WATCH OUT FOR COLD WEATHER HUNGRIES

Most of us eat way too much between Christmas and New Years. Then comes January 2, and you’re afraid to step on the scale. Did you know the average person gains at least a pound over the holidays? But it doesn’t stop there. Most add another pound or two until spring arrives. That first week in January, when the temperatures plunge, you’re apt to wake up feeling much more hungry than usual. You wonder if your blood sugar is too low or too high, or what’s up? Watch out for the cold weather hungries!

It’s a known fact that cold weather makes us hungry. Our body needs fuel to stay warm. As a result, you’re liable to gain weight during the winter months. How are we going to handle those hunger pangs?

First off, don’t bother counting calories. Start with techniques learned during meditation. Hunger is a physical sensation, but there’s an emotional component. Hunger makes us throw caution to the winds, and gobble down much bigger portions of whatever meal we’re partaking. Try this: When you feel hungry, stop and think. Take a few deep breaths. Identify your feelings. Yes, I am hungrier than usual because it’s cold. But that doesn’t mean I need another piece of toast or an extra bowl of cereal at breakfast. Lunch at McDonalds? No, I won’t order a big batch of fries. A plain hamburger and a glass of milk will fill my stomach very nicely. Eat slowly; don’t increase your intake and portion sizes just because the cold weather makes you hungry.

In addition, cold weather can make you feel sluggish. The thought of going outside for a walk or running errands is unappealing. You would rather sit by the fire and read a book Or take an extra long nap. Encourage yourself to keep going at the same pace as if it were nice and warm outside. When it’s below freezing, and too cold to go outdoors, do something to take your mind off food. Time flies when you’re working on a jigsaw puzzle. Get creative: sew, knit, or crochet. Paint your bedroom. Rearrange the furniture

If your tummy still has yearnings, sip a warm cup of herbal tea. Munch on an apple or a handful of almonds. Try out a new vegan recipe.

Watch out for cold weather hungries!

November 3, 2021November 3, 2021

ENJOY A FREE BOOK THIS WEEKEND

We’ve been hearing a lot about Elon Musk lately. He’s the guy who just sent William Shatner and a few other folks into outer space. Before that, he made lots of money on the electric vehicle, Tesla, so he’s just about one of the richest people on earth. Which is why it surprised me when he picked a near-ghost town in Texas to build his space ship. My husband and I had been walking the beaches near Boca Chica Village for many winters, and loved the fact that it was so remote and unspoiled. Glad we got there long before he did. Enjoy a free book this weekend that takes you to Boca Chica.

I found the place so fascinating that one of the most pivotal events in my second novel takes place in Boca Chica Village at the southern tip of Texas. If you’d like to know what it was like before Elon landed there, you will enjoy reading “Chasing Their Losses.” I’m giving away free copies of my Kindle Book starting today,

This free offer is good Wednesday November 3, through Sunday, November 7. Beat Inflation! Save Money! Download Chasing Their Losses at http://amzn.to/2cLBl0Y

Synopsis:

Will the haunting power of first love lead to Cara Mackenzie’s destruction? At 31, she’s back home from Miami, starting a new career as nutrition director of Sycamore Hospital. While in a blossoming romance with Dr. John Drakos, she runs into her former lover, the suave and sexy Tony Cabella. Soon, she’s drawn into a dangerous web of dirty secrets and lies.

When Tony’s stepson vanishes under her watch, Cara must fight for her life, her reputation, and her career.

The police think Dr. Drakos’ jealousy could have provided a motive for the kidnapping. But unanswered questions suggest a conspiracy. Who shot Tony when he and Cara met in secret, and why won’t he call the police?

At the heart of this novel are four damaged people: John and Cara, whose intense relationship is clouded by painful memories and fear of commitment; Tony and his second wife, Gail, who gave up everything for passion and desire, only to find disillusion and heartbreak.

As the tragic events spin out of control, the heart thumping suspense builds, with twists and turns that take you from the verdant farmland and sparkling waterfalls of Indiana to the vast, lawless sand dunes and nude beaches of Texas.

Order your free Kindle copy of Chasing Their Losses on Amazon today!

The offer is good Wednesday November 3, through Sunday, November. 7. Download it at http://amzn.to/2cLBl0Y

November 1, 2021November 1, 2021

BEWARE OF ONLINE BANKING PITFALLS

There’s nothing new about online banking. Most everyone has been payIng their bills online for decades—except me. First, because it seemed a little too complicated to set things up, and second, because I didn’t trust the procedure. Turns out those were both valid concerns. However, when my daughter asked me to wire birthday money to keep checks from getting lost, I got dragged into online banking, kicking and screaming. It went fairly smoothly for a few months. In fact, it was great not having to write checks, lick stamps, and run to the post office. But it turns out your money can get lost in cyberspace. Beware of online banking pitfalls.

Things got a little complicated because I have a small rental property. The agreement with the electric company is that when a tenant moves out, the bill goes back into my name until a new tenant moves in and puts the electricity in their own name. . this arrangement has worked smoothly for decades.

This summer, I had to do a lot of redecorating, so the apartment was empty for several months. When I received the electric bills, I utilized the bill pay function of online banking. It was so easy, and I paid that way for three months. My bank statement showed I had made the payments. However, I recently got a notice that I hadn’t paid the bill for months. When I called Customer Service, I was informed that the payments that showed on my bank statement had never been received by the electric company.. They advised me to check with my bank as to what had happened, and fax them proof of payment from the bank.

My brick and mortar bank advertises itself as “one of the best banks in America.” At the front desk, a young woman sat beside a computer screen and asked if she could help me. I showed her the bill, and she found a record of my payments deducted from the balance on my checking account. She faxed the information to the electric company, and I assumed that would take care of the matter. It didn’t. When I called them back, it took me several minutes to be connected to the “Misapplied Payments Department” They said they still had no record of receiving online payments. They told me to be patient—that because of Covid they were short staffed, and it might take a couple of days to get back to me.

Fast forward to a week later. Still hadn’t heard back. Finally got in touch with someone at electric company who advised me to go back to the bank and find the electronic transfer numbers on the payments. Young woman at bank said it wasn’t possible. Said there was nothing more the bank could do, except fax the same information again. “It’s between you and them,” she told me. “We don’t find lost payments.” Then she turned her back and started working at her computer. “You mean, “ I’ve simply lost that money?” I asked. She didn’t’ answer. “I want my money back,” I said. She didn’t look up.

Got online, and found that it is the bank’s responsibility to find lost payments. Called someone higher up at the bank, and she agreed . They’re “working on it” right now.

Would I have been treated differently by the woman at the front desk of that bank if I were a young businessman rather than a female octogenarian? Was this a sign of ageism in banking?

Beware of online banking pitfalls..

October 29, 2021October 29, 2021

SQUIRRELS ARE TELLING US SOMETHING

Most of us agree this has been a weird year, weather wise. A long, hot summer extending into November, and lots of rain. All of which has produced a bumper crop of acorns and walnuts falling from our neighbors’ trees and cluttering up our walkways. The squirrels have been busy, reaping the benefits. For weeks now, they’ve been scampering across our fences and lawn with cheeks bulging. They’re storing up food all over the place, and from the looks of it, they’ll have enough to last the winter. When you consider what’s going on in this covid-19 pandemic world, it seems the squirrels are telling us something : Stock up on food now, because it’s going to be scarce.

Many supermarket shelves have empty spaces, and what products are available go up in price every week. I’ve recently noticed my shopping cart is much fuller than it used to be. I’m not consciously emulating the squirrels, but I seem to be buying a lot more of everything. Instead of one can of vegetables or beans, I’m coming home with three or four. Probably have enough toilet paper to last until spring. It’s not actually hoarding, because that would mean I’m getting stuff I will never have a chance to use.

For example, during world war II sugar was rationed. My mother’s best friend was childless, and apparently had more disposable income than we did. She and her husband began hoarding sugar in huge tin storage cans up in their attic. Lift the lid on their piano bench and you could see it was packed to the brim with hard candy. They didn’t eat the candy, and the woman seldom baked. As I remember, she never offered to share as much as a cup of her sugar. .

When the war was over, she invited me up to her attic to see all the sugar she had stored for the duration. It was hard and lumpy, and I think it was drawing ants, so she threw it all away. The candy had melted together during the summer months with no air conditioning, and so it, too, went into the trash pit.

Squirrels are telling us something. Time to stock up for the winter. — Squirrels are telling us something. Now is the time to store food for the winter.

In comparison, my overbuying isn’t really what you would call hoarding. I’m just filling my cupboards to the brim. Nothing will go to waste. But I’m bracing myself for a long hard winter of shortages and higher prices on everything we buy. The squirrels are telling us something.

Food shortages are coming.

October 18, 2021October 18, 2021

ATTENTION WINTER FLOWER GARDENERS!

In my working years, I always had a group of African violets in the window. They didn’t need much of anything but water, and they were there to cheer me up on dreary winter days. They even did double duty as table decorations if someone came to dinner. That all changed when we retired. Going South for two or three months in the winter wasn’t conducive to indoor gardening. But there comes a time when you can’t make that long trip back and forth every year. The good news is that you can have indoor plants again. Attention winter flower gardeners! Now is the time to pot your amaryllis bulbs.

When the pandemic came along in the winter of 2020, the plants that kept me going were the amaryllis I’d saved from last year. They aren’t like any other indoor plant.. They’re magical and mysterious, and only bloom for a short time. But when they blossom on a freezing day in February, they will lift your spirits like no other. Because they’re gorgeous.

Attention, winter flower gardeners! Time to pot your amaryllis bulbs. — Attention winter flower gardeners! Now is the time to start your amaryllis bulbs to bloom during the holidays.

This is the month for amaryllis lovers to get busy. Right now, I have ten bulbs stored in the basement from last year’s crop. There’s plenty of potting soil in the garage, but I must think about pots. I have lots of those little plastic flower pots, but a few of them are black. Ugh. That’s not very decorative. Took them out on the deck and sprayed them with some bright green paint left from last spring. Now is the time to plant.

Attention winter indoor gardeners — Attention winter flower gardeners ! Moisten the soil, fill the pot a little more than half full and set the bulb on top. Add more soil, leaving the top 1/3 of the bulb exposed.

You want some amaryllis blooming for Christmas, and others to come out all winter until daffodils bloom in the Spring. Here’s the trick. Once you plant the bulbs , you stagger their growth, which won’t happen until the potted bulb is heavily watered, just that first time. And then you wait. It takes 6 to 8 weeks for leaves to emerge before the flowers actually bloom. During that time, it will need very light watering, only once a week.

I’ll start one pot every week beginning in late October. If I’m lucky, four or five will be in bloom during the holidays. Come January, I’ll start one more. Then another in February. . Sometimes, an old bulb will let you down. It may only produce leaves, or not grow at all. That’s part of the mystery.

Toward the middle of December, stores like Menard’s and Wal Mart are selling amaryllis bulbs at half price. So of course, I’ll replenish my supply and rotate their growth during the winter months.

Attention winter flower gardeners! Get those Amaryllis bulbs out of the closet.

September 22, 2021September 22, 2021

BUY NOW TO BEAT INFLATION

According to reports from financial institutions, many Americans now have bulging bank accounts. They’re the ones who were lucky enough to keep their jobs during the pandemic. And if their household income was under $150,000, they also got thousands of dollars in stimulus money. Problem was, there was no place to spend it. Couldn’t travel or eat out. No place to go, so why buy any new clothes? The savings kept increasing, but with zero interest rates, the money is not doing much of anything while sitting in the bank. Nevertheless, prices for everything are shooting up. The Feds tell us that inflation is only 5%, but anyone who shops know it’s way more than that. As a result, you may as well buy now to beat inflation.

The carpeting we bought for one room last year doubled in price this year when we decided to upgrade another room. Double. Yes. The cost of anything to do with home improvement is sky rocketing. So my advice would be, don’t wait until next year, or the year after. Get that new roof, build a deck, screen in your porch. Maybe even buy a hot tub, if that fits your life style. Do you remember when a luxury hot tub cost about $5,000? I do. Now they’re selling for about $16,000,. Don’t even blink an eye when writing a check for thousands of dollars to fix up your home. Next year, the price of all those goods and services will increase by at least 5 or 10 percent.

Buy now to beat inflation. The inflation rate is at a 13 year high. — Buy now to beat inflation… The prices on some items will have doubled by next year.

Let’s move on to the supermarket. When shopping for favorite items, have you noticed how many shelves have “holes.” That is, empty spaces where the product you want is sold out. And when it’s finally back on the shelf, the prices have gone way up. As a result, the instinct is to hoard. Instead of buying a couple cans of certain soups, we load up on maybe 6. We’re buying anything ahead that will “keep.” Detergent, trash bags, canned goods. Our cupboards are stocked to the brim.

The feds keep telling us that this inflation is temporary. Doesn’t look that way to us. When the price of gasoline increases, transportation costs have to be added to the price of anything shipped from point A to point B. And wage increases in a tight labor market have to be passed on to the consumer.

There’s only one way to beat inflation: buy now.

August 30, 2021August 30, 2021

FACEBOOK CAN COST YOU A JOB

Be careful what you post on social media. We’ve been hearing that for years—ever since Facebook began. And yet, some people still haven’t got the message. I have a friend who hires young people for jobs that don’t require a college degree. So how does he check them out? First, he’ll do a routine background check. But he doesn’t stop there. Before he’s even received that first report, he’s already googled the job seeker’s Facebook. There’s hardly a twenty something alive who doesn’t have an account. And he always turns down candidates with what he considers offensive posts.

What’s offensive? First and foremost, young women who post provocative pictures of themselves. It’s amazing how many do. “Hot” pictures of a woman in underwear with her tongue hanging out may attract a person hiring pole dancers. But for an ordinary position like a restaurant server or office clerk, it’s usually a deal breaker. You have to wonder what these girls are thinking. Are they hoping to attract a man? If they do, it’s going to be the wrong type. Like maybe an abuser or sex addict or even a serial killer.

The second worst turnoff is vulgar, four letter words or posters—especially if they’re accompanied by hostility. Who wants a potty mouthed, outspoken angry person working in their organization?

Political rants and raves may offend an employer who doesn’t share your views. Best wait until you’re safely retired to express your opinion about elected officials.

Sometimes, a job candidate won’t have a Facebook page. Or if they do, they don’t show their picture, and don’t post.. That’s not a good thing either. The person may or may not have something to hide. Actually, they could simply be a private person who isn’t comfortable posting on Facebook. But that doesn’t help a prospective employer at all. If he can’t find out a little bit more about you, he may hire the person who has a “good” Facebook page.

What attracts employers? Family pictures are always appealing. You love your mom and dad and brothers and sisters. You enjoy holiday gatherings. All of which means you’re a normal, caring human being. Next are sports and school pictures. Anyone who plays volleyball or tennis is probably in good health, and well disciplined. Vacation pictures show that you are well rounded and like to relax. Just don’t show yourself at a nude beach.

Be careful what you post on social media apps like Instagram, too.

Remember: Facebook can cost you a Job.