Midlife’s A Trip

Mom, Dementia and Me — More Moments of Decline

Posted on 16. Mar, 2008 by Karen.

I had a sad visit with my mother today at her assisted living facility for dementia patients.  When I got there everyone was in a circle the common area for some activity.  My mother was in the circle but asleep and looking unkempt.  I woke her gently and she started talking about something I couldn’t make [...]

Continue Reading

A Midlife Cat Tale: Part 2

Posted on 15. Mar, 2008 by Karen.

My cats Bijou and Puff said the way to end this week of bizarre politics, economy and weather is to focus on a really important issue. Cats. Here’s a video that gives their perspective.

ShareTwitterDiggItTechnoratiDel.icio.us

Continue Reading

The Thursday Night Un-Book Club

Posted on 14. Mar, 2008 by Karen.

Last night was my un-book club meeting.  We’re kind of like a book club in that we’re 9 women who meet monthly and spend the evening together.  But the purpose of our group is not reading books.  Instead, we focus on the wonderful energy between us that leads us to discussions on everything from the law of attraction [...]

Continue Reading

Lasik Surgery: When the Fine Print Applies to You

Posted on 13. Mar, 2008 by Karen.

Next month will be the 10th anniversary of my Lasik eye surgery.   I was 46 when I had the surgery and had been wearing glasses since I was 9 years old.  I lived through:

years of nearsightedness, 
Coke bottle-bottom lenses,
frames ranging from ice blue cat-eyes to my a la Angela Davis black wire-rims and
several generations of contact lenses.

I was ready to [...]

Continue Reading

A Midlife Cat Tale

Posted on 12. Mar, 2008 by Karen.

Today is just about a little humor–at least for my cats. They made me post this video because they say I ignore them when I’m writing this blog. When you see the ending, you’ll understand why I agreed.

ShareTwitterDiggItTechnoratiDel.icio.us

Continue Reading

Broccoli May Help Boost Aging Immune System

Posted on 11. Mar, 2008 by Karen.

You may not like Brussel sprouts but now may the time to get on board with eating your broccoli.  Recent studies with animals (the little rodent kind) yielded positive data that broccoli may help boost aging immune systems . 
While more research is needed to show the impact broccoli has on aging in humans, I don’t see [...]

Continue Reading

A Girl’s Best Friend

Posted on 11. Mar, 2008 by Karen.

You know the old saying that “man’s best friend is his dog”.  Well check out a funny but thoughtful perspective on a girl’s best friend by Michael Moniz at Living Life Out Loud .
ShareTwitterDiggItTechnoratiDel.icio.us

Continue Reading

Text Generation Gap: U R 2 Old

Posted on 10. Mar, 2008 by Karen.

yt.  In the language of text messaging, that means “are you there”.  Maybe because my son is a 30-something, I missed the advent of text messaging in the parental relationship.  So I didn’t have to learn text or remotely figure it out.  But now I have friends who sometimes text me.  To say, I’m clueless on what these little acronyms [...]

Continue Reading

Another View About the End of Life

Posted on 08. Mar, 2008 by Karen.

After I wrote about the last lecture of Professor Randy Paush, I got an email from someone who also saw the video and had another inspirational view about the end of life.  Many thanks to Drew from Texas who writes:
You know I lost my mom last year to pancreatic cancer.  I will never forget us [...]

Continue Reading

Topsy-Turvy World Of Daylight-Saving Time Returns

Posted on 08. Mar, 2008 by Karen.

Don’t forget that the topsy-turvy world of daylight-saving time returns tonight.  Make sure you get plenty of rest as an hour drops out of your midlife.
ShareTwitterDiggItTechnoratiDel.icio.us

Continue Reading

The Last Lecture of Randy Pausch

Posted on 07. Mar, 2008 by Karen.

Well it’s Friday and if you thought you had a tough week, watch this 10 minute video on the last lecture of Professor Randy Pausch who is dying of pancreatic cancer. As I sit here with tears in my eyes, I’ve let go of what I thought were the trials and tribulations of my week [...]

Continue Reading

The Serious Business of Happiness

Posted on 06. Mar, 2008 by Karen.

As I walked around my favorite bookstore today, I was suddenly aware of all the books, CDs and DVDs on the topic of happiness.  They were everywhere!  What is it about our times that so many people are writing about how to find happiness?  I didn’t realize it was that lost.
One of the more interesting discussions I’ve found on the [...]

Continue Reading

Blackberry or Basic–Cell Phone Choices

Posted on 05. Mar, 2008 by Karen.

For the last few years, I’ve watched people around me clicking away on their Blackberrys.  For some, it seemed like the device had become an extension of their hand.  In disdain, I swore I would never get one.  Too accessible, I said.  Too many features, I said.  Just plain unnecessary, I said. 
You might guess where I’m going [...]

Continue Reading