writing by hand and mailing) and someone could compile these on a website or print them into a homemade spiral bound book.

Yet another retirement party idea for sharing the guest of honor’s accomplishments, contributions, funny and heart-warming stories is to video record at the job. Allow interviewees to prepare ahead of time what they will  say.  The video could even include skits, roasts and other fun elements. Play the recording at the party and give to the retiree as a memento.

Retirement is also about new beginnings…

The retiree’s plans for the future may lead to an entire  theme for the party or lends themselves to ideas for the cake. If the guest of honor and his wife, for example, are taking a long dreamed of vacation to Hawaii, a luau theme would be fun and fitting (to get started planning a retirement party with this theme, read the article “Luau Retirement Party Ideas.”) Or if you can easily picture the retiree on his last day of work hanging up a “Gone Fishing” sign on his cubicle doorway, a cake with a fishing theme would be welcome. In my husband’s case, the sign would say “Gone Rving” so I guess my first choice would be a cake shaped like an RV - with a few golf clubs thrown in for good measure.

In Conclusion…

Many who are retiring from “the job” are committed to new work such as writing a novel,  starting an online business, studying photography or finally taking up painting. Find out all you can about the guest of honor’s plans and passions and include in the party decorations, cake, activities, gifts and/or overall theme.

Other retirement party ideas include time honored traditions like smashing an alarm clock as part of a cake cutting ceremony (wrap it in a towel or something first to injury caused by flying pieces), flying in a surprise guest such as a beloved co-worker or boss who moved away,  providing a guest book and setting up a money tree on the gift table.

Finally, brainstorm your own ideas - If you consider guest of honor’s past work, current passions and future plans, and you look at ways to make the party relaxing, fun and memorable, you will have no shortage of fabulous retirement party ideas!

Looking for a unique birthday party idea for the boomer in your life? Luau birthday parties that appeal to

In Hawaii the birthday gal or guy is presented with a lei. Courtesy of Hawaii Tourism Japan

baby boomers have much in common with a luau for any age - good food and drinks, Hawaiian entertainment, tropical décor and lots of fun! There are a few things to consider when planning luau parties for boomers, and then we’ll take a look at 50^th and 60^th birthday party ideas.

The Birthday Luau Menu - Boomers are generally an active and healthy bunch, but you will see more special diets amongst us than in younger generations. The solution is simple. Include on your luau menu foods suitable for those who are watching their sugar/carbs (such as diabetics) and salt intake. Some of the most traditional Hawaiian foods are good bets, such as baked yams, barbecued chicken and fruit salad.

Activities -  While many boomers are healthy and even more fit than young people, many older boomers experience stiffer joints and less flexibility (just don’t try telling that to my friend’s 70-year-old yoga instructor or  Mick Jaggar!). When planning your luau party games, keep your guests’ fitness levels in mind. For example, opt for luau trivia games and costume contests over limbo and the slip in slide.

50^th Birthday Party Ideas - The youngest of the boomers have turned or will turn 50 in the next few years. Whether planning a big luau bash for the 50^th milestone or simply a party for the 50-something year old, consider nostalgic themes reminiscent of their growing up years. For example, a 55-year-old (in 2011) was 12 years old in 1969 and 18 in 1977 and spent most of his or her childhood in the 60s. Rock n roll, folk rolk, surfer music, and heading into the 70’s - disco, are music genres to consider for your party mix. Many of the Hawaiian recordings from this era reflect mainland pop culture influences as well. Favorite Hawaiian songs heard on the mainland during this era include “The Hawaiian Wedding Song,” (Elvis and Andy Willams versions) a long list of songs by Don Ho, Elvis’ Blue Hawaii soundtrack, Keola and Kapono Beamer’s “Honolulu City Lights” and more.

60^th Birthday Party Ideas - Luau birthday parties marking a 60^th birthday are generally pretty lively! After all 60 year olds aren’t even eligible yet for senior discounts at most places. Nostalgic themes that relate to their youth are a good bet for these boomers. Keep in mind those turning 60 (in 2011) were teenagers in 1964 - 1970. The 60’s is a fun party theme - encompassing quite a range in music and pop culture. Find out what the guest of honor loved the most and then figure out how to incorporate this into the luau. Is your guest of honor a big fan of Elvis? Blue Hawaii’s a no-brainer. The Beach Boys? Look like surfs up at this luau! Beatles? Get creative - George had a home on Maui, and they all visited and loved Hawaii. Use a photo editor to put the Fab Four into lei and aloha wear. Games might include hula hoop contests and Hawaii in the 60’s charades. The Tacky Tourist Contest is also a lot of fun.

More Tips:

Google for headlines in Hawaii for the guest of honor’s birth year and see if it’s something you can use in the luau theme. For example, one of the big news headlines in 1959 was:

“Hawaii’s Volcano Puts on Most Spectacular Show Ever as Hawaii Achieves Statehood!”

Include Hawaiian trivia, culture and pop culture games that will be fun for those who remember the 50’s or 60s such as charades. Many boomers, even if they have never been to our Aloha State, know  who Don Ho was and where Elvis and Maile had their Blue Hawaii wedding (Coco Palms on Kauai).

Incorporate your luau birthday party them into the invitations, decorations and if your guests are game, suggest they come dressed in vintage Hawiian clothing.

For specific luau birthday party ideas for boomers and older seniors, check out this article:

“Luau Birthday Parties for Seniors” at Arleen Reynold’s new luau site (Arleen was raised in Hawaii and now lives here in Texas where she dances hula with her troupe at local luau and other events).

You’ll also find fun luau games on her site like the Tacky Tourist Costume Relay and more!

Aloha!

Want to make money blogging? Download the Free Blog Profits Blueprint.

Is your older dog suffering from arthritis pain? As I’ve gotten older, I know I suffer from more aches and pains than when I was young and it’s the same with my dog. I have a 12 year old lab named Leo,

Leo Age 12

who has always had bad hips and a little difficulty with her back side but in the past year, she’s been having so much trouble it was hard to get her out for her daily walks.

It’s hard to watch an older pet having difficulty walking, running, climbing stairs and even standing sometimes. We remember them so well as carefree puppies (just like us when we were young!) and we’d like them to have a good quality of life as they get older.

When I have an ailment, I search for natural and alternative remedies for myself so I decided to do the same for Leo. I went in search of natural remedies for dog arthritis pain and I found several that are working for her.

First of all, many people who’s dog’s are suffering from arthritis pain are prescribed Rimadyl Dog Arthritis pain relief. About 3 months ago, Leo actually fell on the stairs and couldn’t get up without a struggle. I thought maybe the Rimadyl was better than this so I took my vet’s advice and gave it to her for 10 days to get rid of the worst inflammation. (Although he prescribed 2 pills a day, I only gave her one, then one-half) When I read about the adverse side effects, including fatal toxic reactions, and I knew I didn’t want to keep her on that medication. If you’d like to read more about the adverse effects of Rimadyl, I put a link at the bottom of the page.

I now give Leo some supplements and an all natural homeopathic dog arthritis pain remedy called Arthro-Ionx Pet Arthritis Medicine for Dogs and Cats. The info on this product says it “enhances pet mobility and flexibility, and boosts your pet’s energy levels.” I decided to try this particular remedy because it has great reviews on Amazon.

The directions on the Rimadyl said not to give with any other anti-inflammatory medicine so I started cutting the dosage on the Rimadyl to one half tablet. Instead of giving Leo the final day’s medication, I decided to start the Arthro-Ionx. The Rimadyl had definitely helped Leo to get around better and when I transitioned to the Arthro-Ionx, I didn’t notice any any worsening of her problem at all. The Arthro-Ionx seemed to take care of the worst of Leo’s arthritis problem.

Supplements for Dog’s Arthritis Pain

Supplements can help dogs with arthritis pain, just like they can for people. Both people and dogs benefit from glucosamine. Many senior dog foods have glucosamine in them nowadays or you can get capsules at the store and sprinkle over your dog’s food.

I got some 500 mg glucosamine capsules, which also have chondroitin and MSM in them for Leo and she gets one on her morning food.

I also give both my dogs Joint MAX TRIPLE Strength SOFT CHEWS, which have glucosamine and a few other remedies for joints. I use them for treats and you get get Joint Max in chews or tablets. Leo will eat anything, but my other dog, Molly, won’t touch the tablets.

Another supplement which helps both dogs and people are omega 3 fatty acids. I’ve tried several of these but Grizzly Salmon Oil All-Natural Dog Food Supplement is a pretty good one.

The dosage on the omega 3’s is higher than you might think for a dog. I was giving Leo some each morning before her hip problems but I upped the dosage when she started having more pain and I think it’s helping.

The Arthro-Ionx is a liquid which looks like water and I have a little trouble getting Leo to lick it up. I think maybe she doesn’t see it or smell it enough to know it’s there. What I do now is it on a place and add some omega 3 oils, which she loves, so she licks up the entire thing.

While all these remedies are making things 99% better for Leo, there are still days she struggles a little with the pain. For those days, I got some Arthrin Buffered Canine Aspirin Soft Chews, which last for 12 hours on a dosage.

My vet told me not to give aspirin every day, although several years ago, I had another dog and another vet, and he told me to give that dog an aspirin a day so I figure if Leo is having a painful day, a little aspirin is better than Rimadyl, which I know is harmful. I always give it with food too because too much aspirin can cause bleeding in stomach.

Is all this getting expensive? You bet, but believe me, Rimadyl is VERY expensive if you decide to put your dog on it long term. You also need blood tests every 6 months to see if it’s causing harm to your dog, and blood work is expensive. I spend a lot on foods and supplements to keep my husband and I healthy so our pets are no different. I’d rather spend money on supplements than vet bills.

If you’d like to read more about the adverse effects of Rimadyl, check out The Senior Dog Project

I’ve mentioned my friend Tom Grimes, who has a health coaching business, in past articles. Yesterday I received an email from Tom and asked his permission to share it with you. Tom’s good friend has spent the past few weeks in the hospital with complications directly related to obesity and diabetes. As Tom told me, this wasn’t one of his many success stories but it does give food for thought as we contemplate how our daily lifestyle choices affect our health.

Tom says, “I have been thinking about writing this email for several days. Actually, over the past 23 days I have been sitting daily in the ICU waiting room of Santa Rosa’s Memorial Hospital.

Someone very close to me, Nancy, has been hospitalized with a serious illnesses that is the direct result of obesity. A friend described Nancy as being “one sick puppy.” That is a very good description of her right now.

Unfortunately what Nancy is experiencing is becoming more and more common. In the U.S. 300,000 people die every year from the issues obesity and that figure does not include the millions who are experiencing a decrease in their quality of life.

Even though Nancy watched me lose weight and even lost some herself, she neglected to change her habits to maintain the weight she lost and her sugars went out of control by her food choices she was making.

So many times we wait and ignore or put off for another day which is exactly what Nancy was doing. I’m sure you know people who are making the same mistake that Nancy made. Perhaps you are too.

For several months I have been sending you my Healthy Habits eNewletter. 20 to 25 percent of the people I send it to click on the front page. A handful read one or more of the articles. I understand completely. However, now I’m challenging you. Check out the Healthy Habits eNewsletter in your inbox and share it with someone (click on Send to Friend) you know who may be struggling with their weight, energy or health. One doesn’t have to believe that it will work, you just have to follow the plan and it works. Why not give it a try before it is too late for you or your loved ones.

Please, also say a prayer for Nancy as she goes through this long recovery process.”

We do send Nancy our prayers, Tom.

If you would like to subscribe to Tom’s Healthy Habits monthly newsletter, click here for more information.

In the meantime, consider what you are eating today. Did you go for a daily walk? Did you spend some time doing something you truly enjoy, free from worry and stress? All of these are choices you make about how you are living your life. Each daily choice adds up to a life lived and each choice helps decide whether or not you end up like Nancy or whether you active, energetic, and healthy every day of your life.

I love signing up for free newsletters and ebooks. I’ve gotten lots of great information on retirement and simplifying and enjoying life from them. Here is a list of some of my favorite ebooks relating to enjoying our retirement years. I know there are others and I’ll post them as I find them.

You will probably also enjoy the blogs which offer these free ebooks as well.

From Love Being Retired - Navigating the Retirement Jungle

Dave at Love Being Retired has written a terrific free ebook that covers lots of the issues faced by those approaching retirement. Some of the topics include evaluating when we can afford to retire, identifying and pursuing our passions in retirement, health, finances, travel, frugal retirement living and more. Dave’s blog and ebook have a very friendly, readable style and give you lots to think about.

The Positivity Blog offers a free ebook The 7 Timeless Habits of Happiness

You would think that the words “happiness” and “retirement” would be synonymous. Often, however, that is not the case. Our retirement years bring many challenges, health problems or physical limitations, worrying about our children or our finances, losing that zest for life we had when we were young, just slowing down generally. In other words, although the challenges are different than when we were young, retirement still brings it’s own share of cares and worries. The real challenge in retirement, as in any part of life, is how to be happy no matter what life throws at you.

The Seven Timeless habits of Happiness gives you sound tips on being happy, no matter what your age. Don’t put off being happy until some vague, distant time when your life is perfect, choose happiness now.

If you stop and think about it, if you don’t choose happiness in your retirement years, when will you do it?

The 437 Best Things Ever Said about Retirement by Ernie Zelinski

Ernie Zelinski, the author of How to Retire Happy, Wild and Free, offers free ebook download of the ebook listed above and The 1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work, plus excerpts of other books he’s written.

This ebook is full of great quotes about retirement and getting older. It’s a quick, fun read.

For those of you interested building retirement income from your passion in life, get Rich German’s free ebook Monetize Your Passion. This 234 page ebook is packed with great information on how to identify your passion, build a business and make money from it.

If you choose to make a donation to Rich for this ebook, he is giving all proceeds to programs to help homeless children in the USA. He’s managed to raise thousands of dollars with this project to donate back.

Zen Habits Guide to Simpifying Your Life

This isn’t exactly an ebook but the Zen Habits website offers a complete list of links to their articles on simplifying and decluttering your life. Many retirees have “been there and done that” in regards to big houses, lots of possessions and buying the next new thing. They long for peace and simplicity in their retirement. Zen Habits offers lots of great tips in this area.

If you’d like a source for free ebooks on any topic imaginable, check out Free-ebooks.net. Just register and download ebooks on hundreds of topics.

If you’ve downloaded any good free ebooks lately in the areas of retirement, simplifying your life or finding happiness, please let me know or post it in the comment section.

I read an article recently that suggested “older” people were starting to balk at being called seniors. Even AARP was beginning to use the term “medicare eligible” for those over a certain age. Baby boomers seem to be the generation who never thought we’d get old and now that we’re here, we don’t like being reminded of it.

How we see ourselves and how the world sees us are, of course, two different things. I read lots of blogs about boomers, seniors and retirement. Some bloggers have the general opinion that boomers should just move out of the way and die to make room for the younger generation. Others say the boomers will be the saving of the economy, while yet others say the current economic mess is the fault of greedy, materialistic boomers. The peace and love generation turned into evil Wall Street broker types and ruined the country. One blog I read yesterday suggested we should collectively pay off the national debt when we die by reinstating the estate tax and taxing social security - just as a favor for the younger generation.

Personally, I get tired of my generation getting the blame for the world’s ills but I know when all these generation X, Y, Z people turn 55 they will be singing a different tune. Wasn’t it our generation who said “Don’t trust anyone over 30?”

I guess, when it comes to aging, we always tend to see ourselves through rose colored glasses (maybe we’re losing our vision, along with our waistline?) I find myself listening for people at my Y exercise classes to mention their age and then I think “Wow, I’m older than them but I look so much younger!’

Of course, one place us boomers don’t mind the term senior is when it comes to “senior discounts!” Here on my blog, posts about senior discounts are among the most popular. I guess since some of these discounts can start as young as 50, and since they do involve getting a bargain, we don’t think of it as something negative.

I remember one time quite a few years ago, I went into Taco Bell just to get something to drink. The high school kid waved away my money and said, “It’s free.”

I said “Really, are you sure?” I thought, what a nice young man, giving me a free drink. It wasn’t until quite some time later that I found out Taco Bell gives free drinks to “seniors.” I guess to a high school kid, all of us “old people” look like we qualify so they don’t even bother to ask.

When I was in my 30’s I did a short stint as a waitress in a Mexican restaurant. Our restaurant gave senior discounts and I remember not liking to insult anyone by asking if they were old enough to receive one. Some people were insulted if you did ask them and they weren’t old enough. Other people jumped right in there and told you they were old enough and expected to get it.

Fast forward to 2008. I was 58 years old then and checking out at Kohls. The 30-something woman at the register informed me it was senior discount day and asked if I qualified. I said, “It depends on what age it is.” She said the senior discount started at age 60. I laughed (thinking of course that I certainly didn’t look 60!) and said “No, I’m not old enough yet.”

At this point she got rather insistent, really wanting me to have that discount. She said, “Well, is it near your 60th birthday? I can still give it to you.”

Gone are the days when we fear insulting someone about their age! -lol.

How we define ourselves is important. The term “Older American” seems to be catching on.  I always liked “baby boomer” because it makes us sound young and important but maybe that’s getting passe. Advertisers are sure struggling to define us, having suddenly woken up to the improbably idea that our age group too spends money, not just that coveted 18 to 39-year-old age group. Although ads directed at us older Americans most often involve hemorrhoid creams and cholesterol medications, rather than the latest iPhone or iPad.

Personally, I think advertisers are missing to boat there. Us senior, boomer, medicare eligible, older Americans also covet iPhones and iPads and all the latest gadgets.

Do you have any thoughts on what you’d like us older people to be called? If senior is out and -Heaven forbid - elder, what new word can we come up with to define ourselves? I’d love to hear ideas. Maybe we can start a new trend.