Sex and Aging

Sex 

 I don’t know about you but I started becoming aware of the opposite sex at about age 10.  I didn’t dwell on it but I still have memories of the girls my age sending me notes in the classroom (asking me if I liked them).  I didn’t run around seeking little girls to play with during recess, but every once in a while I would look up from whatever game I was playing with my friends and would notice that little girl classmates were looking at us (4^th grade).  Then I remember this one little girl, her name was Norma, she didn’t chase after me, matter of fact she didn’t even make conversation, but I caught her looking my way once and she quickly turned the other way.  She was very lady like (not a tomboy) her hair was always done in ponytail or pigtails.  She was always dressed very nice like her mother really cared for her and made sure she always looked her best. 

WOW!  Where did that memory come from?  Long story short, she transferred out of my school 3 months later, and I never saw her again (we did become friends before she even knew that her family would be moving).  She made enough of an impression on me that I asked my mother to name my little sister Norma approximately a year later when she joined the family.  Fortunately my mother like the name and that is my sister’s name (just as pretty and dainty too).

Now back to the subject at hand.  Everyone that follows this blog is mature enough and old enough to understand that men and women are different in just about every way, and thus we handle and react different to just about every situation.  The information I am about to share is tame, factual, and derived from experts.

We are all aware of the different age stages in life; 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, and beyond.  Every age stage brings with it, specific levels of comfort and concerns (real or imagined).  Some people at age fifty are barely considering that they are going to start noticing their age progression a little more.  Not until 60 for some do they start getting serious about getting answers to their growing concerns.  This is not a health blog so I am going to give you food for thought and subjects to research if you so desire.

Studies show that five popular areas of concern for men are the following:  1). Impotence, men worry about embarrassment or humiliation, if things don’t work as they should.  2). Weakness, Knowledge is power but for men physical power is equally important.  3). Retirement / Irrelevance, The prospect of retiring fires enormous anxiety because it, too, begs the question, "If I'm not my career, what am I?"  4). Losing wheels and Independence, what a man drives defines who he is, from his first junker to his mid-life crisis sports car.  Ability to get around also weighs heavy.  5). Losing your mind or your wife losing hers.  Perhaps recent headlines are scaring more men into the fear of Alzheimer's: Men are more likely than women to have mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Studies show that five popular areas of concern of aging for women are the following:  1). Losing attractiveness/becoming 'invisible'.  Our society places emphasis, on youth and beauty.  2). Being left alone, A spouse's death figures high among women's fears, as does seeing their children dying first or losing old friends when they relocate for retirement.  3). Becoming a bag-Lady.  Bernie Madoff, the real estate collapse, and the Great Recession 2.0 have only fueled a classic female fear of aging: financial destitution.  4). Cancer. Maybe it's those ubiquitous pink ribbons. Cancer, particularly breast cancer, tops the health concerns women fear most.  5). Being dependent on others. Both men and women alike dread "becoming a burden," according to the Successful Aging Study's Eva Kahana. But for many women, who have traditionally been the caregivers, the prospect of a role reversal is especially uncomfortable. My Source of information was from Caring.com.

I hope I didn’t disappoint you with the Title vs. Content.  I merely meant that whether male or female (sex) we all are affected by aging (even if in slightly different ways).  There is no way I would enter into a discourse of S.E.X. in this blog!!  The best is yet to come….

Hootersville

Hootersville

One of my sons called me for some advice, and fortunately I have experience in the area where he needed assistance.  For a person like me the Parental Contract was the very last page of the Children Raising Manual.  I’ve tried real hard to learn all I could about raising children, and just when I have one child figured out the next one comes along and everything changes.  You might say that the rules you were familiar with no longer apply.

My youngest child is nearing the old dreadful threshold of 30, but I am very lucky in that they are all doing well, and all of them have faced challenges that they met head on and not only survived but thrived.  I gave up a long time ago trying to teach them all the mistakes to avoid, and the easy path to success.  Each one has gone through a phase where they knew best, but sooner or later reality sets in and they come to the conclusion that maybe there was an easier way to do things.  I’ve never been one to hang around waiting to say, “I told you so.”

I do get a level of satisfaction when I see the light bulb go on over their heads, because I know that this experience will lead to a better understanding on how to approach life, and the required decision making process.

All my children will always be my babies, and for as long as I am able, I will answer the call for assistance.  Just in case you are still scratching you head and wondering where the Children Raising Manual can be purchased, there isn’t one.  I was just making the point that the Parental Contract and the Manual are non-existent. The variables are infinite.  Just ponder the possibilities, each child is different, and requires different style of upbringing, every parent is different and has a unique (right or wrong) style of parenting.  Among the things to consider: culture, religion, politics, and language, socio-economic environment, on and, on, and on.  And that’s just the parents I am talking about!

Before you criticize my post, keep in mind that I am sharing my experience with raising my family of 7 children and not trying to tell you what you need to do or not do.  While there is no known parental contract some family laws actually consider parents responsible for their children to the age of 18.  I personally have never set a deadline for when my children must leave the house (family home), and some have even returned after they set out on their own.

The unspoken Parental Contract is a double edge sword, kind of like a Reverse Mortgage.  At some point in time the line is crossed and the child becomes the parent.  The day comes when we will need the assistance of our children, to at least sign us up at the Hootersville Old People’s Home.  I am making reference to the Hootersville from the television series Petticoat Junction, not the restaurant chain Hooters.

I don’t know about the followers of this blog, but I probably have another 25 to 30 years to go before I get to Hootersville.  The best is yet to come….

Bucket List Minus #6

 #6.  I will go target shooting at a firing range.

Amazing experience!  I realize that many people (probably in the millions) are members of shooting ranges, and are involved regularly in the experience of shooting weapons for fun and sport.  Again I remind you that I share this experience for those of you that haven’t done it ever or for a long time.  Rick the Range Master is a Certified Trainer in the area of law enforcement, and also has NRA Certification.  I have many friends that are well mannered (all my friends) patient (not all my friends), and respectful (generally).  Rick definitely embodies all three qualities plus professional.  He spent about 20 to 30 minutes with me going over the rules of the club, the etiquette, safety and handling of the guns. 

He explained that the range operates under two conditions; Hot Condition, and Cold Condition.  Hot condition is when everyone is able to discharge their weapons at the targets, and go about the business of using the range for the purpose that it exists.  Cold Condition is for example when a member needs to change targets; the Range Master goes down the line to all the participants to warn each individual that we are operating under Cold condition.  Under Cold Condition everyone is to place their weapon in a safety position, remove the clip and stand away from it, so as to avoid any accidental discharge.

When I scheduled the visit to the range with my wonderful friend Mike, I didn’t know what to expect, and I was only doing it to meet my commitment to the blog and my Bucket List item #6.  As we drove the hour plus roundtrip I kept telling myself that I would fire 10 or 20 rounds, and return home.  I used a 22 Caliber Rugger, and a 9 MM handgun.  My friend Mike provided the weapons and ammunition, he actually planned on using all 600 rounds he took with him.  I chose not to take advantage of the situation and only fired about 250 rounds.

 I was amazed by my performance because not having a military or law enforcement background or even hunting exposure; I haven’t fired a weapon in probably 45 years.  Once upon a time I carried a concealed weapon with permit for my business; fortunately, I never had to pull it out of its holster.  My friend and the Range Master gave me Kudos for my performance. I will enjoy the experience for a week or so before I will have to go again for the fun of it.  I hope that the rest of my Bucket List is as fun and fulfilling as item #6. 

I want to encourage anyone that has had an interest in learning how to handle a weapon, or needs a quick refresher course in safety, to consider doing what I did.  Having an expert standing next to you, walking you through the process is so very reassuring, and makes for a great positive experience.  I loved it!!!  The best is yet to come….

No Pain No Gain

66 Year Old Man

 I feel like in the scene where a man or woman is standing in front of the gathering at the local branch of AA meeting.  Only the truth this time is not about an addiction, but a turnaround just the same.  I unfortunately just got the news today that a recent coworker, and friend passed away suddenly last Saturday.  I did a little research and found out that he had just returned from a game of golf, and decided to go on the treadmill when he got home.  When his family didn’t hear from him they went looking and found him lying on the floor.  He had suffered a massive coronary.  He was only 64 years old and still employed.  There are many directions that this story could go in, but today I want to talk about health and fitness as it pertains to what I am presently doing.

Today was my fifth meeting and workout session with my Personal Trainer.  I am no longer as sore as I was at the end of the first week.  I could say that at times I could even feel a little cocky, cause I beat this thing called pain (I realize it’s just the beginning week of pain; more to come).  My trainer keeps building me up and encouraging me, while at the same time stepping up the challenges that he keeps throwing into my workout.  In all honesty, if it were not for the fact that he is standing next to me throughout the sessions, I would not push myself that hard.  I have gotten to the point on more than two occasions, when I felt like saying I need a break, but I refuse break.

I was a competitive athlete in my younger years, and today I feel that there is a perfectly proportioned body builder waiting to come out.  Looking at Stallone’s picture at age 66, does a lot more for my self-esteem and progress than any growth enhancement drugs could ever do.  I am a natural, and more importantly I can take direction and pain.  I am committed to see this effort take wings.  I will get to where I want to be, and work hard to maintain it.  I am not obsessed, but you could say that I am very interested and highly motivated.

With regard to the friend I just lost.  He appeared to be in excellent health, and you might even say that at one time I even wished I had his apparent good health.  The old saying is; be careful what you wish for, and it never rang truer.  You, as an individual should stay in close communication with your health provider, because you never know what may lay waiting below the surface.  I am not making any particular statements about my friend, just common sense recommendation in general, I am not aware of my friends medical history. 

I regularly check with my physician at least once a year whether I need it or not.  I also maintain a close tab on my cholesterol levels through blood lab work; check my blood pressure at least every two months (a nurse once told me that I had the blood pressure of a person many years younger).  One thing I almost didn’t mention is that I listen to my wife’s advice.  I know she loves me and wants me to stay healthy.  If she says you are eating too much of a bad food, I listen and work at moderating.  She is presently very supportive of my efforts with the fitness center, and is cooking as good as always but we are concentrating on portion control.

I didn’t realize how often I was eating in town, at least half the time fast food.  There is no call for a retired person like myself to eat in town that much.  I am a trained chef (by my wife) in the kitchen.  Since I started my fitness center training, I’ve eaten in town once and it was a 6” Subway with no Mayo.  There is no way that I would ever do what I am doing without a Personal Trainer.  I am learning body science, and improving by leaps and bounds.  The best is yet to come….

Entertainment Then and Now

Entertainment Then and Now

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, today’s technology, can do it all for us, leaving little if anything to the imagination.  The crime television series presently on prime time are so amazing that they can actually determine where the person was standing (with consideration to height and weight) when shot or stabbed.  Using laser beams they can determine from the entry of the projectile, where the bullet was fired from.  Based on a DNA sample left on a cup of coffee, glass of water, cigarette butt or even inadvertent spit on the sidewalk they can determine with a high degree of certainty the identity of the perpetrator.

I realize that the television shows over simplify the process but after all they have 60 minutes from start to finish and including solving the crime.  Just the same all of that forensic technology is real.  Today’s criminals are dumber than they were in the early years, because any dummy knows that getting away with a crime today is nil to none.  I remember the crime shows of the 50’s and 60’s while very entertaining, the plots were not very scientific.  The biggest advance back then that left an impression on me was when someone mentioned that; you can outrun a patrol car, but you can’t outrun a police radio.  WOW!!  What a scientific statement.  Today you can’t outrun your DNA.

My favorite crime shows that I grew up with were (in no particular order):  Highway Patrol, Dragnet, The Texas Rangers, 77 Sunset Strip, Hawaii Five O, Magnum PI, Mission Impossible, Route 66, Perry Mason, and M Squad.  There have been many other crime series on television, but for now it’s what I can come up with from the early years.  If you can add to my list I would appreciate all the help I can get.  I still remember that those early years television was definitely a family affair.  We all sat around the living room or family room after dinner and enjoyed the programs together.  Unlike today, when you can DVR, or TiVo the programs, and everyone can watch the program at a later more convenient time.

During even earlier years, I always looked forward to Saturday morning television programing.  Here are some of my favorites from Saturday mornings, and during the week (again in no particular order); My Friend Flicka, Fury, Sky King, Lassie, Roy Rogers, Howdy Doody, Mighty Mouse, Annie Oakley, Rin Tin Tin, Superman, Kit Carson, Buck Rogers in the 25^th Century, Gene Autry, Captain Kangaroo, and Gumby, the list can go on forever.  With regards to animated cartoons:  Felix the Cat, Gumby, Mighty Mouse, Tom Terrific, Mickey Mouse, Yogi Bear, all the Hanna Barbera Characters; Dastardly and Muttley, Flintstones, Hong Kong Phooey, Huckleberry Hound, the Jetsons, Quick Draw McGraw, Ruff and Ready, and Tom and Jerry, the list can go on forever.  Once again I ask you, if I didn’t include your favorite let me know the name of it.

Is it any wonder that I had such a great life; those are the programs that fueled my imagination, and still do.  Today, I continue to stay and think young because I am fortunate to have grandchildren, and they still enjoy hanging out with the coolest grandpa in the world (my world; I know there are other cool grandpas and grandmas out there).  If you want to continue to learn and enjoy the technology of today; make more time for the new (future leaders) generation.  While you are disbursing your time don’t forget your life’s partner (they can be very forgiving and sometimes don’t even ask for more time, but they appreciate all the time they can get).  The best is yet to come…

Landing the Big Job

Landing the Big Job

I’m sure that we are all familiar with the saying, “open the door when opportunity knocks.”  The truth is that you should open the door even if all you hear is a scratch at the door.  I personally have opened the door many times and treated each time like it could be the big one.  In reality we will not know if it was the big opportunity until a few months or years down the road.  Many times opportunity is whatever you make out of it.

The following are just a couple of quotes regarding opportunity;

1.     “Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can – there will always come a time when you will be grateful you did.”  Sarah Caldwell Quotes

2.     “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”  Seneca Quotes

In my post dated February 22, 2013 – Up the Creek, I mention the circumstance that led to one of the biggest opportunities in my life.  Not only was it a big opportunity at the time but it became the foundation that eventual successes would be built on.  On that post I go on to say; On that very day without wasting time I drove to the unemployment office, and I was referred to an employer for a management training job where I eventually worked my way to mid and upper management.

In the year when that took place, minimum wage if there was such a thing, must have been around $1.20 per hour.  The job I accepted had a starting pay of $1.48 per hour for a 40 hour week with overtime pay factored at time and a half for any hours over 40.  Up to that point in my life I had enjoyed many times better hourly pay.  So how does one look at that situation as a big opportunity?  Actually what you do is you look at the overall picture.  At the time, not knowing the area, being from out of state without my own place (I arrived at my grandmother’s house); you simply make the most of a tentative situation.

First of all I positioned myself to get the job simply based on the interview (preparation); I knew the employer was an industrial uniform rental supplier.  I went to their competition, and I lied (the only time I’ve ever lied – let’s just go with that), I told the person at the front desk, that I just started working at a Texaco station in town, and they had order uniforms for me, and I was wondering if someone could give me a tour of their plant (they complied with my request).  I asked all the questions that I could think of that might be relevant at my interview the following day.  Examples: where and how do you sort the soil uniforms when they come into the building, what process do the uniforms go through from sorting to being folded or placed on hangers ready for delivery.  What brands and models of equipment do you use for washing, extracting (wringing), drying, ironing, and or dry cleaning do you use? 

The following day I attended my interview and was able to explain how back home I used to work after school at a similar plant as theirs and finished processing loads of uniforms after the regular crew went home (oops, second and only other lie in my life).  The person that interviewed me was the Production Manager.  He was so impressed with my grasp of the process that he hired me on the spot (I eventually replaced him 7 months later).

I know people with the attitude that a job opportunity is beneath them because they have had better.  Keep in mind that even minimum wage is better than sitting at home watching television, or hanging out with your buddies shooting pool at the local dive.  You need to have faith that better things are waiting for you around the corner, endear yourself to the employer, become indispensable.  In private sector the bottom line is what counts unless you are working in a small family business (family will always be promoted ahead of you).  Chin up, the best is yet to come…

One Day At A Time

Hollywood Meeting

The recent passing of Bonnie Franklin (One Day at a Time- TV Sitcom) brought back many memories about one of television’s all around greats, Norman Lear. Norman Lear was single handedly most influential in the 1970's, and ’80’s Prime Time television broadcasting.  He was involved in in so many television projects during that period of time that while his name may not ring familiar, his work is familiar to most of us.

Norman Lear was involved in the various aspects of programing from creator, writer, producer, production manager, actor, etc.  The following are just some very popular titles in his body of work; All in the Family, The Jefferson’s, One Day at a Time, a.k.a. Pablo, Good Times, and Maude to name a few.

During the year of 1980, I was fortunate to be part of a special delegation appointed by then Governor Dixie Lee Ray in support of the Hispanic Community (Washington State Population).  The group came together in an effort to make that community more involved and prominent in everything from social to political issues of the State.  We used to have community meetings quarterly in all corners of the State to maximize community participation.  We decided as a group that we should arrange a meeting with Norman Lear, to engage him in furthering our cause.

The State of Washington has always had a unit of government whose only mission is to promote the State to Hollywood, and the film industry for film locations. Through those contacts we arranged a meeting with Norman Lear, and 4 of us traveled to his office in Hollywood.  Mr. Lear arranged to have us picked up at the airport (LAX) by limousine, and promptly met with us when we arrived at his office.

He was extremely personable, friendly, and almost humble; certainly didn’t act like the big success that he represented.  We took turns around the conference room table discussing our mission with regards to the Hispanic Community of Washington State.  He was very attentive, and interacted well with us.  After all this was the brave man that broke social barriers with All in the Family (Archie Bunker).  By the end of the two hour meeting he thanked us for traveling from so far to meet with him and lending support to his works.  He mentioned that he had a project in mind but that it was still in the early stages of development, but that our visit would encourage his efforts.

In 1984 a.k.a. Pablo (starring Paul Rodriguez) came out as a television sitcom.  Unfortunately it was a one season series, probably ahead of its time.  I personally would like to think that we played a role in bringing it to national television, but I guess I will never know for sure.

I love how our minds deal with every day details, and at some point important events in our lives, become just part of the background.  I remember how proud I was of my involvement in that period of my life, and yet I had all but forgotten it.  My effort with this blog is to help readers to think about their important life events that are worth bringing to the forefront. R.I.P. Bonnie Franklin.  The best is yet to come….

Bucket List and Gun Control

My Bucket List and Gun Control

If you ever thought that you could ignore the games being played in Politics daily, think again.  I know that as long as we live in the best country in the world, our lives will be touched in one way or another by our ever-loving politicians.  I personally feel that, as a US Citizen, I am as involved in the political process as I need to be, and haven’t missed an opportunity to vote since the 1969 Presidential Election.

Followers of being50.com are aware of my Bucket List posted February 11, 2013.  I am not one to let the grass grow under my feet, and I decided to start a strategy for accomplishing all the items on my list within the one year time allowed.  Item number 6 of 10 is; I will go target shooting at a firing range.  I settled on this as one of the items that I would accomplish first because it isn’t one of the easiest but it appears to be easy enough while probably one of the most fun.

I made a couple of contacts with friends that have active memberships at practice ranges, and initiated the process of scheduling the outing.  I would have thought, piece of cake no problem, done deal.  Not so fast, the most recent political issues of gun control being debated by politicians, has unexpectedly hindered my efforts.

Typical of political ingenuity or lack thereof; the attempt at Gun Control has achieved the exact opposite outcome.  Since the probability of tighter gun control is in the air, the general population has sprung into action and made a run at all things guns.  The funny thing is that this information would never have crossed into my immediate life if it weren’t for Bucket List Item Number 6.

My contacts tell me that ammunition supply is practically depleted; you actually have to stand in a line to buy ammo.  The stores are limiting customers on how many boxes of ammo they can buy on any given day.  Fortunately, I don’t need to buy a weapon because I hear that the shelves are practically empty of them also. I will complete and cross off item number 6 from my list even if I have to point at a target with my finger and yell loudly BANG! BANG!  Actually, I will complete this item even if I have to use my ammo stock on hand.

In politics like everywhere else, a little common sense goes a long ways.  Oh that’s right; I forgot that’s another item in short supply in the political arena.  Fear not, the best is yet to come….

Emerald City Comicon

Emerald City Comicon

As a child, my life was disrupted by my parent’s divorce, I guess disrupted doesn’t describe it; turned it upside down, tore it apart that’s a better description.  I know that divorce is much more common now than it was back in my time, I know the feelings that young people growing up are experiencing, when their families are broken up.  Part of my family (children) lived through a family break-up, I can only hope that now that they are adults, they understand the mechanics, and emotions that create the environment that breaks up a family or keeps it together, and forgive me for the part I played in it.  I’ve said previously that if I could live my life over, I wouldn’t change anything, because I like the way my life has turned out.  I couldn’t imagine not having any of my children in my life.

Here again I digress, back to Comics and Comicon.  In my effort to quell my pain from my parent’s divorce I turned to comic books and the escape that the fictional characters and stories provided me with.  The youth of my time didn’t have computers, IMAX Theater, or many of the digital tools common today.  I, however, prefer to think of it as our advantage back then.  Before you consider making the argument to the contrary, two things to contemplate are; 1) we were able to develop our powers of imagination due to lack of technology, and the strongest argument, 2) two of the best known and most influential visionaries of our time were born in mid-1950 (Bill Gates, and Steve Jobs).  While people of my age group didn’t have the computers to work with, they were directly involved in the development if not invention of the technology of the recent past, present and future. 

So you see at least indirectly the comic books played a role in the development of our minds (mine anyway).  I’ve given comic books credit for my ability to read, write, and imagine what could be.  In case you thought about it, yes I use to wear the black thick plastic rimmed glasses, and until extraordinary skills in sports made me popular (I lettered in football, wrestling, and track), I use to run around with a slide ruler in my shirt pocket.  For those of you that don’t remember, the slide ruler, use to be the electronic calculator (non-electronic) of our time, and some of us used it more like a laptop.  Yes, I could also use the Abacus for performing arithmetic processes.    

One of my sons inherited the addiction to everything comic books and comic book characters.  Together he and I spent many dollars buying comic books when he was in high school and since then.  My wonderful son is quite the successful visionary himself.  I would be the last person to consider his involvement in comic books a waste of his time.  Matter of fact I know that his collection has been more of an investment.  You won’t hear of a comic book conference anywhere in the country where my son won’t be in attendance.  Presently you can find him at the Emerald City Comicon front and center. Isn’t life wonderful?  The best is yet to come….  

Coping with Sequester

SEQUESTER TARGETS

Now that we are going into the unknown period of the Sequester, I am reminded of how easy it was to maneuver through the finances of the early years.  I know that there have always been people that struggle no matter what period in time we are living in.  However, there is always the select few that will make it look easy, no matter how tough times are.  I’ve for one have always had a knack for going around the obstacles, over them or through them.  Now that I am at this point in my life, I feel very comfortable, because I have always admired (and even studied) the men and women that were at or about my present age when I was growing up.

I didn’t only learn what to do when I got here but also what to avoid.  I guess I am a little different than most because I don’t feel that I have to make my own mistakes.  I am perfectly comfortable, learning from (and avoiding) the mistakes of others.  The worst advice I ever received from an elderly gentleman was the one I am about to relate.  It was sound advice, it’s just that the times they were a changing.

I really don’t know why he picked me to share his wisdom with but just the same I felt special.  The person I speak of was the owner/operator of the Western Auto Store in the small town where I grew up.  The whole town population used to shop there (this was our mall before there was even the word “mall” in our vocabulary).  Don’t want you to think that our town was just a speck on the map; we also had a Sears and Montgomery Ward Catalog Store.

I was still a junior in high school, and was in the store every chance I had.  The store was located about 3 blocks from the high school, and a great place to check out all the new merchandise coming in with the change of the seasons.  One day I was in the store and the owner wasn’t terribly busy, so he approached me and shared the following wisdom; He said son, if you want to make a comfortable life for yourself, and the little woman you will marry someday, invest in a small town hardware store like mine, work it until a nice retirement age, and enjoy the golden years after you turn it over to your kids to take their turn.

It was bad advice because like I said the times they were a changing.  He couldn’t possibly foresee Ace Hardware, Ernst Hardware, Pay N Pak, Eagle Hardware, Home Depot, and Lowe’s Hardware, and on and on.  The names I just mentioned are only the list of succession that kept gobbling each other to present time.  There again I’ve always had an interest in what my elders had to say, because I respected their gray hair, figuring they earned it with time and experience.

During my journey to this point in my life, not always but sometimes (more often than not) my most prosperous times have been during bad national economic conditions.  We still don’t fully know how we are going to be affected by Sequester, sooner or later we all will feel the pinch, but don’t panic, instead take evasive maneuvers (compensate).  In other words eat one less meal in town, take in one less movie at the local cinema, plan your trips to run errands (save gasoline), reduce your television cable service (get rid of a premium channel or two, get rid of the DVR).  We all have areas where we can cut back where it doesn’t have to hurt.  I certainly wouldn’t be beyond enjoying a meal or two with hamburger helper (but who can afford the hamburger meat now a days).

We are a very resourceful people and we will climb out of this hole.  As resourceful as we are I for one am beginning to lose my patience with inaction.  Just so you know I am not making reference to only one political party. Once again I feel that we still haven’t seen the best this country (USA) has to offer.  The best is yet to come….