Today Is Your Day Boomer

Today is your day Boomer! Sometimes I get a little frustrated with technology....the constant changes, the updates, knowing both hard and software, and all the applications. It is a lot and many Boomers, I'm sure, are in the same boat. And then there are the criticisms we get from younger generations (see picture!) who seem to know so much more and sometimes think we are just ignornant! According to ChatGTP (another new aspect of AI technology), here are some reasons why Boomers may struggle with new technology: "One reason is that they may not have grown up with technology and may find it difficult to learn. Additionally, some baby boomers may not see the need for technology in their daily lives, or may be concerned about the potential for technology to be used for nefarious purposes. Additionally, the cost of technology can also be a barrier for some baby boomers. Finally, some boomers may have limited access to technology because of mobility or vision problems." O...

Today is your day Boomer! His name is Terry Jantzi and he is another Baby Boomer doing amazing things! The 65-year-old and his friend are attempting a circumnavigation of Prince Edward Island....not by car, but by boat. And not in a big ferry-style vessel, instead, a 20-foot zodiak with a 20 horsepower outboard engine. According to CBC News, Terry has "got a marine navigation app, GPS, electronic gauges, and a friend with more experience tagging along to help him out. For safety purposes, Jantzi says he will keep about 25 litres of fuel on board at any time, allowing for a six-hour contingency in case anything goes wrong. He's also not travelling more than about 5 kilometres offshore." Okay, okay....it is not a big fitness workout, but it is still a large challenge and I googled the distance around the island to be over 500 km! Boomers doing Boomer demanding tests. I like it! Good luck Terry and cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! You know I was a high school history teacher right?....for three decades. I taught world history in grade 12 and civil rights leaders were part of the curriculum. People like Rosa Parks, Mohandas Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela were main subject topics for my students and I taught from the perspective of role models. What could visionary leaders, like Martin Luther King Jr., teach us about ourselves and their methods of non-violent protest. As an example, 60 years ago today, the American black rights activist made an incredible, defining speech. Delivered to over 250,000 civil rights supporters from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., the speech was one of the most famous moments of the civil rights movement and among the most iconic speeches in American history. The most famous part? Probably this section: "So even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the Americ...

Today is your day Boomer! Hats-off to all those firefighters on the front lines in the Okanagan/Shuswap area of BC! For the past week, these courageous men and women have put their lives on the line to hold back massive fires that have destroyed or damaged almost 400 structures. No one died....firefighters or residents, that is a miracle in itself! And as one example, 13 firefighters lost their own homes....including a fire chief on the west side of Kelowna! In other words, they were trying to save other people's houses when theirs were burning! Wow! Imagine the long, dangerous shifts these people put-in over many days. And let's not forget about the local and BC-wide municipal firefighters that did the same thing....some of these men came from as far away as Saanich on Vancouver Island. We thank you soooooo much! And too, the other first responders like ambulance drivers, RCMP, nurses, doctors, and emergency support volunteers. Cheers to you all!

Today is your day Boomer! I've commented on this guy before...this Donald Trump guy, but to be fair, I have also criticized Joe Biden on this blog. Trump made U.S. history yesterday with this official "mug shot" released to the public after a jail appearance in Georgia. That is the state where the 77-year-old is charged with a number of crimes involving alleged manipulation of election results. Poor Mr. Trump, he now in fact faces 91 charges in four different states for various things....all of which he vehemently denies. In fact, on Twitter (now called X) yesterday, his only response was his nasty-face picture and these words: "ELECTION INTERFERENCE" and "NEVER SURRENDER!" Okay. He posted a 200,000$ bond and went home. What is the difference with this Georgia case versus the others? This one has mandatory minimum sentences (like one year or five years) which means, if found gulity, he must go to jail! And the latest poll says 61% of American...

Today is your day Boomer! You know many people don't watch the news anymore because it is constantly filled with "bad news": fires, hurricanes, murders, war, racist crimes, and idiot politicians to name a few. But there is a silver lining in this dark cloud: a non-profit Dutch company is scraping the Pacific Ocean for floating plastic garbage! The Ocean Cleanup project has been on a six-week run to acquire plastics in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, about 2000km off the coast of California.....see picture. According to a spokesman, an area "the size of one football field is cleaned every 10 seconds. The retention bag is emptied every three days of between 10 to 15 tonnes of garbage." So far, they have removed over 55 tons of plastic waste with plans to do other areas like at the mouths of rivers in Guatemala, Jamaica, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Dominican Republic, Vietnam and California. By the way, one of the workers is Baby Boomer Flemming Anderson who say...

Today is your day Boomer! Over 1000 people per day are injured in ladder accidents...and well over 150 die every year in Canada and the United States. And I bet some of these people are Boomers who, as they age, have problems with balance and understanding. Understanding? Yup, some Boomers thinking they are still young and can do all those tough jobs at high elevation....like cleaning gutters!! According to OHSCanada.com, here are several things we do wrong on ladders: (1)Overreaching is one of the most common mistakes, one that tends to result in falls. Often, a person on a ladder will stretch to grab or touch an object or surface that is out of reach, and the resulting change in the centre of gravity can cause the ladder to tip over.(2) Another frequent mistake people make is to stand on the top rung, or top cap, of an A-frame ladder. Without higher rungs or rails to grasp, it is too easy to lose balance and topple over. (3)Sometimes the real problem is that the person is simpl...

Today is your day Boomer! Boomers, I hope you are NOT one of the 7 tickets issued over the weekend for lighting a campfire in BC. Dumb, dumb, and dumber!!!! There is a province-wide campfire ban! The fine is just over $1000 and I think it should be much higher.....maybe, add a zero to that number?! Check out the map and realize that one in four forest fires in BC this year have been human-caused. Yup....Kelowna is still burning up, tens of thousands of people have been evacuated, there is a province-wide state of emergency, thick smoke is everywhere, and yet some camping idiots are still lighting fires. Hello, it is the WORST fire season in BC's history; again, check out the map! As well, NWT is on fire, Eastern Washington has lost numerous houses and two lives, and 18 people recently died in fires in Greece. This situation is just awful and we all need to do our part to reduce the chances of fires starting. Guess, I'm angry today....cheers law-abiding Boomers.

Today is your day Boomer! Good luck finding an air purifier right now Boomers. My wife and I went on a shopping hunt at five different stores yesterday and the shelves were nearly empty. Yup, the forest fires in BC's Southern Interior are creating a thick, depressing smoke-filled environment and people are worried about their health. The same smoke is now spreading to the Lower Mainland. The smoke index is over 10 again today in my Okanagan city and that is considered "hazardous". It means we should be wearing masks outside! Back to air purifiers....if you can't get one, try turning on the fan connected to your furnace and recycle air that way. Our fan has two filters, and no surprise....people are also buying filters in huge numbers. So, get yours quickly. Our new purifier works great.....it reduces particles and odor in the air and also acts kind of like a cooling air conditioner. Good luck Boomers. Stay healthy and cheers.

Today is your day Boomer! Normally, this would be a great time to come to the Okanagan and sample the foods and wines. But....the fire situation is extreme, so maybe wait till next year. This picture shows the size of fruit available now and likely a glut of peaches on the market means much-lower prices. Instead of canning peaches, which is a long, slow, hot process, we have switched to pitting and slicing peaches....and then freezing them in big bags. Much quicker and easier, and makes the fruit readily available for things like smoothies and crisps/crumbles! Also, keep in mind that the bears are out looking for fruit-easy orchard meals. I noticed in the media that 21 of them were shot by conservation officers in the Prince George area in the past three weeks! In the Okanagan, the bears really come out in apple season in September-October as they look to fatten-up for hibernation. Boomers, enjoy the fruits of someone else's labour. Cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! And today is a GREAT day for my wife and I.....33 years of marriage we are celebrating! Three awesome children, a beautiful home, and wonderful family time we celebrate after all these years. And....a lesson from us for all Boomers: according to numerous studies and this one featured on fortune.com, "married men and married women live, on average, two years longer than their unmarried counterparts. One reason for this longevity benefit is the influence of marital partners on healthy behaviors. Study after study shows that married people eat better and are less likely to smoke and drink excessively." I emphasize, that is TWO years...that is a lot, and some studies predict over 5 years! I know my wife takes very good care of me (for example, we eat numerous servings of healthy fruit and vegetables every day!)and I really appeciate it! I hope I do the same for her. One other factor not mentioned in the study: single people often feel isolated and ...

Today is your day Boomer! Are you finding it hard to see because of all the smoke in the air? Or is it something else that is affecting your eyes.....like, eye problems associated with aging? Boomers, we are getting older and that means more eye issues. According to Vaughn Vision Eyecare, here are 5 common eye problems for Boomers: (1)Cataract: "is a clouding of the eye’s naturally clear lens. Most cataracts appear with advancing age, but they can be caused by smoking, diabetes, excessive exposure to sunlight, and medications." (2)Presbyopia: "is a progressive condition that makes reading and doing close work increasingly difficult. For people in their 40’s and early 50’s, it’s often the first sign of aging. Even those with perfect eyesight may find they can no longer read books and printed materials at normal distances."(3)Macular degeneration: "is the leading cause of severe vision loss in adults over age 50 and is a loss of central vision." (4) Dry...

Today is your day Boomer! Want a day inside without facing scorching heat and high temperatures? Follow Dr. Bonnie Henry's advice and go and visit your elderly loved ones. My wife and I did just that yesterday as we made the 2 and 1/2 hour drive to Kamloops, BC to see my 92-year-old father in a physiotherapy rehab centre. We talked, played crib, and stayed in the air conditioning for over two hours and helped to lift his spirits; we also placed a telephone call to my wife's mother, also in her 90's, to see how she was coping with the heat. She does not have air conditoning, but lives in a cool, shady condo. I think it made everyone feel better knowing family is checking up on you. By the way, our car was air conditioned both ways, and so was our house when we got home. Cool air all around as the air temperature hit a sizzling 40 Celcius in Merritt. Also, we stopped for groceries in another cool store. Boomers, we can't do the summer heat every day! Hey, my Da...

Today is your day Boomer! Something different for me last night....a movie on the big screen at my local theatre. Air-conditioned comfort, nice lean-back seats, surround sound, a huge screen, and a 20% seniors discount. Yup....only 8 dollars to see the latest "Mission Impossible" movie! Spoiler alert...a few things about this latest Tom Cruise flic. It is billed as "the best action thriller of the year" and it delivers with many great scenes including a car chase and train action! It is long, just under three hours, but I liked that! And poor Tom has to deal with two beautiful women, not just one. Actually three.....but who is counting? Boomers, it was great to get out and do something different for a good price. Stay away from the popcorn and drink and you have a great deal. And one more thing....I found myself really getting into the movie, more so than at home on the couch in front of the TV. Boomers, give it a try. Old is new again. Cheers!

Today is your day Boomer! A friend of mine just bought a beautiful new kayak for summer fun...and really, this is a good time of year to buy because many stores put kayaks on sale as the hot season begins to wind down. But there is a warning here from some experts at paddling.com: "When shopping for an affordable recreational kayak, many people assume that any model will do, as long as it floats. However, an important feature is missing from many of these bargain finds: bulkheads. Bulkheads are watertight compartments in a watercraft that add buoyancy and prevent it from sinking. A kayak that doesn’t have bulkheads will quickly fill with water if it capsizes, and when that happens it can go to the bottom just like a tiny plastic Titanic. That’s why you should always make sure your kayak has bulkheads or other positive flotation such as float bags (removable air-filled bags that provide additional buoyancy to a kayak without bulkheads). There’s nothing wrong with affordable kaya...

Today is your day Boomer! I have three weddings to attend in the next month, and that means I likely have three speeches to make. As a former radio news journalist, retired teacher, and current school trustee, I am pretty comfortable in these situations.....but, many Boomers aren't. Here are five tips from a public-speaking expert to help you. Wade Paterson says (1) eliminate filler words: "Filler words are the unnecessary words and sounds we add between sentences as an alternative to silence. Words like “uhh,” “ahh,” “umm,” “err,” “so,” and “but” are commonly injected into speeches because amateur speakers feel uncomfortable with the sound of silence." (2) practice good speech structure: "Good speeches are usually built with a beginning, a middle and an end. But the best speeches have a strong opening statement, a middle that builds on that idea, and then a conclusion that references the idea that was mentioned in the intro." (3) use body language: "W...

Today is your day Boomer! Attached are two news articles summarizing the court case involving our beautiful Melissa. You are so missed. (1) https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/crash-that-killed-beloved-teacher-leads-to-probation-driving-ban-7398712 (2) https://www.cheknews.ca/exceptional-loss-man-sentenced-for-2022-crash-that-killed-woman-on-vancouver-island-1164091/

Today is your day Boomer! Is there any doubt that climate change is happening.....that global warming is getting worse? Look at the evidence from just this week: (1) another big heat wave is on its way to B.C. with health warnings from medical officials (2) the forest fire season is in full rage across Canada and the U.S. with normally-moist, tropical Maui now aflame in the worst way (3) and climate global temperatures were shattering records for July. Here is more info from the World Meteorological Organization: "The global average temperature for July 2023 is confirmed to be the highest on record for any month. The month was 0.72°C warmer than the 1991-2020 average for July, and 0.33°C warmer than the previous warmest month, July 2019. The month is estimated to have been around 1.5°C warmer than the average for 1850-1900. Heatwaves were experienced in multiple regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including southern Europe. Well-above average temperatures occurred over several...

Today is your day Boomer! Do you, as a Boomer, believe this statement? "Baby boomers are redefining what aging is and what old age looks like,” said Jennifer Ailshire, assistant professor at the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California. She has a long academic title, but I think her words make sense. 65 used to be considered "old", but no longer. In fact, another researcher says "In most cases, people say they feel about 20% younger than they really are, according to a recent Michigan State study of more than 500,000 people. 'This keeps ramping up as folks age; beginning at age 50, many say they feel about 10 years younger.'" Wow, this means I am really 55 and ready to take-on the world! Not....especially after a long round of golf in the hot sun or three sets of tennis against high-level players. I easily feel 65 or older and must hit the hot tub and pain killers. Ahh, life....we can't really change our ag...

Today is your day Boomer! That huge, huge day arrived for me last month.....I got my first Old Age Pension(OAS) cheque, an astounding 698 dollars! Now for you Boomers under the age of 65, here are a few OAS facts to get you caught up to speed:(1) you can choose to take your OAS at a later age (2) you will get inflationary raises (3) you can get your money by paper cheque or e-transfer (4) the amount goes up by $100 at age 75 (5) if you make too much money, you will get a reduced OAS cheque (6) we don't know yet if the Conservatives will raise the OAS age to 67 if they get elected. (7) You may or may not need to apply for OAS; for me, it was automatic. There you go, and there I go now with three pension cheques every month: OAS, CPP, and my teachers pension. I am very lucky! Hope you are too. Good luck!

Today is your day Boomer! I spent numerous hours trying to catch fish on my recent holiday in the BC Interior. In fact, one day....boat time totalled 9 hours as my dedicated brother and I hauled-in over 25 trout, including 5 BIG ones! Boomers, if you don't fish, understand this: time spent fishing is about the total experience: viewing wildlife, socialization, weather-watching, eating, drinking, and of course....catching fish. In my mind, one thing is a certainty; on the water, everyday life concerns disappear, stress drops, and relaxation reigns! Simply put....fishing is good for the heart and soul. It is also good for the stomach and great for exercise if you row your day away on a big lake. By the way, I "sport" fish.....so, most of my catch is released back into lakes unharmed and ready to be caught by someone else.....or, by me, in a bigger size the next year! Remember Boomers, it is called fishing....not catching, so enjoy the totality of your day out on the l...