BoomerGirl Diary

We've got a winner!

We've just selected our winner of the "You Deserve It" giveaway for June! Was it you?

Senior moments in the courtesy car

I woke up in a bad mood, knowing I had to surrender my car to the dealership for the entire day because my "Check Engine" light suddenly came on last week. Who'd have guessed I would have had such a blast on the way home in the courtesy car, thanks to a fellow 50-something menofog sufferer.

And for my next trick...

I am writhing around like Harry Houdini in a straight jacket, and I still can’t get out of this stupid tunic top. Panic is setting in. My heart starts to fibrillate. What am I going to do? The department store dressing rooms are full, people are waiting, and I’m trapped inside a little “boho chic” number that’s obviously a size-and-a-half too small.

Love for sale, 3br/2ba rancher included

Romance and real estate. Will they make a happy marriage in West Palm Beach? This 42-year-old divorced mother-of-two sure hopes so!

Give that girl a contract!

Thanks to my good friend, Barb, who provided me with the best video of the day. An exemplary show of girl power. (I only hope her mom was there to see this amazing feat.) Take a look...

My pesto manifesto

Looks like we're in for a bumper crop of basil this summer, and I'm looking forward to making my first batch of pesto this weekend. Here is my favorite recipe with a few variations and, remember, you don't have to have basil leaves to make a pesto with pizzazz.

Traveling well on the cheap

Years ago, when the kids were around 9 and 12, we traded houses with a couple from New Mexico for Spring Break. Their goal was to find responsible people who could care for their dogs, cats and horses while they were away. Our motivation was an inexpensive ski vacation. We both got what we bargained for, and then some.

Life by Number: 10 do-it-yourself toes

It wasn't as bad as I thought. My first home pedicure in years and I didn't spill polish on the carpet or throw out my back while "assuming the position." And I saved a cool 50 bucks to apply to my monthly gasoline bill. (I did miss the lovely massaging spa chair, though.)

Obits that are fun to read...sort of

Every morning, I scan the obituaries in my morning newspaper, hoping I won't recognize any names. Not a fun ritual, for sure, but that's what we do when we hit a certain age, right? Well, here's a Web site that puts a quirky spin on the traditional obit page, and it just might provide proper closure for people experiencing the death of a relationship.

You can get the 'Obama dress,' but not until August

A $148 little number that Michelle Obama recently wore on "The View" sold out quickly on the White House/Black Market Web site. But you can still buy it, if you're willing to wait.

Naked Cowboy v. M&Ms

Now, this is one jury duty I'd be more than willing to serve.... especially if HE'S the plaintiff.

File this under "Worst Ideas Ever"

"Manpris" (or men's capris). Need I say more?

Boomerang kids "down under"

There's a fascinating new reality show on Australian TV in which the camera follows three families whose adult children still live with their parents, for better or worse. Are baby boomers to blame for our kids' failure to launch? That seems to be the spin...

Me and Mr. P

This just in from a company called CableOrganizer.com. It's called "Mr. P - One Man Tied" and instructions say to wrap your computer wire "all over him and make him squeal with pleasure."

George Carlin dead at 71

One of my favorite George Carlin bits was Al Sleet - the hippy dippy weatherman: "The forecast for tonight, dark. Continued dark tonight, turning to partly light in the morning."

Awakening to the Zentini

Finally got an opportunity to become one with a Zentini this weekend. What's a Zentini, you ask? Click on to the next page and find out, Grasshopper.

Stone beats stick for weather predicting

This just in from a BoomerGirl reader who has apparently found a better way to forecast the weather than my beloved stick (see weather stick blog below)....

Forget Martha, I'm into Margaret now

Attention, gardeners! Need a little inspiration? A break from the same ol'-same ol'? Check out this talented woman's Web site and get some "horticultural how-to and woo-woo!"

Weather stick schtick

You know you're exiting the fast lane when a little item like the Maine Weather Stick provides you with endless amusement. This is my stick. It's mounted next to our front door so visitors can see, immediately, our interest in meteorology... or silly, slightly suggestive sight gags. It's a great conversation starter, if people have the nerve to ask, "Um, what's that?"

Tom and Janis get down

You wouldn't exactly call them an odd couple, but it's amazing how much combustible chemistry Tom Jones and Janis Joplin had in this 1969, super-hot rendition of "Raise Your Hand".

Color me sexy

One of the things that caught my eye in the "Sex and the City" movie - besides the clothes, shoes, handbags and Samantha's sizzling boy-next-door in California - was the bright blue color painted on Carrie's updated apartment walls. Evidently, I wasn't alone. Word has it, the color is in big demand by legions of "Sex" fans. Here's where you can get it for your own digs...

Russert: Victim of 'sandwich generation' syndrome?

Maureen Orth, Tim Russert's widow, says in People magazine today that she "just had a feeling" she might never see her husband again as he rushed back to work from a vacation in Rome. Under pressure from a high-octane job, running to Buffalo from Washington D.C. to visit his father in a nursing home, and helping his son set up housekeeping, Russert was stretched too thin. It's a story that rings all too familiar to me, and plenty of Baby Boomers I know.

Vamp'ing like it's 1965

They called them Vamps and this 1965 issue of Playgirl (not THAT Playgirl) assured its readers that men WOULD make passes at girls who wore these glasses.

Out of the mouths of babes

It was difficult to get through today's account of Tim Russert's funeral in the New York Times today without shedding a tear. But you have to marvel at the young Luke Russert's ability to bridge the great political divide in America, at least for an hour.

VIV mag saves trees

If you feel a pang of guilt every time you add another magazine to the recycling bin, check out this slick women's publication that's strictly online, and the price is right - it's free!

Funeral for a Fish

For every empty-nester who remembers gathering around the toilet to bid a solemn fairwell to the family fish, I offer this too-cute-for-words video of a goldfish named "Lucky" who, apparently, wasn't.

Carly Simon returns!

Working girls may have missed a rare interview with Carly Simon this morning, compliments of TODAY's Kathie Lee Gifford (yes, she's back on the airwaves) and Hoda Kotb. The occasion was the release of Simon's new album, "This Kind of Love," and she riffed with the girls on Manolo's, the record business, kids and Winnie the Pooh.

Test your geography I.Q. (in private)

I never cared for that game show, "Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?" I watched it once and recoiled in horror at how many questions the contestant couldn't answer. "How mortifying to be so easily one-upped by a ten-year-old," I thought to myself. "And how badly would I be humiliated if I went on the show?" That's why I love Traveler I.Q. Challenge.

From 'Old Lady' to 'Young & Hip'

With a title like "How Not to Look Old," Charla Krupp has tapped into every woman-over-40's deepest, darkest fear: looking OL (Old Lady).

What to do with all that sage

If your herb garden is overflowing with fresh, fragrant sage and you can't think of anything to do with it - outside of stuffing a turkey (and who wants to do that in June?) - check out this simple yet sophisticated appetizer.

Fill uppa your cuppa and drink!

A new study, released in the Annals of Internal Medicine, suggests that more is more when it comes to women's coffee consumption and heart health.

Patti LaBelle in her prime

It was March of 1975. My two college roommates and I were on our way to New Orleans in my Volkswagen Beetle for a Spring Break adventure. Our plan was to drive all night but by 3 a.m., everyone was dangerously close to nodding off - including me, the driver. Suddenly, "Lady Marmalade" came on the radio, again, and we were good to go the distance.

BoomerGirl gets a facelift!

Welcome to the new and improved BoomerGirl.com! We've been nipping and tucking for weeks to create a site that looks AND feels fresher, besides being easier and more fun to use.

Like father, like son

Of all the coverage given to the untimely death of NBC's Tim Russert over the weekend, perhaps the most telling was Matt Lauer's interview with Russert's only son, Luke, on the Today show this morning.

My breakfast with Paul Newman

It was 1976, our country's bicentennial summer. I was working the morning shift in the dining room of Grand View Lodge resort in Nisswa, Minnesota, when the maitre'd came up to me and whispered in my ear, "God help me, you are the best waitress I've got this morning. I've decided to seat Paul Newman at your station."

It's a wonderful life

As a young girl in the early '60s, Anne Taintor was constantly drawing or painting. Little did she know, she would grow up to make a living, not with pencils and brushes, but with scissors, a scanner and vintage women’s magazines.

Dermatologist explains how to spot skin cancer

You can do a lot of damage to your skin before the age of 18. Unfortunately, baby boomers weren't exactly hip to the benefits of sunscreen when we were young, which is why many of us are seeing strange new spots on our faces these days. But how do you know which spots are normal signs or aging and which are skin cancer?

A belated Father's Day goodbye

Dear Dad, This is so weird. For the first time in 52 years, I can’t call to wish you a happy Father’s Day. I’d like to think I had a direct line to heaven, but you and I both know my permanent record wouldn’t pass St. Peter’s speed dial criteria. (What can I say? I was a teenager in the ’70s. My permanent record never had a chance.)

Optimism and pessimism and your sex life

Some people lose their enthusiasm for life as a natural result of losing their sense of optimism. They have allowed negative life experiences, difficult challenges, rejections or setbacks to quell their sense of hope in the future. By middle age, the habit of pessimism has begun to take a toll on sexuality.

Cancer's other battle

Families learn to deal with range of side effects

First my husband, Elliot, forgot to tell me we'd been invited out for dinner. Then he couldn't remember whether he'd paid an important bill. Then he got confused hunting for a train track in Penn Station, even though he'd commuted through the very same route for almost a decade.

Revolution from the roots

Anne Kreamer wants to start a revolution. A revolution that grows, literally, from the roots. The author stopped coloring her hair at age 48 after seeing a photograph of herself that didn’t ring true.

Living simply gets complicated

I am magnetically drawn to the slick magazines touting simple living. Beautiful pictures of organized linen closets, pristine laundry rooms and under-the-sink cleansers arranged by scent, color and height are as intoxicating as orange-scented furniture polish.

Waylon and Willie and the girls

Having written an entire book on Girlfriend Getaways, you'd think I'd have already been to all the best destinations for traveling with girlfriends. But this spring, amidst the bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush of the Texas Hill Country, I finally found girlfriend getaway nirvana.

Life by Number: Random Glucose Testing

Diabetes is running rampant in the United States. 7.5% of Americans currently have the diagnosis and countless millions go undiagnosed. I'm going to do everything in my power not to become a statistic.

Living longer isn't a political issue — yet

Dr. Robert Butler, 81, says he felt a need to "sum up" all he has learned in 50 years of studying longevity.

Picnic partners: Think bright, think crisp, think refreshing

The start of summer seems especially sweet this year because of a long dreary winter and rainy spring. So mark the unofficial start of summer with a picnic in your back yard, local park (if allowed) or apartment balcony.

Time to read, to reflect, to be

Because it belongs only to me, nobody else can understand my longing to spend a few weeks in a secluded place that challenges me with no modern distractions or conveniences.

Today, better tweezers. Tomorrow, world peace

The Tweezerman saga is a classic American story of a guy with a dream rising from rags to riches, but the truly amazing part is that the whole thing would never have happened if not for that painful moment when Dal LaMagna, who is Tweezerman, got 32 splinters in his butt during an erotic interlude on a rooftop in Venice Beach, Calif.

From alabaster to golden

Last year I found that I was spending too much time and money applying cream lotions and sprays in an effort to achieve that bronze glow. More often than not the results were streaky or artificial looking. Not to mention that tan itself was receiving a lot of bad press.

A screen porch allows that breath of fresh air

One of the first things Mary Henning noticed about her Arlington, Va., house was the tiny bedrooms: three small spaces with three little closets. Not so good. But her reservations disappeared when she stepped through the kitchen and saw the screened porch.

The best edible flowers

Herbalist Billi Parus rarely uses salt in any food she fixes. Instead, she uses herbs. This year, the Herb Society of America named an edible flower, calendula, as its Herb of the Year.

Some life lessons about coffee

Among other things, I learned to drink coffee when I was in college. Blame it on my friend at the time - a cute little cowboy named Carl.

California's Cambria: Much more than a quaint beachside town

The town of Cambria didn't invent the word "quaint," but it has certainly embraced it. The storefronts along Main Street look like something out of a European village. Inside, they are an eclectic collection: antiques, outdoor decor, local art, magic paraphernalia, rubber stamps and dozens more.

A mid-marriage change in the rules may make sense

A friend telephones me with the news: She and her husband are back together. They were inching toward the edge of the divorce cliff, but now they are starting over. The news is the tool this 60-something couple used to reclaim their marriage: the post-nuptial agreement.

Step lively ... and aim for big numbers

I've heard many recommendations to use a pedometer and try to walk 10,000 steps a day. I've been using one for years and usually meet or exceed the target. But most of my steps are at a normal walking pace — just to get wherever I'm going. What I usually don't manage is 30 minutes of exercise a day. The 10,000 steps can't be the same thing as 30 minutes of exercise a day. How do these fit together?

Grocer vs. Warehouse

Pros, cons of buying groceries at Sam's Club

So when does it make sense to head to a Sam's Club vs. a local grocery store? Clemson University food science professor Beth Kunkel finds that warehouse stores such as Sam's or Costco offer the best deals for people with large families, those who do a lot of entertaining or for people who are purchasing for businesses or church functions.

Against the grain

Gluten sensitivity poses challenges for families

When JoAnn Farb gave birth to her second child, her joy was soon coupled with concern over a feeling that something just wasn’t right. Her daughter, Samantha, now 10, was eating sparingly despite acting hungry, and she always seemed like something was upsetting her.

Asking for help from others relieves tiredness

Are you so overworked, you feel like you're in a war zone? Most working adults are so pressured by work and family obligations that perpetual tiredness is a universal complaint.

Mary Emmerling's country style gets a sun-and-surf spin

Beyond fond memories of Thrasher's fries and drugstore vanilla cokes, Mary Ellisor Emmerling's recollections of childhood summers in 1950s Rehoboth, Del., are of simple beach cottages filled with straw mats, wicker chairs and painted tables.

Parents almost can see finish line

My daughter has graduated from college and, God willing, she will be on someone else's payroll soon. No matter what she is paid by any much-hoped-for employer, I will be getting a raise. One of my friends pointed out that my disposable income could double when Jessie gets a job.

Couple blazed the trail for Internet love

Chris Dunn and Pam Jensen met on a CompuServe CB Simulator program that linked computer users nationwide in an early version of a chat room. After a few months of virtual chatting, Chris booked a flight to meet Pam face-to-face. One year later, to the day, they married. Last month they celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.

Workplace full of gender time warps, parallel universes

At a focus group of technology executives in Silicon Valley, a senior woman offered this advice to her younger counterparts: "If you want to be in the loop, get yourself a male alias."

Ozick reminds us how much fun she is

Sometimes, I think, book reviewers do as much damage with praise as with condemnation. Consider the example of Cynthia Ozick. I have long been puzzled why this highly entertaining fiction writer does not have a larger audience.

Keeping ticks where they belong — away from humans

Lyme disease is a concern for gardeners and anyone else who spends time outdoors. Reports of the disease, which can cause joint stiffness and neurological problems, are on the rise.

Carole, Carly, Joni: 'Girls Like Us'

Carole King was married, pregnant and cranking out hit songs at age 17. Joni Mitchell gave up her baby girl and started composing the most heart-wrenching songs of her life. Carly Simon's list of lovers reads like a "Who's Who" of the entertainment industry. Their stories are all chronicled, in juicy detail, in a new book by Sheila Weller.

Mother's Day has grown old

Mother's Day was 100 years old this year. It will be two years before Father's Day celebrates a centennial. Which isn't to say mothers are more important than fathers because, obviously, each of us has both.

Diabetes myths

Diabetes has become a full-blown epidemic in this country — and it's getting worse. Every day in the United States, 4,100 new cases of diabetes are diagnosed.

Plant protection essential for keeping a quality garden

Mulching my garden is one of my least favorite garden activities. It is time-consuming and usually dusty — but so important.

Lisa Perry's 12 favorite things

Fashion designer Lisa Perry may have been voted "Best Dressed" back in the late 1970s at suburban Chicago's Deerfield High (wearing purple bellbottoms with suspenders in the yearbook picture), but she didn't find her own style until she walked into the Andre Courreges store in Paris 10 years ago.

Will green eye shadow make us the envy of our crowd?

Really? Green eye shadow? Isn't that kin to the garish blue stuff we experimented with in junior high?

Chillin' with my beach

Getting to the aptly named Dream Beach is not particularly easy, but then, for those willing to fly half-way around the world to Bali, a little extra traveling shouldn't be a deal breaker.

Recipe for an herb garden

I love running my hand across the basil as I walk through the vegetable garden. I hesitate, then breathe deeply as its spicy scent fills the air.

A paradigm shift needed to comprehend hot flashes

No matter how adorably interesting you think you look fanning your menopausal self in the frozen food section at the grocery store, nobody really wants to hear the details. Trust me on this one.

Florida designer shares her secrets and skills

Lorrie Browne calls it "the HGTV effect." Whenever she goes to a party, people can't wait to tell her about their remodeling and redecorating projects.

You can have your wine and eat it, too

There's a surefire secret to creating synergy between a dish of food and a glass of wine: Make sure the same wine is in each. Some of the greatest wine and food pairings in history are based on that principle.

Charities suffer image problem

Americans are losing confidence in charitable organizations. Just 25 percent of Americans think charities are doing a very good job of helping people, according to a recent survey by New York University professor Paul C. Light. That figure has dropped steadily since 2003, when it stood at 34 percent.

5 things you didn't know about bad breath

The No. 1 cause of halitosis - bad breath - is oral bacteria. They often congregate on the deep surfaces of the tongue, produce a waste that is rich in sulfur compounds and create a dreadful rotten-egg smell.

'I was quite capable of performing.'

Ah, Audrey. Watch and be charmed by this brief clip from a screen test for "Roman Holiday."

In praise of 'preppy' style

Summer will soon be here, and this widely misunderstood and underrated style can be your best style for sunny or rainy days, especially with heat and humidity serving as a challenge to the stylishly inclined.

Grill of your dreams

If you're looking for a new gas grill for your cookout, you don't have to buy the most expensive model to get good performance.

CDC gets behind shingles shot

Almost all Americans 60 and older should be vaccinated against shingles, a painful, often debilitating condition that affects about 1 million people a year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended recently. The recommendation includes people who already have had shingles.

Eco-minded beauty products that are good for you, too

Cosmetic manufactures are making ecological strides to appeal to customers who want to purchase products from companies with a conscience.

Keeping off the curb

Some ride the waves on surfboards in Honolulu, but I found a daring option on dry land: the Segway Human Transporter. It's better than walking — and much faster. But first you have to learn how to use the two-wheeled electric vehicle.

The Outdoor Room: Patio decorating has taken on a decidedly indoor feel

It's no surprise that the outdoor room is getting cozier, with so many new products on the market to provide creature comforts. Chair cushions are softer and deeper, rugs are plusher and the lighting is so much more attractive.

Is God a Mr. Fix-it?

I wanted to explore the implications of having an adult relationship with God, one where I could balance trusting God with trusting myself and take responsibility for my decisions.

Will changing out fixtures improve home sale odds?

Dear Mi-Ling: Our 13-year-old home is about 4,000 square feet. We want to sell in a year and are wondering if we should change all the polished brass door knobs, light fixtures, cabinet pulls, shower trim, and faucets.

Tomatillo: a sweet, sour treat

It is a vibrant green and looks like a small, under-ripe tomato hidden under a paper-like husk. Peel back that wrapping to reveal firm, slightly sticky flesh with a scent faintly reminiscent of freshly picked herbs. Take one bite and the sweet-tart flavor rings with plum, apple and citrus notes.

Naps, migraines and mammograms reveal links to stroke risk

What can a person's daytime napping habits, a woman's mammogram or migraine headaches tell them about their risk of having a stroke? Possibly, quite a bit.

Blades of glory

Goodbye to gas powered, polluting lawn mowers: It was nice knowing you

I’ve never been a big fan of the lawn. My own front lawn, despite considerable care and cultivation, remained thirsty, rusty, weedy and quite unreasonable. That’s why, as I write these infinite pearls of wisdom, it’s being dug up and removed by “my people.” It’s a wrap, baby! In its place I’ll be planting native and drought tolerant plants.

5 things anyone can do to combat aging

"Positively Ageless," huh? Well, the author is the nutritionist for "The Biggest Loser." And while, admittedly, we have never seen that show, most everyone else in the world has. Plus, the book is published by Rodale, which puts out such faves as Prevention and Men's Health.

Farmers tout flavors of specialty crops

There is produce in this world that you have never tasted and may never have the chance to taste. The thought of that sits bitterly on Indira Clark's palate.

Glasses join the style parade

Philip Meltzer is an optometrist. Some days, he's also a marriage counselor. Occasionally customers return glasses because their husbands or wives hate them, says Meltzer.

Sculpted land

Dream home showcases art, gardening in serene and secretive style

Cruising down the long, winding driveway as I approached Jan and Jack Gaumnitz’s home, it feels like I am entering an exclusive and secluded sculpture garden. It is not every day that you get to tour a garden with hardscapes that are 15 to 20 feet high and are not the typical trellises or fireplaces.

Dalaro and the deep blue sea

Nearly 20 years ago, during a long bicycle trip through Europe, a friend and I happened upon a small coastal town that was too alluring not to stop in. We were about 25 miles southeast of Stockholm, pedaling north from Copenhagen to meet up with a friend.

Do diet cookies pass food lovers' taste test or crumble?

Chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies for lunch instead of a salad? It's a dieter's dream come true! For sweet tooth carb lovers, replacing meals with cookies sounds like a grand plan on the way to slim city. It's been all the buzz in celebrity circles and one brand, the Hollywood Cookie Diet, was recently mentioned in ABC's "The Lipstick Jungle."

What does ‘frizzante' mean?

Defining that and other mysterious Italian wine terminology

Italian wines are the biggest-selling imported wines in the United States, but just how well does the average wine consumer know them? Probably not much beyond Chianti or pinot grigio.