Today Is Your Day Boomer

Today is your day Boomer! Might be worth a trip to Penticton, BC this summer Boomers. The annual Peachfest celebration is featuring some pretty good entertainers like Doug and the Slugs and Aaron Pritchard, but I think it is the cover or tribute bands that are attracting the most attention! Dreams (Fleetwood Mac), Eagle Eyes (The Eagles) and Arrival (Abba) are three of the top three cover bands in Canada and Eagle Eyes was a sellout at the same festival last year. "We rarely book the same band two years in a row but the performance by Eagle Eyes, and the thunderous ovation from the crowd, convinced us to make an exception,” said Peach Festival president Shawna Guitard. “If you close your eyes, you’ll think you’re listening to the Eagles.” And also realize it is going to be very difficult to watch the "real" versions of these three bands as they all have lost key members in the last few years; for example, imagine watching a Fleetwood Mac concert without lead singer

Today us your day Boomer! What travel ideas are on your bucket list Boomers? A recent survey, based on internet searches, revealed some interesting destinations for Canadian boomers. In no particular order, here they are: Visit each continent in the world–See the Northern Lights–Go on a hot air balloon–See the Great Barrier Reef–Visit the Pyramids–Visit Niagara Falls-Experience the Rocky Mountaineer train ride. So, which is number one? Based on my picture, you probably think the train ride between Banff and Vancouver. Well, actually that is #2. By far, the most-anticipated travel trip is Niagara Falls in Ontario! According to the Toronto Sun, "it's an all-season spectacle – gorgeous in the spring, spectacular in the summer, awe-inspiring in the autumn and mind-boggling beautiful in the winter, when cascading walls of water are frozen in a dizzying array of natural ice sculptures. It appears that there is a season for everyone at this iconic Canadian landmark." Bo

Today is your day Boomer! Ever heard the expression "go for it!" Boomers, according to author and pyschologist Noelle Nelson, this involves the three P's: passion, purpose, and positivity. Here is part of what she means on the website babyboomers.com: "How do you find your passion? You dream, daydream and fantasize about something you’d like to do. Often, it’s something you’ve admired in others, or always wanted to try but didn’t for various reasons. So, try! And if the first endeavor you attempt doesn’t ring your bell, no worries, try something else. Just be sure to stick with whatever your choice for at least a month or so, since it often takes a bit of actual doing before you find your groove. Purpose follows naturally on the heels of passion. You’ll find that the thing you love doing has built-in goals, and if not, they are easy enough for you to generate, once you get your passion in gear. Positivity is a must. If you are not naturally an optimistic individua

Today is your day Boomer! Check out the picture and don't get fooled by Mother Nature....winter is not over yet! Yesterday, in late January, I was ready to get out the golf clubs, mountain bike, and tennis racquet. It was 11 degrees, mostly sunny, and short shirt-sleeve weather. Global warming indeed! But reality slides in again this weekend; a big polar vortex will creep in from Northern Russia and crash temperatures in Canada way down. How low? It depends on where you live, but the lowest in Siberia last week was minus 64....the same temperature as the surface of Mars. Yikes! Boomers, the picture calls yesterday "fool's spring", and I think it is right. Remember, spring doesn't officially start until March 23, so we are a long way off from green grass, chirping birds, and burgeoning flowers! Keep your puffy, warm coats handy and keep your chin up(and scarf covered!)....yesterday and much of January was a false gift. Cheers and happy winter skiing!

Today is your day Boomer! My fav all-time music band is The Beatles....as it is for many Boomers! We grew up with songs like Hey Jude, Let it Be, and Love Me Do. So, where did these songs come from....what is their origin? This intrigues me because John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote over 300 songs together, and in a YouTube video I recently watched, Paul says it was always a shared, kind of "ping pong" event. One person would have an idea or even just a few words of a verse and they would sit with a guitar and/or piano and finish it together! Here's a few song "origin" samples from the video: (1)HEY JUDE came from the divorce of John and his first wife Cynthia. Paul felt sorry for the couple's son Julian(Jude) who would suffer the effects of the breakup. (2)LET IT BE was a dream for Paul who lost his Mom at an early age. In the dream, his mother comes to him and tells him everything "will be OK! just let it be." (3)BLACKBIRD is Paul's

Today is your day Boomer! I write an almost-daily blog for many reasons....reasons like I used to teach current events to high school students for 30 years and I enjoy discussing global issues. I can also identify with our generation, since I am part of it, but I hope in some way to bring you information that may help with your life and encourage you to think. Many Boomers do write in some way every day and according to an article on babyboomers.com, a journal can be one of the best methods. Retired educator Victor Westgate says "at a certain age if we are honest, we know the value of putting pen to paper for our children and those that follow in order for them to have a glimpse into the kind of person we are (or were) based on our responses." He sees journal-writing as a catharsis, a gift, and a challenge as we reflect, think, and create ideas in our mind. And he suggests two writing topics to get started:(1)Look at your daily newspaper. Circle one or two articles that

Today is your day Boomer! Some of these new electric bikes are 80 pounds heavy....and many belong to Boomers, who use them for exercise and sometimes struggle to lift them onto their car bike carriers. Need a solution? A Vernon, BC man has just invented the Lift Caddy...a kind of "electric bike elevator" for the back of your vehicle! According to Global News, "to install the Lift Caddy, all you need is a hitch on the back of your vehicle and an electric trailer light housing. Sean Hannigan designed his invention to be attachable to already existing bike racks to make it even easier for people to use." So, it sounds very user-friendly and maybe just what you need if you have back, neck or shoulder issues and you can't do much heavy lifting. It also allows you to take your bike to different locations for more fun rides....and you can take more than one bike. How much? 650 dollars, but maybe for you it will be worth it. Check out more info and videos at li

Today is your day Boomer! Is it a fad or a trend? We are in the midst of "Dry January" and we just finished "Sober October"! What? Yup, definitely a trend toward cutting back on alcohol use in our society. But....many people, including Boomers, want the drink but not the hangover or they want to follow the new medical guidelines that say we should not have more than two drinks per week. That means a new way of looking at alcohol. According to Global News, "there are non-alcoholic sour beers, stouts and IPAs. There are ciders, and there are red, white and rose wines. There are also non-alcoholic spirits, which mimic the taste of rum, gin or even absinthe. (Many non-alcoholic products actually contain a tiny amount of alcohol _ 0.5 per cent or less, or around the same as kombucha, while others contain zero per cent.)" I recently bought a bottle of rose wine and it was labelled this way: "light wine" with 25% less alcohol content. And here i

Today is your day Boomer! It seems there is more to a healthly Boomer lifestyle than exercise and a plant-based diet. This according to guest speakers lined up by UBC for a new speaker series on healthy aging. The current chair of the program, Michael Kobor, says they still don’t know all the answers, but they do know where some of the secrets lie. Good nutrition and exercise are obvious ones, but less researched areas are important too. “There are also psychosocial aspects, like belonging and having a purpose in life." I bring this up because the first speaker is tonight, Monday, January 23, at 6:00pm and its focus is on the benefits.....yes, benefits of daily stress in our lives. Hmmm, interesting. I always thought stress was bad for you?! This series looks perfect for us Boomers, but you can only attend in-person if you live in the Vancouver area. For the rest of us, you can watch on-line via Zoom but you have to register ahead of time. Here is the registration/informa

Today is your day Boomer! Maybe you are not ready for retirement yet. Maybe you want a part-time job like I have....or maybe you just want another challenge in your life. Boomers, many of you have choices.....so here are the top 10 most in-demand careers/jobs available in Canada for 2023. According to Recruiting Company Randstad, "while we might be facing an economic downturn at the moment, there are plenty of fields that are facing a talent scarcity; technology, health care and professional services sectors are among the top fields looking for workers right now, and there are also opportunities in skilled trades and blue-collar positions." 1.Developer 2.HR Manager 3.Mechanical Engineer 4.Welder 5.Bookkeeper 6.Registered Nurse 7.Warehouse Worker 8.Customer Service Representative 9.Driver 10.Sales Associate. Want more details? Check out the story on globalnews.ca. And good luck job hunting Boomers! Cheers.

Today is your day Boomer! This is a "Baby Boomer blog".....so, some things I write about are specifically just for our generation. Like slang, words and phrases we grew up with that have special meaning for just Boomers. Remember some of these? THREADS means the clothes you wear. GROOVY means something is cool, amazing, fabulous, not boring, and all those good things. SQUARE means boring, dull, and uncool. Gross + Dirty = GRODY(self explanatory) MOO JUICE is simply...milk. A GAS was any activity or event that was either fun or inspired you to laugh. WET RAG means no fun or a bore. SUBMARINE RACES was a subtle way to ask if a boy/girl friend wanted to make out in the car. Some more slang???? FINK was someone who betrayed your trust or revealed a secret. If you wanted the SKINNY, it refers to getting information or the truth. Meanwhile, BACK AT THE RANCH..was used when someone wanted to change the subject of a conversation. Finally, don't FLIP YOUR WIG would be used

Today is your day Boomer! Want to beat the high cost of veggies? Do it yourself Boomers! This is a picture of our lettuce, tomato, and sprout plants in our kitchen which gets lots of natural sunshine and artificial light from grow lights! We also have two Aerogardens....which are water-based grow appliances in our kitchen and they are churning out more lettuce and some basil! We have more lettuce than we can possibly consume and it is so available and so fresh at our finger tips. Check out lettuce prices in the grocery store right now.....3-5 dollars a head? We are saving money short and long term. And by the way, it is rather fun to grow your own food in any season and these plants seem to grow quickly. We grow the sprouts for salad toppings and for smoothies....the basil often for pizza! And I have a fresh, tasty salad every night for dinner! Boomers, "plant" those thoughts in your mind. Cheers.

Today is your day Boomer! The media called Boomers the "booziest generation" this week as new studies on drinking habits were released. And now more bad news....the medical experts have new recommendations on alcohol drinking amounts. Yes, the guidelines say no more than TWO drinks per week for good health. What? Yup. According to Global News, "the harm to yourself and others is “moderate” — meaning a 1 in 100 risk of premature death — if you have three to six drinks weekly. As you increase the intake, the risks grow higher — more steeply for women than men above when they go over six drinks per week." So, what does this mean? I know many friends who may have two glasses of wine at just one dinner or out winetasting! Does this mean a habit change? Well, consider this....again from the same article: "in 2020, alcohol use was linked to 7,000 new cancer cases in Canada, including 24 per cent of breast cancer cases, 20 per cent of colon cancers, 15 per c

Today is your day Boomer! Are you getting tired of me blogging about Mexico? I have done a few writeups in the past week about Canadian travel to Mexico and here is one more. Smoking....yup, the nation of Mexico is getting tough on smokers! On Sunday, Mexico enacted one of the world’s strictest anti-tobacco laws, completely banning smoking in all public places, including hotels, parks and beaches. This builds on the 2008 law that banned smoking in indoor venues and attempts to reduce Mexico's 10% death rate every year based on smoking and second-hand smoke. This is good and bad news for Boomers here. Bad, if you are a smoker, because it means the only place to smoke would be inside your private residence. Good for the rest of us.....which is very likely the majority, because we don't want the smell, the pollution, and butts on the beach all around us. A spokesperson for WHO(World Health Organization) took the news this way: “Bravo #Mexico! @WHO welcomes such a bold move

Today is your day Boomer! She is a Boomer at age 64 and we know her well with songs from across four decades. She is Madonna and like many other performers in their later years....they go on tour. Madonna has just announced "The Celebration Tour" and tickets go on sale Friday for the 35 city global tour which kicks off July 15 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, B.C. and will include stops in Detroit, Chicago, New York, Miami, Los Angeles. European cities tour stops will include London, Barcelona, Paris, and Stockholm before the tour wraps in Amsterdam next December. Remember these big hits? "Like a Virgin", "La Isla Bonita", "Like a Prayer", "Vogue", "Take a Bow", "Frozen", "Music", "Hung Up", and "4 Minutes". Yup, another Boomer with pretty good credentials including most albums sold in history for a female artist(300 million)and highest-grossing female tour artist of all time(1.5 billi

Today is your day Boomer! There is always alot of talk in January of New Year's resolutions....like becoming more fit and giving up drinking! But people tend to struggle with these promises because they are difficult to maintain over a long period. Boomers, especially, like their alcohol and are characterized on-line as the "booziest generation"! This was confirmed again in a new study: a report from Berenberg Research shows Gen Z drinks 20 per cent less per capita than Millennials when it comes to alcohol consumption. Not to be outdone, the report also shows Millennials are drinking less than both Gen X and Baby Boomers! And to make matters worse, one in ten Boomers admit to binge drinking at least once per month....that is five or more drinks in a two-hour period. Hmmmmm, I guess we like our wine, beer, and spirits more than younger people who tend to use other brain-numbers like cannabis. Another factor, apparently, is the high cost of booze. Boomers tend to h

Today is your day Boomer! Another celebrity Boomer has passed away....this one, I admired a lot! It is Robbie Bachman of the Winnipeg-based rock band Bachman-Turner Overdrive....or BTO. Man, they had a number of great songs back in the '70s, like "Taking Care of Business" and "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet"...but my all-time favourite (which I still regularly listen to!) is "Lookin' Out For #1". I love that song! Robbie's brother, Randy...also part of part of BTO, had this to say about his brother's passing: "Another sad departure. The pounding beat behind BTO, my little brother Robbie has joined Mum, Dad & brother Gary on the other side. Maybe Jeff Beck needs a drummer! He was an integral cog in our rock 'n' roll machine, and we rocked the world together." Boomers, maybe play a little BTO today to celebrate the memory of this great drummer and his band. Cheers to you Robbie!

Today is your day Boomer! Boomers, do you like music and poetry? I found this poem on Facebook and I think it is just perfect for our generation! I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain. I’ve been through the desert on a horse with no name. I’ve gone to Kansas City, I sang in the sunshine. I’ve been on the road again, with Georgia on my mind. Like a rolling stone, I’ve given peace a chance. I’ve put a camel to bed and danced the last dance. Mr. Tambourine man played a song for me, I’ve whispered words of wisdom, let it be. I’ve fallen into a burning ring of fire and walked the line, To all the girls I’ve loved before, you were always on my mind. I’ve been everywhere, I’ve been so lonesome I could cry, I’ve driven my Chevy to the levee when the levee was dry. I’ve been to Itchy coo Park in a yellow submarine. I’ve made the scene in a time machine. I’ve done the Hokey Pokey and turned myself around. I’ve welcomed baby back to the poor side of town. I’ve followed the tracks of my t

Today is your day Boomer! The oldest person in Canada passed away this week in Vancouver. Shige Mineshiba was a whopping 113 years old and her family claims one secret to old age was a cup of matcha green tea every day! Dr. Roger Wong, who specializes in old age, says "Canadians are living longer, and B.C. has seen its population of people age over 100 grow 14 per cent between the 2016 and 2021 censuses. He says genetics are part of the equation for people who live to be supercentenarians — Shige had a sister who lived to 109, for instance — but there are three lifestyle factors many share: regular exercise, plenty of social contact, and a good diet." Okay Boomers, we do those three things don't we? Or we should be! But what is the average life expectancy now for Canadians like us? It is 83.....about 81 for men and 84 for women, but the good news is that is up .18% from last year! Yes, we are living longer. Boomers, let's make the most of it.....and maybe try

Today is your day Boomer! Let's see if you, as a Baby Boomer, fit in with the results of this recent survey. Boomers and their lifestyle: what are we doing in terms of current trends? Here are the top 7 trends according to website partners.amintro.com: (1) Postponing retirement: beyond the age of 65, many Boomers are still motivated to work even part time (2) Going back to school: alot of us get motivated to seek knowledge and training in new or "other" interest areas (3) Travel and adventure: yup, this is right up our alley (4) Exploring technology: Boomers use it to enhance their lifestyle (5) Blogging: I like this one! "Talking about the rise of technology and social media, a lot of baby boomers are creating their own blogs. There are more boomers online than people know and blogging is one way they share their wisdom and experience with the world. It helps them keep in touch with the world and stay stimulated and motivated even after retirement." (6) Ho

Today is your day Boomer! I often play twice a week in the winter, with friends and family, and then supplement that with computer games. It is "bridge", a card game of intellect, strategy, and counting...a game perfect for Boomers! According to senior bridge champion Leonard Melander: "It is the intellectual challenge, the problem-solving satisfaction" that makes bridge so attractive; "let's put it this way: Any activity from which you derive pleasure prevents the onset of classic depression and is the equivalent of a narcotic high." He says bridge is a great mental challenge, a way to stay brain sharp, and a socialization strategy. You play with three other people, so talking, questioning, and laughing are a big part of the activity. My friends and I also include snacks and a drink to make the evening more fun. And maybe this will motivate you to play: two of the richest men in the world play bridge, alot of bridge, and often play together. B

Today is your day Boomer! As an avid kayaker, I guess I have mixed feelings over the new so-called "paddle trails" popping up in the Okanagan Valley. Look at this map of beautiful Kalamalka Lake in the North Okanagan and realize that this water path is being planned for one of the most pristine, clear lakes in the world! Why? Because it gets alot of boat traffic, especially in the summer and shoulder seasons. Boats everywhere, including canoes and kayaks. So....on the one hand, I appreciate the situating of buoys every 500 metres and controlled kayaking zones. But....I don't really like all this plastic in the lake and loss of the unparrelled, "natural look" of the lake. A local municipal report states: "The purpose of the proposed paddle trails was to provide additional recreational amenities to the public, to reduce conflicts between motorized and non-motorized water vessels, and to help encourage motorized boat use away from the shoreline and re

Today is your day Boomer! But today may NOT be a good day to set up a winter, warm trip to Mexico. Our friend to the south is experiencing a rush of cartel violence and, apparently, the streets are not very safe in tourist hotspots like Mazatlan! Some tourists are in lockdown in their hotels, while others are being advised to not engage in risky activities. This statement is from Canadian travel agent Lori Smith: "my advice is the same no matter the destination; have your wits about you, always ... follow safety practices that you would follow at home. Don't be getting floor-licking drunk and go out adventuring. That's maybe a bad choice." Across the country, the popular Cancun region is also under threat for increased rates of violent crime, armed robbery, assault, kidnapping and fraud. Oh, not good. I have been to Mexico myself and the country is generally pretty safe, and about 2 million Canadians go there every year. Boomers, better do your due dilligence an

Today is your day Boomer! One of my goals with this blog is to help Boomers be more active, physically and mentally, and try new things. Yesterday, I talked about new electric skates as a possible addition to Boomer exercise routines. Today, it is a short story writing contest sponsored by UBCO every year since 1997! You can sitdown and write a fictional short story 1000-4000 words and submit it by early February. There are some restrictions, however, including this one based on where you live: "This contest is open to all residents of the southern interior of British Columbia: east of Hope, west of the Alberta border, north of the US border and south of Williams Lake. (residents of Hope and Williams Lake are eligible)". First prize is $1000 and there are other money awards, but this is not why I would do this Boomers. It is a challenge, something new, and maybe a talent that is not yet realized in your soul and brain. It is also something to do during these long, col

Today is your day Boomer! Keep an eye on the new tech gadgets coming out this week at the big Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas. They will showcase a number of new inventions that will get many Boomers pretty excited. Here are some new things to consider buying: a "smart" bird feeder that takes pictures of birds as they enter the feeder, a fitness tracker for your dog, an educational robot for grand kids, digital temporary tatoos, and the one of most interest to me...electric skates! "The battery lasts for 32 kilometres, says founder Mohamed Soliman, who hopes people will see them as a viable way to commute, like electric bikes or scooters. 'My goal is for everyone to go skating again because it’s so much fun, every time you see people skating you see them with a big smile.' "A waist bag holds the battery and cables connected to the skates. They also can be used as regular skates when they need to be charged or skaters simply want to travel under their

Today is your day Boomer! After writing this blog, I will head out to my hot tub for a warm soaking in winter temperatures. Likely, the sun will come out and numerous birds will entertain me with their activities on and around our 4 birdfeeders closeby. Yesterday, we had 32 ducks in our backyard looking for feeder leftovers on the ground! These are simple "little things in life" and author Neil Pasrichia says should be celebrated and appreciated. His "Book of Awesome" came out in 2010 and focused on 390 pages of little things like getting served breakfast in bed. He also has a website entitled 1000awesomethings.com and now a new book "Our Book of Awesome" with even more uplifting ideas! Here are 3 samples: (1) Go outside...."You de-stress just by walking around in nature," he says. "Know where the closest hiking trail is. Know where the closest park is. Know where the closest forest is and take a 15-minute break in the middle of your

Today is your day Boomer! As we enter a brand new year today, people, including many Boomers, are preparing for a polar dip....yes, a quick swim in a cold lake or ocean. It is an annual tradition for many-a-hardy person, but there are some drawbacks you should be aware of. First the benefits: pain reduction, this is especially good for Boomers who exhibit a vareity of aches and pains like arthritis. According to swim expert Lee Hill, what else? "It's been used in a couple of conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and fibromyalgia, even rheumatism to help with pain, tissue volume and even stiffness of the joints," he says. That's not all. Hill says icy dips raise adrenaline, dopamine and norepinephrine levels to generate a feeling of euphoria. Plus – for some people – it's fun." Yup, just fun and veryyyyyyyyyyyyy cold. The experts also say maximum 2 minutes in the icey water. Other negatives? Those risks include drowning, hypothermia and cold shock s