"Smart Ass..." 'Marvin Gross' (Source)

Marvin Gross is a Financial consultant who resides  in Western N.Y.
Today Marvin blogs about senior citizens and their wit... Enjoy!

 Smart Ass

Two young businessmen in Florida were sitting down for a break in their
 soon-to-be new store in the shopping mall. As yet, the store wasn't ready,
 with only a few shelves and display racks set up. 


One said to the other, "I'll bet that any minute now some senior is going to
walk by, put his face to the window, and ask what we're selling." 

Sure enough, just a moment later, a curious senior gentleman walked up to
the window, looked around intensely and rapped on the glass, then in a loud
voice asked, "What are you sellin' here?" 

One of the men replied sarcastically, "We're selling ass-holes." 

Without skipping a beat, the old timer said, "You're doing very well. Only two
 left." 

Seniors -- don't mess with - them, they've been around!

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"What a difference 10 years can make..."'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

Guest-blogger Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst N.Y. and has worked in the ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years... Today she talks about  the dilemma of aging...Enjoy! ;D)

What a difference 10 years can make

 As we age each decade of life brings many many changes in ones’ life; each ten years can

be the difference between independence, school,  graduation, marriage, starting a family and the list goes on and on. 

In retrospect, I think the biggest difference comes between the 80’s and the 90’s.  Once again we regress to the same goals we once had as a child; the need for  independence. 

Some adults reach their 80’s and are still able  to manage on their own, own their own homes and still drive; others are not so lucky. 

 One of the more upsetting milestones at that age is having to give up the car and driving.  It is directly associated with independence and can change life in an instant from what it once was. 

Many fight the idea of being without a car despite the safety factor; others give in willingly in order to put the safety of others first.

Some decide to give up their unsafe homes and opt for a senior apartment or assisted living situation.  For some the decision is made for them; unforeseen health issues usually influence the family.

This week I have two family members reaching some milestones; one is turning 90 and the other, my dad is going to be 94.  They both shake their heads in disbelief; how could they have reached this ripe older age.  Through medical advances and health maintenance people are living well into their 90’s today.  

This can be a mixed blessing for many, especially those that are not independent at all any longer and are used to that very independent life they once led.  It begs the question I ask myself time and time again; are people happy once they reach their 90’s if they are not living the lifestyle they once enjoyed.  

With many new medications on the market available to our seniors we have the capability to give them longevity weather they want it or not.  My dad is a perfect example of a drastic change in his lifestyle; he has good health and longevity on his side of the family but at this point in his life is unable to live alone and unassisted.  He is destined to live in a confined room with little possessions for the duration.  

It only brings me great sadness to visit with him often and I know in his heart his destiny cannot bring him happiness. The difference between 80 and 90 was monumental  for him as I am sure it is for many.   He went from total independence to senior living to assisted living in those short 10 years. 

 A great determining factor is the ability to walk; if a senior is unable to walk the decision is pretty much made for them.  They will need assistance around the clock which then brings up another challenge.  We have many facilities for

our seniors to move into; the one and only deciding factor in our country is money. Those with affordable means live in more luxury and have choices;  those without funds have their decision made for them. Working in the health field for many years have given me an eye opening experience of what is available out there and its not so pretty. 

 There is something to be said for socialized  medicine and its equality for our elderly.

When it comes to senior living in our country we are divided between the haves and have nots.  We are very fortunate that our family members have made choices that enable them to be in pleasant surroundings; it breaks my heart to see how some of our seniors are living out their remaining days.  

I don’t know what the answer is or if there is an answer but I hope down the line something can be done to equalize this predicament that our seniors are in.   

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"Kapa'a, Da Prettiest Town..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen

Forbes magazine recently named Kapa'a town one of the 15 prettiest
of our nations towns?  You be the judge.
http://www.forbes.com/pictures/efel45fhdf/kapaa-hawaii/

Kapa'a, Da Prettiest Town.

I was wondering if I read the recent  article  in Garden Island news correct, it said," Forbes Magazine named Kapa'a as one of the nation’s 15 prettiest towns, the only town west of the Rocky Mountains to make the list."   Are they talking about  my Kapa'a town?
http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/kapaa-earns-pretty-distinction/article_ebd923ac-145d-11e3-9d4d-001a4bcf887a.html

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy living in Kapa'a and it is my choice to live there, however it is anything but pretty, unique and different, yes,  but not pretty.

Everyday I walk and ride my bicycle through Kapa'a town with overgrown bushes  on the sidewalks making pedestrians move into street, litter on the shoulder of the roads, traffic congestion and some  of the worlds ugliest architecture I have ever seen.

Have you ever heard the expression people tell friends about the not so good looking girls they want to fix you up with,  they say she sure has a good personality, meaning she really isn't eye candy so to speak. 

 I do admit Kapa'a has a great personality.The expression goes, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder!"  Maybe Kapa'a could be named,  "Miss Congeniality."

Behold Kapa'a!

Check out my opinion article in the 09-04-13 edition of  the Kaua'i Garden Island News, "Kapa'a the Beautiful?"

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-wednesday-sept/article_943572c6-152b-11e3-bb9c-001a4bcf887a.html

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"Happy Rosh Hashana begins with Jewish Humor..." 'Marvin Gross" (Source)

Marvin Gross is a Financial consultant currently residing in Western N.Y.
Today Marvin shares excellent medical advise in honor of the 
upcoming Jewish new year (Rosh Hashanah) from Jewish sages of old.
Jewish New year is considered the birthday of creation and Adam and Eve. Happy birthday universe! enjoy...!

Good medical advice from the Jewish sages of old...

 1. F***ing once a week is good for your health, but it's harmful if done every day. 

2. F***ing relaxes your mind and body.

3. F***ing refreshes you. 

4. After F***ing, don’t eat too much; go for more liquids.

5. Try f***ing in bed 'cause it can save you valuable energy.

6. F***ing can even reduce your cholesterol levels.


SO, REMEMBER ..

Fasting is good for your health
and may God cleanse your dirty mind...


A Jewish New Year greeting!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=i71l3PyXWso



 P.S.

If it wasn't for pick pockets I'd have no sex life at all.
..................................... Rodney Dangerfield

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"PROFIT VS HEALTH..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday)

Bettejo Dux has lived on the cosmic garden island

of Kaua'i over 30 years. She is an animal lover, people lover and lover of life.

Today Bettejo blogs the  most popular controversy on Kaua'i...Enjoy!

You can order a copy of her Novella "The Scam "below.www.bettejodux.com

PROFIT VS. HEALTH  

The discussions and opinions on Kauai are lively and passionate. The voice of the people is alive and well on Kauai. This is the good side. There’s always a good side.

I don’t think anyone on the anti-GMO/pesticide/herbicide debate are opposed to all genetic modification, but surely there is a limit. And a dire consequence if a mistake is made here.

I lived here when sugar was king. Those glorious fields of tall green grass-when the yellow tassels waved- were so incredible a sight, tourists and local folks alike would stop by the road to admire. “…they made my heart skip a beat,” to quote Gwyneth Paltro.

And that tall green grass-the best photosynthesizer on planet earth-worked hard for two years to keep our air fresh.

Sure, vast mono-crop plantations- dollar crops- are bad. Sure the ‘poison gangs’ use of really deadly substances didn’t serve the soil or the men who administered them. But, oddly, their killer wars with rats protected us. Suburbs near the fields-Kalaheo is one- are invaded by these destructive creatures. My feed man says he can’t keep supplies of rat poison and traps in stock. The stories are shocking.

Water theft was scandalous. Large landholders fought with each other. McBryde Sugar and John Allerton duked it out. It was the Martins and the Coys all over again and their feud extends to today, except stolen water is now put to use watering the golf course and a super- expensive gated community in what used to be sugar fields in Kukuiula.

This upper class subdivision concrete coats the land, contributes nothing to clean air and uses water like it was going out of style.

Mark Twain said, “Whiskey’s for drinking. Water’s for fighting about.” This has been true forever and if I could convince you of how much trouble our home planet is in because of a lack of water you’d hide under your waterbed. Perhaps I can talk you into viewing HOME, a remarkable documentary narrated by Glen Close and filmed by Award-winning aerial photographer Yann Arthus- Bertrand.

What has all this to do with the GMO/herbicide/pesticide go around?

Everything.

The three most important things we do on this planet is breath, drink water, and eat food.

And GMO cornfields messing up the land on this small island in the middle of a vast ocean is a threat to all these very necessary human needs.

The question so often asked must be addressed: does profit and political power trump health and well being?

Let’s hope not.

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook...

"What's a person to eat..?" 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

Everyone is so concerned  with health these days. It seems what was once
 considered healthy is no longer healthy and what was once concerned unhealthy is now
healthy. Maybe, just maybe, the all American Hot-dog is your best bet!?

What's a person to eat?

Recently approximately 160  people fell ill with hepatitis A infections after eating an organic blend of  frozen berries purchased from Costco stores in several states including Hawai'i.

The fish in Japan and around the world are allegedly full of plutonium form the Fukushima Nuclear power plant mishap.

Fish which was once considered the healthy alternative has many health enthusiasts scratching their heads, high and low.

Fish is risky, organic vegetables are a crap shoot and poultry is loaded with hormones. (which reminds me of the joke how do you make a hormone?) Don't pay her!  ;D)

 Jokes aside, it seems like the good old fashioned American hot-dog may just be  your healthiest means!

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Clutter Bug..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday)

Bettejo Dux has lived on the Cosmic Garden Island of Kaua'i for over 30 years.
She is a published author of the best selling novel, "The Scam" Just Google
Bettejo to obtain your copy!
www.bettejodux.com

Clutter Bug

My transgression is not the kind you can repent or atone for. Besides most devout non-believers don’t do guilt. It can’t even be corrected by my favorite solution, get to work and fix it.

It has nothing to do with age. I've been a clutter bug since forever. I’m a helpless, hopeless, clutter bug. I really dislike clutter but clutter likes me. It clings to me like sticky pink bubble gum on the underside of a desk. I think it’s been with me always. It drove my neat and tidy mother nuts. She’d straighten out the mess one day and it’d be back a shambles the next. Fortunately she was a sweet, good natured mother-most of the time-and we’d have long conversations about how to keep things tidy. We’d work together happily-my mother, and me- setting things straight.  Cleaning things up. Admiring the good work. Patting each other on the back. “A place for everything and everything in its place,” she’d say. But nothing worked.

I tried. Honest. I did my best. But it didn't last. My poor mother.

We compromised when I suggested I stuff the stuff under the beds and, once a month we’d diligently restore order. Actually we loved working together. We whistled while we worked.

That worked.

She’d check my room everyday, pleased at its apparent neatness, and as long as she didn’t look under the bed-or detect an odor- she was happy. She gave that up when I started collecting lizards and frogs. First of all they refused to stay put. Once she came in to find a large frog/lizard convention assembled on any flat and handy surface.

She put her foot down- just missing a slither-and no matter how hard I tried to convince her I was studying them, or that more lengthy lectures-I was trying to learn their lingo- would convince them they should stay put, we gathered the critters and found them all good homes where they could eat lots of flies.

Do any of you have a similar personality disturbance? Or weird kids? Young parents take heart.They’ll probably turn out okay. I did. Sort of.

Old’a guys? Got a pile of stuff that refuses to vanish? Toss a pretty scarf on top of the mess and call it artsy. Or place some cleaning tools around it, artfully, like you’re in the process. A little whisk broom, a darling dustpan, an empty box or cutesy wastebasket. Be clever. Fool the eye.

I’ve found a scatter of plastic flowers or leaves works.

If you don’t have or can’t afford to use a dishwasher and the sink begins to over flow, rinse out the top debris and hope nobody checks the bottom.  Have little signs that say: No White Gloves. Or suggest the clean freaky visitor drop by soon and help clear the muddle.

But remember, you gotta get serious once in awhile or else you’ll have to burn the house down. Burning the house down is not healthy

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