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This is a great reminder for us to use our capacities wisely and most importantly to “Use” them

What could be worse than being born without sight?
Being born with sight and no vision

- Helen Keller

By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist, Blogging at The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Guest Blogger

Record voter turnout is expected throughout the nation as Americans face one of the most exciting elections in history.

Most people have made up their minds by now who they’ll vote for president.

However, there are many important state and local races on ballots throughout America. Among them are governors, members of Congress, attorneys general, treasurers, state legislators, judges, and local government officials. And, in many states, ballot measures are offered on state and local public policy issues.

Where can you find information about these candidates and ballot issues further down on the ballot?

The League of Women Voters of the United States offers a Web site Vote411.org. It provides general voter information such as:

• Voting in your state.

• Finding your polling place.

• What’s on your ballot.

• Stay informed.

To find out information about candidates to help choose a one to vote for, you can:

• Make a list of issues important to you. Research the voting history of each candidate. Eliminate candidates that don’t match up to the issues that are important to you.

• Ask knowledge friends, co-workers, and relatives.

• Read the candidates’ statements in your state and local voters’ guides.

• Visit candidate Web sites.

• Review newspaper endorsements. However, be careful here as in some cases newspaper endorsements reflect the interests of the business community rather than consumer interests.

• Visit the Web site of your political party.

Among the ballot measures across the nation are:

• Massachusetts – Decriminalize marijuana.

• California – Renewable energy standards, bond issue, gay marriage ban, abortion restrictions, additional penalties on crimes, and animal welfare.

• Washington state – Death with dignity, traffic, and health care worker requirements.

• Missouri – Home health care.

• Ohio – Paid sick leave.

• Montana – Children’s health care.

• Michigan – Universal health care and stem cell research.

• Arizona – Payday lending.

• North Dakota – Term limits repeal.

There are 153 ballot measures on the Nov. 4 ballot throughout the U.S., according to Ballotpedia.org.

To help you determine how to vote on a ballot measure, you can:

• Ask knowledge friends, co-workers, and relatives.

• Read the pro and con statements in your state and local voters’ guides.

• Visit the Web sites for the ballot measures.

• Review newspaper endorsements. However, as with candidates, be careful as some newspaper endorsements reflect the interests of the business community rather than consumer interests.

• Visit the Web site of interest groups who may have a position on the issue.

Good luck if you’re just beginning your research. Don’t be intimidated if your ballot is long. With the Internet, it easier than it’s ever been to gather information on candidates and issues.

Remember, it’s best to make the decisions in advance and not in the voting booth. Take a sample ballot with you so you can fill out your ballot quickly.

Enjoy voting and be sure to celebrate your investment in democracy and the public process when you’re finished.

This economy sure can be a drag at times. It sure can add to our stress-levels if our places of work is facing challenges due to the economy. Also, we know we need to save up big time to retire and live well. But that lucky break seems to be eternally around the corner. What to do? How to get out of this rat race?

Ever wonder?

Well, here is some help. My friend and a Boomer411 Trustee, Jacky Hood of The Chalk Institute is conducting a webinar, in which she requested yours truly to present as well. Jacky will be talking about ‘Five Ways for Baby Boomers to Earn’ and I will talk about ‘Three ways for Baby Boomers to Supercharge (in each of those five ways) their careers’. You can learn more about Jacky Hood by reading our interview with her here.

You must register for the webinar to be able to attend. There is a small registration fee of $11.95 for this webinar. In return for the registration fees, you’ll receive an e-book version of Jacky’s latest book, “Happy About Working to Stay Young: Expanded Careers for Boomers and Seniors”.  

Be sure to sign-up for this webinar and supercharge your careers….

by Judith Auslander, Life Coach of the Wise Heart Coaching fame

Last post we talked about how to create atmosphere in the bedroom.  In this final post on the series, we will continue this with some great ideas I found on the Internet.  Are you ready to create romance?

• Paint or wallpaper your walls an exciting color – walls do not have to be eggshell white.
• Find some provocative fun paintings for your room.  According to The Secret movie, if you want a mate, surround yourself with art of two people together – best if they are kissing or facing each other.
• Get rid of the old, dusty blinds and replace them with lacy panels
• Add candles, softer lights, bedside lamps, for that dimmed light look.
• If your mattress is old and sunk in – invest in a new one – your back will hurt a lot less.  And king size it!
• Add flowers and plants such as ferns. 
• Add pillows that can be used for fun as well as decoration.

Trust me when I tell you that if you want to create romance, make sure the atmosphere is romantic.  The bedroom ought to be a sacred spot where you go to rekindle romance and to rest your head. 

Now, for that special night, here are some tips!

• Take a bath in oils so that you smell great and your skin is soft and slippery
• Avoid perfumes as they often cause sneezing or plugged sinuses – unless you happen to know your lover is into your perfume.
• Wear something that makes you feel sexy – feeling sexy is an important part of romance – and make sure it is easy for your lover to take off.  This may be a good time for the Passionate Purple Panties!
•  Make it fun – have flower petals spread up to the bedroom and into the bed.
• Have some fun finger food and drink (personally I would avoid alcohol as it often causes sleepiness).
• Play some soft music
• Have fun! 

Now, you may be thinking – “Why do I need to do all of this?  Isn’t this more like what they do in the movies – real people don’t do this.”  Well, my suggestion is to try it.  There is nothing to say that your life can’t be like the movies.  See if adding atmosphere does not add to your romance.  It sure can’t hurt!

This is the last in the series.  Please let me know if you enjoyed it, learned from it, want more.

Other posts in this series: 

• Part 1: Passionate Purple Panties (PPPs)
• Part 2: Sexy at 64
• Part 3: Bring on the Romance!!!
• Part 4: Pina Caladas?
• Part 5: Sex and the Senior Citizen
• Part 6: The Love Nest

by Judith Auslander, Life Coach of the Wise Heart Coaching fame 

In the last post we talked about sex and the senior citizen.  This issue we will talk about your Love Nest.  This will be a two part series. 

Now, this issue is for everyone.  It doesn’t matter if you are in your 20’s or 90’s, you want to have romance, then you want a romantic room.  A couple that I am friends with decided to make their room more “sexy.”  They were in their 30’s and had been married for about 10 years and wanted to add some spice.  So, they went shopping for paint and ended up with a passionate Peptol Bismol bedroom.  Funny it didn’t make them feel sexy at all.  They painted over it.  But they had the right idea – you want to create atmosphere. 

So, how does your room look?  Do you have the treadmill in one corner covered in clothes, the TV on a stand with lots of videos around it, and then of course there is the pile of old newspapers and books to read?  No, no, no – this is not a bedroom; it is a dumping ground for useless material.  A sexy bedroom does not have any of these things. 

Let’s clean it up!

If you Google “sexy bedrooms” you will find they have chandeliers, candles, beautiful fabrics, canopies, flowers or plants, pillows, a touch of elegance, mirrors, settees and chairs.  If they must have a TV – it is placed as a piece of art in the room – not on an old stand or on top of the dresser.  I suggest that you check out sites on sexy bedrooms and see what you can do to enhance yours. 

Final Topic on this series this Friday:  How to spruce up your love nest?

Other posts in this series:

• Part 1: Passionate Purple Panties (PPPs)
• Part 2: Sexy at 64
• Part 3: Bring on the Romance!!!
• Part 4: Pina Caladas?
• Part 5: Sex and the Senior Citizen