Today Is Your Day Boomer

Today is your day Boomer! Ever wonder why companies target Baby Boomers with so much of their advertising? That's because Boomers have about 70% of the disposable income available in North America and many of us love to shop! And of course, there is the old-fashioned way....drive your car to a mall or specific store and shop in-person, or buy conveniently on-line. Because of COVID, we use our computers more and more for this type of thing. According to babyboomers.com, here are the top 7 items our generation buys on the internet: wine, books, healthcare products, skincare, household goods, appliances, and cosmetics. Here is more detail on my favourite: "Baby boomers are very social and often consume wine in social gatherings or small events. Since the 90s, the baby boomer generation has been the driving force of the wine industry. To date, baby boomers tend to make more wine purchases per month than any other generation. Having grown up in a budding wine industry, most

Today is your day Boomer! Our generation is always looking to the future.....thinking about negative things like pandemics, war, and global warming. But we also consider positives like technological growth, innovation, and our grandkids! So, some more good news today as new statistics indicate a continuing move toward cleaner forms of power. Wind and solar power now account for 10% of the world's electricity and are part of the total non-fuel sources at 38%. Nations like Vietnam and Australia are the quickest movers in solar/wind power, but no one can match #1 Denmark at 52% clean. No surprise that China still burns the most coal, but even the Chinese are picking up the "alternative" chase. Where is fuel still used the most: industry and cars, so that should be our focus going forward. Boomers, you can help. You can support businesses that use solar and wind power, you can install solar panels on your rooftops, you can vote for clean-energy politicians, and you c

Today is your day Boomer! I am not a big soccer fan, but it is hard not to get excited about Canada's mens national team! This week they qualified for the World Cup in Qatar with a resounding 4-0 trouncing of Jamaica and moved into the World Cup tourney for the first time in 36 years....that was when I was just 27! Wow, that seems like a lifetime ago. I know many Boomers are soccer....er, football supporters and will relish Canada's first crack at the big time in a long time. But, let's not forget about the Canadian women. They have been in the top ten globally for a long time and, of course, recently won the Olympic gold medal in the Summer Games. They are currently ranked 6th, while the men are 33rd....it means the guys have a long way to go to catch up and the women deserve alot of recognition. Boomers, maybe some of us...like me....should start to watch soccer again. The skill and pride is there and we, as a nation, have alot to look forward to. Cheers!!

Today is your day Boomer! Another Boomer tradition is slowly disappearing from our lives. It is the telephone landline and soon it will go the way of the dinosaurs! Yes, the wired phone attached to our wall is being replaced, of course, by the cellphone. Stats Canada says 91% of Canadian households have cellphones and only 54% have landlines.....this means we are getting rid of them and see them as a duplicate and unecessary service. It is also a cost issue; our monthly fees for phone, internet, and TV all seem to be increasing....and especially for Boomers, many of us are on restricted pensions and are looking for ways to cut fees. Especially now with high inflation cutting a wide swath into our savings. In my house, the landline is still here....but is on the way out as well. I will miss how it talks to me and announces who is calling. It helps me screen incoming calls and I have multiple docking stations across the house. Younger generations, of course, just laugh at us a

Today is your day Boomer! Okay, okay.....I know I don't drink enough water. Everyone tells me I drink too much "other stuff" like coffee, tea, juice, and milk.....but, supposedly, health experts agree on the 8x8 rule. That is, we need 8 glasses of 8 ounces of water each and every day for good health and bodily function. The website "Healthline" also tells us more: (1)Where you live. You will need more water in hot, humid, or dry areas. You’ll also need more water if you live at a high altitude. (2)Your diet. If you drink a lot of coffee and other caffeinated beverages you might lose more water through extra urination. You will likely also need to drink more water if your diet is high in salty, spicy, or sugary foods. Or, more water is necessary if you don’t eat a lot of hydrating foods that are high in water like fresh or cooked fruits and vegetables. (3)The temperature or season. You may need more water in warmer months than cooler ones due to perspiration

Today is your day Boomer! I truly feel very sorry for the president of Ukraine. His country continues to be invaded by Russia, millions of citizens are leaving, thousands are dying, and his nation is being ruined. The world, including NATO, is sending military equipment, offering refugee support, and is imposing huge economic sanctions.....and yet, he continues to ask/demand NATO to get "militarily" involved and enforce a no-fly zone over his country. No....we can't do that. Mr. Zelensky, just look at this table. Russia possesses about half of the world's 13,000 nuclear weapons and the unpredictable Putin says he will use them if NATO nations like Canada and the U.S. get "directly" involved. First of all, the NATO constitution does not allow this because Ukraine is not a member, and secondly, the nukes would end-up flying from both sides. There is a Cold War term entitled "MAD", and believe me, it is not outdated. It means "Mutally A

Today is your day Boomer! Are you a lucky person? We have witnessed two Boomers win lotteries in B.C. in the last few weeks, and it almost makes me think about buying some of those tickets. But then I did the research. The odds are 1 in 14 million of winning!! What does this mean? It means if you bought one ticket every week, you could expect to win once in 269,000 years.....and since the average North American spends about $300 per year on lottery tickets, it also means you are just throwing money away. You may as well light it on fire and bury the leftover ashes in a hole! According to Investopedia, here are the key takeaways for all of us: your chances of winning the lottery are remote. The odds of winning the lottery do not increase by playing frequently, rather, you'd do better by purchasing more tickets for the same drawing. Although there is no guarantee in the stock market, the likelihood of getting a return on your investment is far better than your chances of win

Today is your day Boomer! Yesterday's blog was all about how Boomers should update their fashion. In truth, many of us are still wearing outdated clothes because: (#1)we are too cheap (#2)we could care less (#3)we are still comfortable in our old jeans and t-shirts. Well, according to Babyboomers.com, we need some help: "some stroll around the streets in hippie 60’s clothes that only manage to pick up negative comments, while others, despite meaning well in fashion terms, fail to properly address some choices that finally give them away and spoil their appearance." Hmmmm...it does make me think about my own selections. By the way, the website does have five recommendations for us: (#1)don't wear Dad jeans (#2)don't wear untucked dress shirts (#3)you can wear sneakers at anytime (#4)you don't have to match black shoes with blue suits (#5)and don't go over the top when selecting accessories. And I will add one more tip. Look at cartoon and realize th

Today is your day Boomer! Boomers, do you know about this? According to Wikipedia, a "portmanteau" word is formed by combining two or more existing words that all relate to a single concept. Examples are "smog", coined by blending smoke and fog, "motel" from motor and hotel, and "spork"....from spoon and fork. So, from a millennial family friend(see picture!) I bring you the word "shacket", a combination of shirt and jacket....a relatively new fashion trend which I think would be perfect for Boomers in the cooler weather of spring and fall! And this shows that we can learn new things from other generations, and maybe...just maybe, update our outdated wardrobes. Yes, some of us are still wearing clothes from the 1980s or 90s. Come on, admit it! Spend some money on newer styles Boomers! Cheers.

Today is your day Boomer! And with this picture, I present to you the LAST image of winter! The cold, snowy, icy, frosty days are now over and the first day of spring officially arrives today! It means blossoms, robins, flowers, sunshine, warmer temperatures, and more active Boomers! The only slightly-bad news is that experts like The Weather Network are predicting a cooler-than-normal spring with many fluctuations in temperatures and precipitation.....a slightly unpredictable spring they say. Oh well, I will take it. Another long COVID winter is finally finished and we can get outside and inside with people and without masks. I like it! And the optimism is not only based on the climate change, but the overall "feeling" you get....the more-positive attitude, less depression, and sense of renewal. And if we don't think too much about things like the Ukraine war, we can move forward into an awesome time of year. Boomers, great for the usual hiking and walks....bu

Today is your day Boomer! This is David Papineau from Vancouver. At age 53, this almost-Boomer is what is called a "plogger".....a term invented in Sweden a few years ago which is someone who picks up garbage on their daily runs. It means he brings garbage bags and tongs and a great attitude to his jogs every time: "I needed something to motivate me to get out the door," he said. "And the second thing was general disgust with the amount of litter on the ground, masks in particular." Apparently, Vancouverites....wasteful as they are....littered millions of masks on their streets in the past two years and David has counted and has picked up 32,000 so far! That is amazing, but he says "every little bit makes a difference," and he is right. These old masks cannot be recycled, so the best place for them is in the garbage. Thank you David! You are a great role model for us Boomers, as many of us can combine our recreational pursuits with somet

Today is your day Boomer! I spent a few hours with doctors this week checking my heart. I had an "angiogram" where fluid is injected through an artery and pictures are taken of your heart, valves, etc. It is an eye opener for all of us Boomers, as it shows where possible blockages may occur....which mostly come from high cholesterol. You get that from eating crappy foods(see picture!) and lack of exercise. Believe me, when you see pictures of your heart, it is a real motivator! You think about things like heart attacks and your own mortality. The other thing I noticed was that most of the patients there were Boomer men with grey hair! Yikes.....just like me! Heart problems as we head into our golden years. Boomers, we need to drink less, eat less meat, consume way more veggies and fruits, and get out there and exercise EVERY day....hike, bike, walk, swim, whatever works for you. Your heart needs it; it is simple as that. Cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! I know most of my readers are so-called "Baby Boomers"....born after World War II, and now retiring and aging in North American society. But how much do you remember about society while growing up? Maybe you should take a fun, multiple-choice quiz on Boomer life topics like TV, clothes, communication, sports, health, and travel. The website is: https://bonvoyaged.com/can-you-pass-this-baby-boomer-quiz/20/ It comes with interesting hint-giving pictures and is American-based, but I found it enjoyable and pretty easy. It also makes you reflect back on your youth and how the world has really changed! Good luck and have fun Boomers, cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! And today may be your day to get a dog.....afterall, sales of dogs increased dramatically during the pandemic and many Boomers are looking to receive all the benefits of having a dog: loyalty, companionship, love, and an active friend. This is our family dog "Ellie" when she was a puppy. And as a golden retriever, she stands as the number one desired breed in Canada. Here is latest list: Golden Retrievers — 1,572,000 Shiba Inu — 1,488,000 Cane Corso — 1,392,000 Border Collie — 1,260,000 (tied) French Bulldog — 1,260,000 (tied) Rottweiler — 1,164,000 Pomeranian — 996,000 Papillon — 876,000 Bernese Mountain Dog — 864,000 (tied) Shih Tzu — 864,000 (tied) By the way, this list is based entirely on internet searches. Your choice should be based on personal research and of course a list of pros and cons. The retriever has so many good qualities like family devotion, ball fetching, and beauty.....but, also a few negatives like hip problems and long h

Today is your day Boomer! It is a Monday in March and the truckers say they are back! This time their protest convoy will go to Victoria and supposedly "occupy" the space in front of the BC Legislature. It could be big, as one of their Saturday protests two weeks ago attracted about 7000 people! Then.....there is our premier. John Horgan, who went way up on my respect metre last week, responded to the possible occupation with this comment: "I would just say to these people, goodness me, get a hobby. Find something else to do with your time. We are removing restrictions at a pace that is consistent with the work we’ve done for the past two years, and 94 per cent of adults in B.C. are vaccinated.” He is right. The mask mandate has already come off and BC society will see the end of vaccine passports in early April. So, what is the point of protesting?! Horgan goes on to to say that protestors should get a "positive" focus instead, and I say how about so

Today is your day Boomer! There is gold in your car! Yes, Boomers, it is called "gas" and ever since the price hit 2 dollars per litre last week, it is the new target of thieves. Dumb idiot thieves are stealing gas from vehicles late at night, but also wrecking cars! How? Their method is not to siphon petrol through a hose, but they actually go under your car and drill holes in your gas tank and let the liquid flow out into containers. It ruins your tank, is very dangerous, makes your vehicle undriveable, and costs hundreds of dollars for repairs! What can you do? "Parking in a secured, well-lit area, such as a garage or fenced enclosure can be helpful for theft prevention,” said Cpl. Dana Napier of the Kamloops RCMP’s community policing unit. “If you must park on the street, avoid dark and isolated areas. The more visible your vehicle, the better.” Also, I will add this: have less gas in your tank for the taking, get a locking gas cap, and park your vehicles a

Today is your day Boomer! I am really looking forward to the "time change" this weekend! In most Canadian provinces, we switch to Daylight Savings Time in the early morning hours on Sunday....and for Boomers, this is awesome. It means spring is very near(see picture!); it also means we can sleep in longer without sun in our eyes, and we can stay outside longer in the evenings. This means more evening active fun, like.....walks, golf, and bike rides! Basically anything that doesn't consume too much gas, right? BC is one of a few provinces that are considering a full-time switch to Daylight Time, but I don't like it. I prefer the small change we see every spring and fall and look forward it, and it fits-in nicely with our changing seasons. Apparently, our province is waiting for the western US states, like Washington, to also switch......so, it doesn't impact business too much. In the meantime, Boomers, let's enjoy the time change and take advantage of

Today is your day Boomer! Need help with high gas prices? Your answers have to come from within....because politicians, oil companies, and global wars are certainly not helping. So, some strategies: some obvious and some not. (1) Stop driving so much and take alternative forms of transportation like feet, bikes, scooters, and buses. (2) If you have two vehicles, only drive the one that gets better gas mileage. (3) Carpool, even for short trips to the golf course or ski hill. (4) Shop around for gas; prices fluctuate greatly from station to station, and use apps like "Gas Buddy" to show which local stations have the lowest prices. (5) Drive slower and accelerate and brake more gradually. (6) Cut out activities like "Sunday drives" and reduce your camping trips with gas guzzlers like truck and trailers and big RVs. (7) Reduce spending on other "optional" activities like that daily Starbucks coffee and weekly restaurant dinners; this helps you affor

Today is your day Boomer! One main motivation for this blog is for Boomers to "make the most" out of each and every day. Many of us are retired and can pick and choose our activities on most days; I like to do one main recreational activity, like skiing, golf, hiking, or tennis, plus my fitness time. So last week, I had the perfect day. This picture doesn't really show the background very well, but I had a whole skating rink to myself in downtown Penticton, BC! That means a city of 40,000 people did not send even one person to skate for a full hour on a beautiful sunny day around lunch time! When I arrived there were four skaters, then it dwindled to two, then just me. And...the zamboni man came to clear and re-freeze the ice, so I had absolutely smooth skating conditions in a downtown park....again, all by myself! I tell you, after being cooped up all winter with COVID restrictions and broken ribs, I surely embraced the moment....and now I tell you. Boomers, I

Today is your day Boomer! Today, we pay tribute to about half of the world's 8 billion population. Women....number about 49.5% in our world and today is International Women's Day, first recognized in 1977 by the United Nations. This is the opening statement on their website: "International Women's Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. Since those early years, the Day has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike. The growing international women's movement, which has been strengthened by four global UN women's conferences, has helped make the commemoration a rallying point to build support for women's rights and participation in the political and economic arenas." So today, I speak long and loud for the women I personally work with o

Today is your day Boomer! We have been around since the 1940s, and we thought we would never see this.....gas at 2 dollars a litre! Wow, it is hard to imagine, but I filled up my truck the other day at 1.69 a litre and it took 100$ for half a tank. It would be even more today. The war in Ukraine, carbon taxes, limited supplies.....whatever the reason, it is a ton of money for everyday use! So, Boomers, what does it mean for us? It means higher costs for everything like groceries because mostly everything has to be shipped in fuel-guzzling trucks. It means retirees, like me, may delay buying an RV because of the high cost of travel. Speaking of travel, do you think airplane and cruise tickets will increase? They run on high amounts of fuel. It also means more sales of hybrid and electric vehicles, which is a good thing.....but, the already-thin supplies will dwindle meaning likely higher prices. Lastly, your monthly household budgets will rise as inflation kicks in. Is ther

Today is your day Boomer! Memory....or lack thereof, Boomers, it seems it is part of the aging process. Yup, we can't remember as much anymore. What was your name again? OK, what can we do to stay sharp? Well, earlier this week I talked about the importance of doing word games like "Wordle" and "Scrabble" and crossword puzzles. Then there are the multitude of number games we can play like Bridge, Crib, and Sudoku. Apparently, eating protein is good for memory.....so things like meat, beans, and nuts. Lots of fresh air and drinking water helps build brain cells, so sleeping with your window cracked open is a good strategy. And then there is this one: chewing gum can help you stay focused on tasks for a longer period of time, according to a study by the British Psychological Society (BPS). It can also help your memorization skills. Boomers, we gotta do what we gotta do! So, stay sharp and stay lively! Cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! Help Boomers, I would like more readers! When I started this Boomer Blog a few years ago, I was hoping it would blossom into something sizable. I write almost daily throughout the year on a variety of Boomer-focused topics like health, recreation, travel, and current events......but I only have about 50 dedicated viewers. Thank you so much if you are one of them; I know many of you are family and friends, so can I ask a favour please? Can you pass along the internet connections to any interested Baby Boomers you might know? Obviously, I am on FaceBook, which is the easiest way to access.....but you can relay my website address if your friend is not on social media. It is "todayisyourdayboomer@blogspot.com". I appreciate and look forward to more uplifting and interesting commentary on Boomer lives in our future! Thanks and cheers! By the way, Baby Boomers were born from 1946 to 1965.

Today is your day Boomer! Is there any doubt that Donald Trump is getting ready for another run at U.S. President? The former ding-dong leader is shooting his mouth off again on all things that matter. For example, he refuses to criticize Putin for invading Ukraine and claims that the aggression never would have happened if he were president because he is "friends" with the Russian tyrant. What?! He also is supporting the trucker convoy in America that is doing a copycat of the Ottawa fiasco and says protesters in Canada were "slandered" as Nazis, racists and terrorists, charged with what he called "phoney crimes" and accused of being loyal to foreign powers. He says they were nice, peaceful truckers who just wanted freedom. By the way, many of these people were arrested for crimes like harrassment, intimidation, possession of weapons, blocking public roads, mischief, and police obstruction. But this last Trump statement really demonstrates his po

Today is your day Boomer! Want to try something new....something fun, and something good for exercising the brain? Boomers, it is perfect for us! It is the new on-line game taking the world by storm...."Wordle". Invented in New York, by some guy named Wardle.....yes, I am not making this up, it is a 5-letter word guessing-game that is now being done almost daily by 14% of North Americans...and 5% of Boomers. The goal of Wordle, which is played on a website and not on an app, is to guess a different five-letter word every day. Users have six tries to guess the final word. When a player guesses the word, or ultimately fails to do so, they can share their results with a grid that shows how they did. So....many people share their results on social media. I don't, but I admit I am getting addicted to it. And here are a few tips: I play on "wordle unlimited"(it is free and user friendly), start with the same word every time(I use "sarge" and many oth