Today Is Your Day Boomer

Today is your day Boomer! Hiking with my wife this week in the Okanagan I was reminded that it is still bear season out there! We encountered several bear scat piles on our walk....much of it filled with fruit. There are decomposing apples everywhere right now as winter gets closer and bears are fattening-up for their big sleep. So, what to do if you encounter a bear? This advice from the Government of B.C.: Do not feed bears. It's against the law to feed dangerous wildlife. Remain calm. Do not run or climb a tree. Slowly back away, talking to the bear in a quiet, monotone voice. Do not scream, turn your back on the bear, kneel down or make direct eye contact. Keep away from the bear. Do not try to get closer to it. If the bear gets too close, use pepper spray (within 7 metres) or something else to threaten or distract it. Stay together. If you are with others, act as a group. Keep children close – pick up and carry small children. Go indoors. Bring pets indoors if possible. ...

Today is your day Boomer! I don't want to remember him as an overweight, grey-haired, washed-up, former-addict actor. I want to remember him as he looked in this picture....youthful, smiling, curious, innovative, and filled with humour as he interacted with his "Friends" on TV for 10 years. Matthew Perry died this week at the tender age of 54, a victim of drowning in his hot tub. His show, many Boomers would say, was the best comedy of all time....running from 1994-2004 and winning best-comedy Emmy award in 2002. It was one of those oh-so-funny, dramatic comedies(like Happy Days) that you wouldn't dare miss every week. Even now, when skimming through channels, it is hard not to stop and watch re-runs. His character, Chandler Bing, was unforgetable and one that Perry says was much like his real every-day self! He was quirky, affable, loyal, and kind of ignorant at times...but always lovable! His romantic scenes with Monica were especially riveting. Yes, Boo...

Today is your day Boomer! Usually I am not a big proponent of buying lottery tickets....but then again, I may change my mind. A group of 28 people from Montreal won the Lotto 649 draw in September garnering 5 million dollars, about 178,000$ each! Since some look to be close to Boomer age, I hope this windfall propels them into retirement sooner than expected. I used to do this "team" lotto approach with my teacher friends for years....the organizer would walk around and say "two bucks, two bucks!" to remind us to pay. And often we would win! Never the big one, but enough to keep us interested and going. It was definitely a lot of fun and great for socialization. Meanwhile, back in Montreal, one of the winners was Didi Morneau: Didi herself is the one who checked the ticket and found out it was a winning one. "Only after I scanned the ticket over 20 times did I realize it was well and truly $5 million," she said. "We're still astonished!...

Today is your day Boomer! Guess which generation is in most support of legal pot use? Yup...it's us Boomers. Marijuana was legalized in Canada in 2018 and a recent survey states this: "Support for the legalization of marijuana is highest among Canadians aged 55 and over (66 per cent),” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. "The proportions are lower among those aged 35-to-54 (56 per cent) and those aged 18-to-34 (48 per cent).” Okay, I guess many of us were pot smokers from our youth and continue to do so in our later years. But is it mostly for "recreational" use? Another survey says yes: "In Canada, nearly half (48.5%) of Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, reported using cannabis for recreational purposes only, a smaller proportion reported using both recreational and medical cannabis (19.2%), and the smallest share reported medical cannabis use only (7.1%) We do have more health problems than other generations, so some Boomers use for...

Today is your day Boomer! Sunny and cool in my neck of the woods today....a perfect day for outdoor activities! Are you one of those Boomers that love adventure and the great outdoors? Want more info...more ideas for fun and activities? BC Adventure Smart and the BC Search and Rescue Association have teamed up to launch a new online information centre! Spokesperson Sandra Riches says more than 450 outdoor recreation organizations are listed on the site. "It allows you to get a snapshot of what they offer, what they can help you with, in your outdoor recreation adventures. If you want to learn more, it gives you access to click over to their platforms." She adds: "If they're heading out for a snowshoe this winter, people are doing the research and we're encouraging them to do their research. This is a great spot to visit. If you're new to the outdoors, and you're unaware, this is an awesome planning tool." Boomers, it is free and has a B.C. focus...

Today is your day Boomer! Are you one of those Boomers who loves to take your grandchildren to the ski slopes? According to a recent survey by seniorsskiing.com, more than 68% of grandparents questioned said they introduced their grandkids to skiing or snowboarding! Wow, sounds great...but are you worried about getting separated from them? Sounds kind of stressful. Well, a new invention is out so you can find them quickly. It is called "skiKrumb", and is a new Okanagan company that’s created a GPS-based tracker aimed at keeping location tabs on children and youth skiers. The device is small, around 2.5 inches by 1.5 inches, and can easily fit in pockets or be placed on a lanyard. The battery is said to have a life of several days, while the GPS range is 15 to 20 kilometres. Apparently, it works better than a cellphone or Apple Airtags especially in cold weather on mountains. Inventor Keith MacIntyre says "Whether it’s five minutes or two hours, being separated fro...

Today is your day Boomer! On a recent vacation trip, my wife and I met a young couple coming home with a new puppy. What an exciting time for them, and what an expensive time! The price was a whopping 4500$ Canadian for this pure bred animal. This is what Wikipedia says: "The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a medium-sized gundog bred primarily for hunting. It is often referred to as a "toller". It is the smallest of the retrievers, and is often mistaken for a small Golden Retriever. Tollers are intelligent, eager to please, alert, and energetic. The name "toller" is derived from their ability to lure waterfowl within gunshot range." All that sounds good, except the price. So, I did some research on dog prices....and no surprise Boomers, you will pay much more since the pandemic. Anywhere from 2000-3500$ US for the most expensive breeds, including two tied for top price: Norwich Terrier and Neapolitan Mastiff. Yikes! And one more number, you wi...

Today is your day Boomer! I recently spent three nights and four days at a beautiful hot springs resort in the BC Kootenays. My time with friends and family included lots of soaks, fishing, walks, great food and drink, and evening board games. It reminded me of one of our favourite Boomer songs from the Canadian rock band Trooper..."We're Here For a Good Time (Not a Long Time)" which came out in 1977. Check out some of the lyrics in the picture and try not to start singing! Then I accidently came upon more research. The song name now means something different in the new-famous Urban Dictionary; on some dating sites, it means I want to hook-up for casual sex. Oh. Boomers, we better be careful on how we use this expression. Remember, as we age, a number of things we used to say from the good ol' days are not understandable and used anymore by younger generations. Beware Boomers and cheers.

Today is your day Boomer! I looked in the mirror today and realized I need a haircut....kind of like Jack Nicholson does in this picture! I think old guys like us look older when our mixed grey, white, and brownish hair is getting too long. So, then I sought some internet advice on how often should a man get a haircut? According to vibrantsalonandspa.com, here is their advice: "The average man's hair grows about half an inch per month, and at that rate, hair grows about six inches per year. Most hair salons professional suggest a regular haircut to keep a man's hair looking its best. It is generally recommended that men get a haircut every six to eight weeks." Okay then, I think I am due. By the way, they have one more recommendation: "I think you should get a haircut as often as your budget will allow and certainly before the haircut has grown to the point that it looks unkempt. I also recommend booking a recurring appointment with your barber or stylist a...

Today is your day Boomer! Golf season comes to end soon....the end of October in the BC Interior. And so, I would like to pay tribute to my many friends who support me in this recreational endeavour! From the lead guy who is so dedicated--he does all our reserving of tee times and organizing of players....thank you so much! For the guys I play with--thanks for putting up with all my bantering and jokes. Oh, and the odd prank that I may play on them. Thanks to my buddies for playing through rain and shine, and the odd thunder and lightning storm. Thanks again for those who bought drinks on the 19th hole and the one friend who took me away from my home course for a few rounds on "other" courses, so as to refresh my enthusiasm for the game. Also, thanks to my wife for being flexible on my time spent and money spent on golf. And my sons for coming out to play once in awhile to humour their old man! It was a good year on the links....and for Boomers, like me, I hate to ...

Today is your day Boomer! I thought I was kind of an expert on wine and beer....as I consume small amounts of both beverages on a regular basis. In fact, many of my Boomer friends do too. But no, not according to this quiz I recently took on a website. In fact, I scored just 30%, which in the old days of school was an "E"....which does not mean excellent; it actually means "F" for fail! Okay, you try it. Just use Google and type in "A Thirsty Quiz About Wine and Beer" and see how you do! Good luck. Maybe I will go wine tasting this month and, of course, to Oktoberfest to sharpen-up my knowledge and skills. Cheers Boomers.

Today is your day Boomer! Every now and again I feature a Boomer doing something incredible. Today, it is almost-Boomer Henry Wang and his group of about 20 people(some are Boomers!)from BC's Lower Mainland who scour the bottom of our lakes and clean up garbage. The group is called Divers For Cleaner Lakes and Oceans, and what do they find? According to The Province Newspaper, "Everything from parking street signs to park benches, from laptops, cell phocarts—all of it picked up by an underwater army." Henry says old beer cans is the number one item they find. Since 2013, how much garbage have they recovered? 27,000 kg....including some wierd things like a rusty E-bike! And I like this....Henry says "Going into a lake and using my scuba diving skills to remove trash isn’t something that everybody can do, which means that if I have the ability then I have the responsibility to act.” This guy is....simply....a civic hero. Thanks Henry and Co.. We need more people ...

Today is your day Boomer! Canadian Boomers, we are on this planet Earth for an average of about 81 years....so, I think we need to make the best use of our time. I just spent a fantastic weekend fishing with my brother and friend at a secluded, mountain lake in southern B.C.. And this is what I call "quality time". According to the Cambridge Dictionary, quality time is "time that you spend with someone, giving them your full attention because you value the relationship." Bingo, a very accurate description of our time fishing, catching, joking, eating, drinking, sleeping, and general interacting for three greattttttt days! And the rainbow trouts were BIG, up to 18 inches long with lots of girth. The weather was mixed sun and cloud, the company was superb, and the setting was surreal. Thanks to my big bro (see picture) who invited us and made the trip very memorable. Boomers, I think we should all strive for more of this.....quality time. Cheers!!

Today is your day Boomer! The last in my historical lesson series on the Middle East. There are three final things to focus on today: oil, religion, and extremism. Never forget that Israel/Palestine is a gateway to the greatest oil resources in the world. Yes, most are in neighbouring nations like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, but countries like the U.S. want peace in the region to keep the resources flowing. That's one big reason why they continue to support Israel's independence and keep sending weapons there. Number Two: look at the map and realize places like Jerusalem are tinder boxes of religion. It is called "The Divided City" as Jews, Muslims, and Christians each claim chunks of this very-religious centre. This spot and others like one in Gaza are a focus of much conflict. Historically....don't forget, Christians fought hard for Jerusalem and Palestine in general hundreds of years ago in The Crusades, and millions were slaughtered. Lastly, the extremist...

Today is your day Boomer! Blog number two on history of the Middle East and how it is connected to the current Hamas/Israel war. My three-decade experience as a history teacher, I think, allows me to share some simplified knowledge with you. Okay, look at the map and find the three "occupied territories": Gaza Strip, Golan Heights, and West Bank. These three regions were captured by Israel during the Six Day War of 1967.....they officially belong to Egypt, Syria, and Jordan, three countries that invaded Israel in that year. By the way, Israel has been invaded numerous times since WWII: 1948, 1967, and 1973 to name a few. And now again, by Hamas, in 2023. Perhaps, you can understand why the Israeli government is so concerned about its border areas and security. Now, back to the occupied territories. Some historians believe Israel thinks of places like Gaza as "buffer zones" between Israel and hostile powers. Others write that Israel needs areas to control i...

Today is your day Boomer! It is, perhaps, the most confusing part of the world for people to understand. It is the Middle East...at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea, and a region wrought with historical conflict. This week, another war, between Hamas and Israel, in the area of the Gaza Strip. Boomers, maybe my 30 years of teaching History 12 will help you understand this region a little better. Let's go back to the end of World War I when victorious powers Britain and France were given "mandate" power in this area(see map); for example, Britain took control of both Palestine and Iraq until they were ready for self-rule. Well, the people in Palestine (Arab Palestinians) resented this foreign control and the British weren't exactly there for the people....more for the power and resources. Eventually, after the 2nd World War, Britain bowed to pressure, handed over Palestine and with the help of the U.N., created the new nation of Israel....a mostly Jewish ...

Today is your day Boomer! You know, you go away for a wedding and a few days camping....and another war breaks out. In addition to the long, drawn-out conflict in Ukraine, we now have a war in the Middle East between terrorist-group Hamas and Israel. Hundreds have died so far in the occupied territories of Gaza, Westbank, and Golan....and along the Israeli borders. Foreigners living in this area have been kidnapped and some killed, and America is sending weapons to Israel. Why? What does all this mean? What is some of the history behind this terrible conflict? As a former history teacher, I will attempt to inform interested Boomers in my next few blogs. In the meantime, I suggest the two sides sit down and listen to the lyrics in the 1975 song "Why Can't We Be Friends" (some of which are listed in this picture). Ironically, the song is performed by the American punk band "War". Maybe listen to it on YouTube as well....cheers Boomers!!