Ready, Set, GO!

I saw this on Twitter this morning. Even though it was a Tweet posted by an educator, it reminded me of the thought process some people have about retirement.

Did you feel like you had "arrived" when you retired? Or did you see a future beyond the gates of retirement and a whole world on the other side? It could be that what we see after that work life will simply be a self fulfilling prophecy. I do hope that you have or had many ideas to chose from. I think that is the key.

I suppose if you have always been an armchair kind of person you will not change now. But you can! That is the point.

The Point:  Don't ever feel that you have arrived...believe you can reach even higher! It just gets better and better.

Ready, Set, Go! Have fun!

Just a thought!

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Related articles

• Bringing a New Meaning to Retirement
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• After All...What are Bucket Lists For?

400 lb.14 Year Old Hacker...I know that guy!

I have been talking a lot about real people. They are the people that are the victims of smack talk on Facebook or made fun of on Twitter or during a press conferences. For example, we all heard about the 14 year old hacker that weighed 400 lbs. being ridiculed on Twitter, not entirely because he was a hacker but also because he weighed 400 lbs.

Do you know anyone that might fit that description? Well, I do sorta.

Last summer I discovered that I was pre-diabetic and signed up to take a class on nutrition and behavior to help deal with the issue. It as a class of people that were in the room together simply because of a health problem. We had nothing at all in common other than that. Yet, as we sat together for three, 3 hour sessions, we began to bond and get to know each other.

There was a stunning older woman that discovered that she needed the class even though she had never be out of control in her whole life.

There was a very Type A personality gentleman that actually inventoried Costco to discover what they were stocking on the outside aisles as opposed to the inside aisles.

There was a widow that lived on McDonald's and Starbuck's menus.

I was there getting myself ready to do what was necessary to make a few life changes.

And there was Aaron. Aaron was very overweight. He was developmentally about 14 year old even though he had lived 24 years. Aaron lived as a recluse because of his weight and spent the biggest part of everyday on his computer. I suppose he was an expert of sorts. He was dealing with the results of a brain tumor that was discovered when he was a small child.

Aaron didn't go outside because the neighborhood kids made fun of him. He could not bring himself to go to the mailbox or the garbage cans. It seems that kids think that is okay to do that for some reason. He could not work because of his weight issues. His mother was his best friend and she watched over his life. He did live alone.

Now, this is a case of realizing that Aaron was a dear man. He was kind and concerned and related to those around him when we talked about food problems. His main weakness was related to immaturity.

The questions are very obvious I think. Are we at liberty to make fun of a 400 lb. man because he doesn't look like you and I? Should we assume that he is a "hacker" or a pervert or even lacking in self control because he is overweight?

It is worth thinking about. What is your opinion?

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Just When I Thought NO ONE Was Watching!

You know how it is. You don't put on your underwear and go out in public thinking that no one will notice. On that day you meet your high school principal, your doctor, the minister at your church and every neighbor you have ever lived next to....and they are noticing. Not that they say it out loud but you can tell...they all know that you are barenaked underneath your clothes.

I will have to admit that I feel that way about Facebook, Twitter and my blog here on Retire In Style Blog. I think I can get away with just about anything because I am sure no one is watching. Then, just when I think no one was watching, everyone is. I don't know if that good. I suppose it all depends.

Last week I posted a picture I had seen on my news feed.

For some very strange reason people I knew that I thought never saw anything I posted "liked" that post. There were 30 of my friends to be exact. It is ok...really it is. Just incase any of you are wondering, I am just fine. I am not senile. Really, I'm not. But for all of you that liked that post and think you are senile, let me know. I will send a card or something.

I'm just saying!

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Is Better Better? Trending on Twitter

One of the thing that fascinates me about this whole blogging experience is the social media and its influence. So, when I saw  #DoesBetterMatter? trending on Twitter just now, I wondered, if I write a blog post using those words what would happen. Would it make any difference at all. We are about to see.

Do you suppose it would still run if it were in a car?
Or is there something much, much better?
Deutsches Museum   Munich, Germany

I am here to ask you, "Does better matter?"

See, I only started blogging all those years ago to start a conversation with my then 4th grade granddaughter. I was in China and she was going to school in a classroom crowded with almost 40 students. Technology was creeping into the schools but was still feared because it was so new. After all, it was a better way of communication. But did it matter? No not really.

My son lived in Shanghai and my husband and I were taking advantage of him so we could see a part of the world not usually seen back those few years ago. We had pictures of the Great Wall and Dong Tai Lu in the middle of the city. We wandered through the city and seldom saw a foreigner. We were experiencing something so wonderful. We wanted to share.

But we were soon to realize the even though I wanted to share and send a blog post over the internet directly to my granddaughter's classroom, no one would open it up. They were afraid and had built a security wall around their world. It was so sad.

So, now I am asking myself about all of the advances in technology that has happened since my computer, iphone and ipad were purchased. Should I get or try something bigger. Would better matter in my world? Would I regret spending the money on something that is simply better because it is faster and the screen is bigger? See, in the beginning the blog sent from China to my granddaughter was not that much different than a post card. It was faster but was it all that much different? Not really. And, in the end, would it really matter if it was?

As I grow older I find myself asking the same question. Should what I own, is paid for and works just fine be replace just because it is shinier? I don't know. We will see. Better may be better but I am going for different-better. So it simply doesn't matter to me. See what I mean?

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Twitter: Getting No Place with Hashtags

I am barbblogtwits...in case you are interested.
Free twitter badge (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I really do want to be cool and hip and trendy and all that. Really I do. But I simply do not understand Twitter at all. In fact, when I started with the media, all the buzz was about followers. Then something changed and I just lost interest. But now I am see more information on hashtags (#). It all seemed much more interesting.

I think the trick is to find a hashtag that will help me be seen by a group of like minded bloggers. The group needs to be not too big and not too small. I want my tag to be inclusive but not too inclusive. You can see it might be a little tricky. The PAULA REED NANCARROW blog had a wonderful suggestion about using "meme" hastags. All of her hashtags and Twitter follow links save one, had the word "blog" in them. The one that was the simplest was #ArchiveDay used only on Saturdays. That worked for me. That is what I am online...a blogger. I think you should hop over to her blog to see what hashtags she suggests how she suggests you use them.

I can suggest #SundayScribblings, #3WordWednesday and #FridayFlash. You may know of other "meme" hashtags that can help you gain more traffic.

But like everything thing in this world, participating in Twitter as a tweeps with my twits means I must follow written and unwritten rules.  Thank you Paula Reed Nancarrow. You have started me thinking that there may be hope for me. I may become an authentic tweep after all. I am feeling hopeful.

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Note Mashable and WikiHow have some wonderful information too.

Counting: 8 Ways to Keep Your Blogging Life Simple

It occurred to me yesterday that I needed to simplify my blogging life...a lot!  Passwords, social media and time spent maintaining might be sucking the life out of me and the payback is not worth it.

I do earn a little money from my Adsense account linked to me blog and an Amazon account (which I would love you to visit) but it has come time to remind myself why I began blogging back over 8 years ago.

The blogging idea was so appealing...I could see my words in print, tell stories and even share pictures I had taken of faraway places. Best of all the thrill of having even one reader put me over the moon.

I loved the process of writing and learning while I was doing it. It never occurred to me that people would want to use my blog to promote their products. When they did, I jumped at the chance. However, when that happened, I then felt the need to promote my blog more. Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter and even following followers took over the computer time that I had been spending just enjoying writing.

And it turned out Google really doesn't want me to use my blog to make money unless it is through Adsense. Even when I linked to a business for no money but simply to share information, Google asked the business to remove the links! It was getting just too twisted for me to deal with on a daily basis. So my blogging life is changing for the better I think.

Here is what I have done so far:

1. I have withdrawn my option to promote any businesses with a link on my blog and will just support those businesses that have used the blog up until now. That was big step for me. It was a relief!
2. I do not participate in Linkedin. They were contacting people on my email list without my permission and it became embarrassing after a time. Plus I did not see that it helped me at all.
3. I now use Facebook almost entirely for promoting my blog with friends, contacts and family. I do not post anything personal or an update of my day to day activities there. In fact, I use private pages that different groups have to post questions or special blog titles that those groups may find helpful. That has turned out to be a very positive change.
4. I have blog articles automatically posted on Facebook and Google. I never think about it at all.
5. There is a need for a hard heart. Sometimes it is a good idea to be less visible. I block people on my Facebook account...especially if they seem to be lurking. I just don't want anyone following me like a needy dog or even contacting me there instead of using email or calling. I generally tell the person that I am not going to be a visible so they will know what I have done. 
6. The passwords needed to be dealt with. What a pain in the neck those have turned out to be. I have actually found that doing things the old fashioned way can be less bothersome than trying to do everything online. A simple phone call can suffice in a lot of cases and I don't need a password to do that.
7. Restraint in my blogging life is all about actually never signing up with anything new that requires a passwords or even more of my attention. Honestly, I don't want to join every website I visit. It drives me nuts! In fact, some websites may be losing business because they require a password to even take a look at their products. I will pass thank-you-very-much.
8. I am now using that unsubscribe option...a lot. While I don't want to live in a vacuum, I don't feel the need to see a newsletter from anyone more than once a month. If I get them anymore frequently I unsubscribe. TMI is not good for me. 

Now I am back to simply writing about what interests me on a daily basis. The series on "counting" is one new twist I have added. Numbers appeal to me somehow so I thought why not pursue it FOR AS LONG AS IT INTERESTS ME.

I will continue to use Adsense advertising so my readers can click on products linked to what I write about.  I love my Amazon affiliate account and would love it if you began to buy your Amazonproducts through me...including Amazon Prime which turns out to be the best deal around if you order online. I will keep my twitter account (barbblogtwits) and Facebook because they are very simple once I got it under control. But that will be it...for now.

Do you have any ideas about how to make your online life simpler? I would love to hear them.

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10 Best Travel Application for a Smart Phone

If you are on the road like us, you know that your smart phone (my iPhone) can save your bacon....over and over. My husband and I just finished our journey from Oregon to Arizona. I know what a difference that device has made for us.  Here are the 9 we used just on this trip plus one I want.

1. Gas Buddy mobile app...this app can find you when you are on you phone. It gives you a list of gas stations that are nearby along with the price of gas. It can make a difference...for us it was $.20 per gallon. Over the length of a trip it is significant.
2. Twitter mobile app...I follow local Twitter, keep in touch with people on the fly.
3. Instagram App allows me to post photos to twitter and facebook. If you are a blogger, you know that being personal and up to date is important.
4. Facebook mobile app...this one is for family more than anything. But I do have a lot of followers. Timing is important for twitter and facebook.  Be sure to post when the most people are using the apps.
5. FourSquare is a social app that will actually find deals in the area for you. We have scored free appetizers, desserts, etc.
6. Around Me mobile app will tell you about places to eat and will list motels/hotels along with the rates they are charging. It has the information for connecting to online booking for the motel. It comes in very handy.
7. Blogger mobile app...if you are a blogger, it is nice to be able to post a short post on the road. Blogger lets me do that with my iPhone.
8. Yelp...this is a site that gives you the inside scoop on restaurants and entertainment. We like to use it when we are planning a special night out.
9. MapQuest or Google Maps...I do not like getting lost. I try really hard not to have that happen. It can be difficult even with Map Quest or even a Garmin. How did we travel before we had those devices?
10. PLUS: A Mobile Hotspot. This little function can be a lifesaver.

If you know of something I am missing, let me know!

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Instagram edited photo

Instagram edited photo

I want a barbque to tow behind our vehicle...or not!

TripAdvisor, Yucatan Peninsula, and Free Comments

Get The BEST Information

Playa del Carmen, Mayan Riviera, Yucatan Peninsula,  Mexico

We are on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico right now.  Our resort is near Cancun. I am doing a lot of reading about the area on travel websites. If I were to recommend the best place to go for information no matter where you are going, I would do what even the travel columns do in the newspaper...I would tell you to visit TripAdvisor. That is what people that travel do. This is what TripAdvisor had to say about the Yucatan:

Hidden gems of Yucatan, such as Tulum, Akumal, Chetumal, Chichen Itza and Merida, offer an authentic taste of Mexico. Akumal and more Caribbean-style Chetumal, near the Belize border, deliver delectable white-sand beaches and great snorkeling.

Mayan Women are very shy I think

Then they go on to give you all the best information. TripAdvisor and the people that leave comments can be very helpful...especially if you are going to an exotic location. We used TripAdvisor when we went to Vietnam last year.

But most importantly have a wonderful day!  I know I am!

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FIND at bottom
of blog post and
CLICK

FYI 

The commonly held knowledge is,if you want people to do something, you need to tell them. It does make good sense.  With in the next few minutes I would like you to do the following:

• Type the word travel or grandparent or financial or books or gifts into the search function at the top left hand corner of the blog page. Read any posts that interests you.
• Go to the bottom of the article you have read and leave your comments ...good or bad. You can post anonymously but if you just leave and initial in the box along with your email address which is never revealed it shows that you are real.
• Click on the Twitter button at the bottom of the article and write a short recommendation.
• Click on the Facebook button and add the information to your Facebook account. 
• Click the Google+ icon.

I am a traveler but this blog is not all about travel. It is about living the life of a retiree. You will also find financial information (again go to the search box), grandparenting (grandparent), books and anything that is beautiful. My husband and I live the snowbird lifestyle, have traveled in an RV and now own a small park model in a RV resort in Tucson, AZ. You will find a link to that information at the top of the article page in the bar that goes across the blog.

Just to review...

1. search 
2. leave a comment
3. Twitter
4. Facebook
5. Google+

Montessori for Dementia revisited...more links and information!

Remembering to Close the Gate

Have your ever gone to the basement to get a can of tomatoes and could not remember what you where doing in the basement?  It is a very common thing.  Remembering where we are going and, more importantly, why we went there can be a challenge.

I am personally never going to know if I am getting worse in the memory department because I have left my glasses, purse, credit card and phone in seven states and Canada!  I am a very absent minded person. I have always been this way so how will I detect a change?

This whole conversation brings us back to the post from yesterday talking about Montessori for Dementia and how that program helps people with diminished memory regain part of the knowledge they have lost.  It seems to me that if you are a spouse dealing with this problem, you might be well served to begin leaving clues that help both you and your partner remember stuff (a big scientific word) and things.

We were talking with friends at lunch today about how we gave ourselves clues for remembering what needs to be done.  Things can be left in small sorted piles on the stairs so you can put them away when you go up or down stairs...desk items, notes, memos about phone calls...towels, clothes and shoes...you probably have your own system but you know what I mean.  My friend then said that she does that.  When she goes upstair to get pink thread she will pick up the laundry to put away then wonder what she came upstairs for in the first place.  She now recites a mantra....pink thread-pink thread-pink thread-pink thread...all the time she as she is putting things away.

Montessori methods probably are more a part of our lives than we can imagine.  For example, patterns for mundane tasks we do on a daily basis are very helpful.   Have you ever left your card behind at the ATM?  I bet if you asked the people inside your bank how many times customers leave their card in the machine in a month you would be surprised.

If we could all share how we are coping with those things that are problems for ourselves or someone we love, it might help someone else.  Be sure to revisit August 3 blog post.  Or visit Montessori Methods to to Treat People with Dementia for information on this subject.  You might also read "So simple, it's genius.(Cameron Camp, director of The Myers Research Institute usage of Montessori approach for people with dementia)(Interview): An article from: Nursing Homes. There are also a number of books available that might help:  Books on Montessori Methods for Dementia.

I think I am done talking about this for a while.  Pass the word by a Twitter post or on your Facebook account.  Who knows, someone might need a little boost.

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What you do after you visit matters! How to read a blog! @addthis :)

If you are here for financial information, are wondering about living in a very small space, looking for information on the retirement lifestyle or just think I am a stupendous passable writer, thank you for coming by.  Your visit really does matter.  You see, there are people out there in cyber space that actually keep track of your visits and what you do after you come here.  It is not some nefarious plot to entrap you...it is simply about deciding who is the most popular! Wahoo!!! I would wear a bathing suit but since you cannot see me...well it is all for the best.

Note: More information on the subjects can be found in the "pages" at the top of the blog page.

For example, I received an email from the @AddThis team. You can find their icon at the bottom of the blog in a red box marked +Share  They were wondering if I was alive and well.  Why?  Well it turns out that they keep track of whether my readers are clicking on the icon.  I know!  Who knew?  And I am sure you would have done that but I didn't tell you to.  It is really my fault.  How were you suppose to know?

I also have a follow button in the sidebar on the left hand side.  There is a fancy G beside a blue box that says Join this Site.  That button is above pictures of a bunch of  Avatars (picture...fancy online talk.  Sorry!).  When you become a new follower, this blog benefits from your actions. Google keeps track of that kind of stuff...I am pretty uninvolved but I do care.  It is like a cycle...you follow so my ranking goes up so more people will see the blog and they will follow.  It just keeps going.

If you are shopping on Amazon and you can come to this blog and search the Amazon button for what you are shopping for, as an associate I benefit from that. It is at the top of the left hand side-panel.  If you do that, thank you so much.  My penny bank is almost empty!

This blog is a little space that I have carved out for myself.  I can write anything I want here and you get to decide whether to come on down and read or not.  If you like what you see, you can beam this starship up to someone...twitter, facebook or +share.  If you don't, well I will still like you anyway.

So that is why you are so important to this blog.  What you do when you come by is up to you.  But if you want to give the blog a little support, it would not hurt my feelings.  Leave a comment and come on back soon y'all.  You-are-very-important!

Be well.

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Travel Blogs, Mark Twain and me #1b140_2

Just when I begin to think I have a grip on who and what I am, someone like Mark Twain comes along and bursts my bubble.  It really makes it very hard to be me.

Me at the Alacazaba, Spain, 2001
another innocent abroad!

I have been reading Twain's Innocents Abroad this last week.  I was prompted to do so after deciding to follow 1 Book in 140 Characters (#1book140) on twitter.  It is a book club for people from around the world.  Their last read was Mark Twain's book.

Click image 

The Innocents Abroad, or The New Pilgrims' Progress is a travel book by American author Mark Twain published in 1869 which humorously chronicles what Twain called his "Great Pleasure Excursion" on board the chartered vessel Quaker City (formerlyUSS Quaker City) through Europe and the Holy Land with a group of American travelers in 1867. It was the best selling of Twain's works during his lifetime and one of the best selling travel books of all time. (wikipedia).

If you have ever taken a trip that you thought of as "a great adventure" you could relate to every word Train has written.  Everything from his description of the over zealous journal writers to the euphoria a traveler experiences when visiting a exotic foreign country for the first time...it is all there.  Nothing, really, nothing has changed since 1867.

It was the section on the "Old Traveler" that brought me to tears.  I didn't know if I was laughing because I thought it was funny or laughing because I might have recognized myself in his words.  He said:

But we love the Old Travelers....they open their throttle valves, and how they do brag and swell.... But still I love the Old Travelers, I love them for their witless platitudes, for their supernatural ability to bore, [and for] their delightful asinine vanity.... 

When Twain used words like asinine and vanity and their central aim is to subjugate you I realized that it could be that I love talking about my travels a lot more than you enjoy listening.  If that is true, it is not a good thing!

Still I need you to know I probably won't stop because talking about travel is part of my blogging journey. I may feel sorry for you just a little but it won't make any difference.  Just shoot me now!  Smile.

Please read this book if you have not already.  I is just a wonderful today as it was in 1867! You can download it free from Amazon or read it online.

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By the way I went over 100,000 page views yesterday.  Now if just 30% of those people stop and read a few lines I will be happy.

I'm Retired...How come I have all these jobs? New Stuff I'm Doing!

Here is the thing...we are doing three jobs at once.  That sort of thing was hard 30 years ago but now we are in our 70's and it turns out nothing has changed!  It is still hard work. We are like butterflies flitting from bush to bush.  Maybe that explains why I am happy!  We are:

• Painting son's condo ceiling...big leak stained open floor plan lower level.  There is at least 700 square feet of surface.  Ceiling white did not cover with one coat.  It is a pain in the neck...a real pain in the neck. 
• Working on a flag stone patio.  It is half finished and stones are stacked waiting for us to finish the job. 
• Our new cork floor has arrived and the boxes are stored under our bed so they can warm up. My husband is measuring and planning.  

Cinderella's Ballerina Slipper?
GIFT ITEM FROM GIFT BOOMER

NEW BLOG...GIFT BOOMER

On top of all that, I have added two components to my blogging routine. A new blog was opened last week featuring nothing but gifts...Gift Boomer was an idea I hatched in the night. This way I can shop for you.  A new gift idea appears everyday. My market is YOU...you heard me. Everything I pick is something a grown up would want.  If you are a grandparents that has visiting grandchildren, I have ideas for you too. I hope you take a look. If you see something you like click the link and see if it might be just what you want.

RETIRE IN STYLE DAILY NEWSPAPER NOW OUT

A newspaper has been added to my expanding online world.  Retire In Style Daily News features small snippets of articles my twitter followers have posted.  It is generated automatically by Paper.li but I edit what I want and don't want my readers to see.  If you are interested in the possibility of being featured, follow me at barbblogtwits and send me your articles on twitter to @barbblogtwits. 

NEW PHOTOGRAPHY APP...JUST BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO DO

I bought Snapseed for my desktop computer today.  I use this app on my ipad and love, love it.  If you like to fiddle around with your pictures, I think the $19.95 is worth your money.  It is a lot of fun!

JUST A THOUGHT

I read that if bloggers want there readers to help them they should tell the reader what to do.  Here goes:

• Click the followers button in the left sidebar.
• Click the Google+ button at the bottom of the blog.
• Leave a comment if you want to add to the conversation.
• Please, oh please, come on back soon.  I love to have company.

PS

The doggone ants have moved into my house and are driving me nuts.  Yes I am clean and no I don't leave food crumbs around.  I may have to call an exterminator if things don't get better.  Oh by the way ants don't like the rain either.  They move inside in the droves on a misty day!  Yuck!

Have a great day.

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@1book140 Twitter/The Atlantic book club, #books and @GoodReads

Me (in the blue t-shirt standing)
 in Spain 2001...another innocent abroad!

Well, just in case you were wondering, I did add @1book140 to my Twitter likes and downloaded the latest selection, Mark Twains The Innocents Abroad (published 1869), onto my Kindle...it cost me $0.  Now I am reading this hilarious story about a person going on a trans-Atlantic voyage to the Holy Land in what I visualize as a tin bucket ocean liner. Only an innocent sucker would have bought the speel given by the travel agent promoting the tour in the first place and it only gets better.  Mark Twain where ever you are, was that you?

While we're talking about books...
I have two other books on the Kindle that I am reading too.  Ann Tyler is one of my favorite authors so it is no surprise that I am reading The Beginner's Goodbye. The book was chosen as one of Amazon's best for 2012. Ann Tyler's books are always a bit like reading a very grown up version of the children's book  James and the Giant Peach. If you remember Jame's parents were killed by an escaped animal from the zoo while in their car in the very first chapter. Then a giant peach began growing in the backyard of his pointy Aunt's backyard. And so it goes.  Tyler's books begin with a very real and totally possible tragedy (no zoo animals yet).  The author then carries the reader along as she follows the character step by step listening and watching as they put their life back together.  Not surprisingly, humor, dark but funny, fill the pages. Very much like Roald Dalh's children's book. The Amazon review for The Beginner's Goodbye said:

"The strangest thing about my wife's return from the dead was how other people reacted." So begins Anne Tyler's new novel, which documents the days of Aaron Woolcott after the unexpected loss of his wife, Dorothy. And as arresting as the first sentence is, it's also a bit worrying. So many clichés could follow. Will Aaron resolve his grief through poetic moonlit walks with the apparition of his lost wife? Thankfully, this is Anne Tyler. And the ghost of Dorothy, like all Tyler's characters, has a kind of rich, eccentric depth that sits opposite to the expected. Aaron's recovery after his wife's death conveys all the subtle hallmarks of Tyler's style, where a flawed man must learn how to do a very difficult thing--say a final goodbye. --Benjamin Moebius

I have also bought and downloaded A Visit from the Goon Squad and don't really know why.  I don't particularly like the characters or the way the books is written.  In fact, I probably will not wrap my mind around what I've read even after I am done.  But, I keep going with the hope that it will all finally click or there will be a character I can care about.  See, this is one of the bad things about an ebook...I miss the fly leaf and the information on the back cover.  They are like CliffNotes for the confused reader and it seems I need a lot of help. 


The @1book140 Book Club
The Twitter/The Atlantic book club (previous post here) is very interesting.  I followed the Twitter account @1book140 and found a link to The Atlantic to get directions for belonging.  It is all about the slash mark (#). For example, #1book140 takes the member tweeter to the discussion page for the club in general. #1b140_1 takes them to discussions on the first chapter in the book.  It appears they are on Chapter 2.  There is a  one rule...#1 - If a member gives the ending away or talks about Chapter 3 before the club says they can, they get themselves kicked out of the club. Pretty simple.

So there you have it...Monday in retirementland.  Rainy and cold here.

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New York Times: Largest Book Club in the World: 64,483+ me

I saw something in my Retire In Style Daily News  that made me hyper ventilate.  It was story that was on twitter tday and had been put up by one the people I follow.   It seems a book club run by Jeff Howe, an assistant professor of journalism at Northeastern University using twitter has over 64,000 members, never adjourns and has members all over the world.  He decided to begin the club by setting up a twitter account and inviting the world to choose a book to read and then share their thoughts chapter by chapter by tweeting to the world.  He formed a partnership with Atlantic magazine, chose a genre and let tweeters to nominate books.  The partnership then narrows the list down to 6 and the membership votes for their favorite.  


The whole thing just fascinated me.  The idea that people from around the world would all read the same book and discuss their thoughts all using 140 characters is wonderful.  By talking about the book we are all brought together!  In fact the idea was actually born in Seattle out of an idea that the city would all have something in common if they read the same book.  

One City One Book programs take the idea of a localized book discussion club and expand it to cover a whole city.^[2] The first such program was "If All of Seattle Read the Same Book" in 1998, started by Nancy Pearl at Seattle Public Library's Washington Center for the Book.^[3] The book chosen for the program was 'The Sweet Hereafter' by Russell Banks, written in 1991.^[4] Other cities copied the idea, and the Library of Congress listed 404 programs occurring in 2007.^{[1] (Wikipedia)}

The twitter name is 1book140, the NYT Article is called Books With 140 Characters.  I know what, let's all do it. I love it when a neighborhood, city, or the world all have one thing in common that we can talk about.  And if it is a good book, isn't that even better?   Doesn't it just sound like a lot of fun?

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Note:  I have used the same hairdresser for 15 years.  Why?  Because we both love to read books and can talk about them while I sit in the chair.  Isn't that wonderful?

Are you smart enough to be a grandparent?

Follow me on Twitter @barbblogtwits!

Babies are on my mind. I will become a Grandma for the 12th time on April 12th.  I am going back to Oregon so I can celebrate my luck.   Read this post and come back and visit me soon.  I will have pictures!:) I also appreciate a follow or a link on your blog.



....boy could I use a copy of this book, How to Be the Perfect Grandma by Bryna Nelson Paston. People say it is funny. The words on the front cover are, "Never let ever, ever let anything bad happen to the kids on your watch...if you do lie!" The name of the first chapter is "There are rules. Follow them or go directly to grandma jail."  I am so glad that other grandparents have the same life as mine.

Brycen, #11, Age 2

Amazon  says: The Ultimate Rules for Grandma Success "Becoming a grandmother is not one of life's free choices. You can pick your pet, your alma mater, and your spouse, but when and where you become a grandma is entirely up to your kids. You don't expect it, and you don't quite know how to respond.  Being a grandma, though, is as close as you may ever get to perfection. So learn the rules and secure your spot as one of the most important parts of your grandchildren's lives."

Note: I want you to know that "How to be the Perfect...." is highly recommended by one of my favorite websites written by Susan Adcox over at About.com.  

Today's Thoughts

I don't know if you are a grandparent or not but I personally think that taking care of my young grandchildren is hard. I'm not sure if I am smart enough now or ever have been. I listen to Susan Adcox because she knows what she is talking about and has a good sense of humor. Yesterday I noticed a Twitter message from her about taking a Grandparenting Class. It turns out that some grandparents are offended that anyone would question their abilities. They are like me... they don't plan on letting anything happen to the children on their watch and if it does they can always do what Paston does...lie. I will have to admit I thought that if the hospital will send a brand new infant home with unsuspecting parents, why the necessity for me, the grandmother of 11 soon to be 12 grandchildren, taking a class. Then I remembered I am an educator and I know all the research that has been done on child rearing in the last 50 years. I realized that I need more information for keeping a baby safe and happy on my watch.  Besides, I am a terrible liar and I love those children beyond reason. Most importantly I don't want my daughter-in-laws mad at me. I am thinking a Grandparenting Class might not be a bad idea.

So Why the Class?
Adcox mentioned reasons for the class...things like the research on how a baby sleeps, tummy or back.  When my children were small we did not allow them to sleep on their backs. Back sleeping was thought to be the cause of infant death syndrom. We fed babies solids very early, did not take our babies out in public for months and used formula because we thought it was better for the baby (and ourselves) than breast feeding.  We spanked children, had them play in the sun until they were tanned and allowed our children to crawl all over the car and sleep in our laps in the front seat. My tiny babies slept in a bed on the backseat...it was manufactured for parents of newborns. Grandparents/parents smoked in the the house and grandmothers encouraged us to use weird homemade concoctions on our children. Yes my lovelies, times have changed.

So could it do any harm to take a class, bone up on emergency treatments for cuts, head wounds and choking?  Could we use a reminder about the medicines in our drawers and what would happen if your grandchild got into them and how to keep them alive if they did? What about the safety issues we have forgotten like the senior neighborhood swimming pool or the mop bucket or the toilet bowl or that water feature in the backyard you love so much? Would it be bad to listen to someone talk about child psychology for a while and even learn about the best way to help children adapt to being away from home? How about finding out which of the toys we have kept from our children childhood that might not be safe? Do we need to learn the new CPR methods or if there are ways to reduce SIDS? I don't know about you but I am thinking that I will bone up a little bit on my grandma skills. Adcox mentioned almost all of these.

I am glad that Susan Adcox brought this up. While I can joke about the things that happen on my watch, I do take the responsibility very seriously. I have decided I think we might all be a little smarter if we spent some time learning about what the commonly held knowledge for today is. What do you think?


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Related articles

• 7 Ways to Avoid Conflict Over Grandparent Visitation (aarp.org)
• Inlaws, Outlaws and Grandparents (www.retireinstyleblog.com)
• 10 Tips from an Experienced Grandparent (www.retireinstyleblog.com)

Frugal Traveler of NYTimes smacked me down! Sigh!

     "Never pick a fight with someone that buys ink by the barrel." I know this is one of life's important truths. Now I find myself being quoted by, of all people, Seth Kugel's Frugal Traveler Blog published by the New York Times...and not in a good way!  
     This is what happened.  Recently he twitted about a motel he had stayed at in Florida on one of his road trips. The motel had a full parking lot, it was late in the day and he was proving that travel was possible even if you are not rich so he could write an article for his blog.  The motel owner and his tenants were very friendly and helpful.  He twitted saying that the motel was the friendliest place ever. After I read his twit I was curious to see what the motel looked like.  What I found on google was a picture of the backside of a rundown motel.  I wondered if this was the same motel Mr. Kugel was talking about. I had a question. So I sent a twit reply to Seth asking him to tell me if the place was actually clean.  He mentioned the nice people but did not rate the motel in the twit.  I was wondering.  This is what he wrote about the exchange in the blog he posted last weekend.

“Ocean Mist Motel in Ormond Beach, Fla: friendliest place ever?” I tweeted as I left.

Back shot @barbblogtwits: “I took a look at this on Google. Are you sure this is clean? I would not go there on purpose and I’m not picky!” To me, that was pure anti-motel bias compounded by an amateurish Web site.

     Ouch!  I had to ask myself am I "anti-motel"?  I know I am an amateur but "anti-motel"?  I don't own anything nor am I employed by anyone. I just write about what I see and hear.  AND I stay in motels, both bad and good all the time.  Like the Frugal Traveler I think the best part of any stay is the people, their generosity and love for life.  It was just a simple question. Right?  Evidently I hit a nerve.
      This morning I returned to the search for this little motel and found wonderful reviews and pictures to back them up.  The picture I saw originally was nowhere to be found. It turns out I should not have been worried. All the Trip Adviser reviews for the motel went like this:

Date of review: Mar 10, 2011 

My wife and I have stayed with Chuck twice - once at the end of bike week last year and again during bike week this year. I love the place. It's the "Mom and Pop" type of motel that I love to find when traveling. It appears that Chuck (owner) is constantly fixing the place up and our rooms have been clean on both occasions (believe me, it would have only been one stay if my wife had walked into a less than desirable room). Chuck makes you feel like you're staying at a friend's house. I love the quiet atmosphere (even during bike week) and will certainly be going back. By the way, there's a great diner within walking distance called Alfie's. Don't miss it! Great food at reasonable prices - morning, noon, and night. See you next time Chuck...

 So here is what I have learned:

1. Never question a man that buys ink by the barrel.  
2. Don't mess with the Frugal Traveler or ask him for more information
3. Don't believe what you see on Google...the search can be flawed in so many ways.
4. I don't want to be a professional.  I prefer my "amateurish" status.  Thank you very much!
5. If I am ever in Florida at Ormond Beach I will try to book a room at the Ocean Mist Motel!
6. Dirty motels are creepy.  Seth Kugel said, "And nothing makes getting out of bed easier than waking up in a place that gives you the willies."
7. I still don't want to book a motel unless I am fairly sure it is going to be clean...no matter how nice the owners are.

     So there you have it.  My 3 seconds of fame!  I am so glad I got that over with.  Now I will be moving on. I just needed to get it off my chest.


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Wanted: Pre-thinker. Must pre-think fast!

Image via WikipediaDear Boomer+ friends,

I wrote a blog yesterday about the fact that my blog header disappeared as I was thinking about replacing it.  I found it very strange and wrote a blog called Can Google Read Our Minds?  Then I got this comment:

  Don't laugh- I have a friend who works for  Microsoft. His job is to "prethink" for the consumer. 

Microsoft actually has a "pre-thinker" on the payroll!!!  Maybe he is the guy that erased my header yesterday. He pre-thinks what I am going to think before I actually think it.

The internet has gotten so fast... if it gets much faster it will be preloading before I actually turn it on.  My blogs will be written and I will quit thinking and wait from my pre-thinker to tell me what to think.

John C. Havens' over at iMedia  is of the opinions that we even are becoming prethinkers...without wages of course.  By following websites like Whrrl or even twitter, we begin to a instinctually get a feeling for where the story will go next.  One begins to wonder how our minds are being changed by our ability to constantly follow the world as it evolves.

This process of collective intuition is amplified by AR [augmented reality] applications like Pelago's visual storytelling tool, Whrrl. The service, according to CEO Jeff Holden, is a "real-time storytelling product for people's daily lives," which aggregates multiple tweets, posts, and updates to form a kind of visual Twitter. These communal events are also shared to the larger community, which can comment while stories take place. This process creates a form of public prethinking known as group awareness. And it's the data culled from these multiple communal stories that will form the basis of future interactions in commerce and culture at large.

So there you have it...Google does know what we are going to think...there are people out there in the world that watch, note, graph, input and analyze everything we are doing.  Every FourSquare, Twit, Facebook checkin is noted.  They can then predict when we are going to buy blinds or revamp our blog!  You heard it first right here on Retire In Style!  Smile!

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Related articles

• Foursquare or Whrrl - Where do you Check-In? (bloggingtips.com)
• Pelago Makes the Whrrl Go 'Round (chris.pirillo.com)