Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!

Enjoy a safe, happy, healthy Holiday Season! Peace & Joy to All.

Carolyn

The New Bigger Buttons are Here

The new bigger - 3.5" - buttons are now in this Store in its "Sales & Features" section.

More will be coming. More are located in my other big CP store, Music Stuff & More

No, I don't have any 2008 presidential election campaign buttons, etc. right now, as I don't have a favorite presidential candidate yet. Maybe I'll make one for Hillary, one for Obama, one for Edwards...

(believe it or not, FWIW, I still do have the Kerry-Edwards stuff in the back here)

Being in California I would get any of these presidential graphics out well before our Primary, which is in January, I believe.

P.S. Re the Southern California fires thing... I have been safe, but sick, from it. The Santiago Canyon fire, which the firefighters are still fighting, was headed straight for one of my daughters' neighborhood until the good firefighters "corralled" the flames. Daughter Sarah lives right over that now infamous Orange County-Riverside County ridgeline/border. The firefighters held their Riverside County townhall meeting right in my grandtwins' school! Scary, but okay now. And, I don't expect this coming weekend's Santa Ana winds to be a problem. The air has been really crappy here, but slowly getting cleaner, I'm happy to say. BTW, the Orange County Red Cross has met their limit for O.C. fire donations - good for my fellow Californios. (Please note how well our evacuations to the Qualcomm Stadium went, I say, with a bit of smugness and pride for our Golden State. And, how about those firefighters?! Our heroes! As always.)

Anyway, *big* buttons are here. : )

Oh, and happy Halloween.

CafePress Bigger Buttons Coming...

...also Yard Signs.

In mid-October this new merchandise will be rolled out. CafePress is thinking the 2008 Election especially.

I have zero ideas for Yard Signs right now, especially since I have yet to choose a candidate. (You may notice that I have "For Gore" stuff available, but Al seems to be showing less and less interest in declaring his candidacy for president, seeming full up on other important projects, such as winning awards and climate change, etc. Darn.) So, yeah, I'll have to make my choice by January (CA Primary), but I haven't zeroed in on anybody yet. Perhaps I'll do several candidates' stuff, since I don't have a favorite right now, anyway? That's a possiblity.

Regardless, I'll put out some of the new, bigger buttons - 3.5" - with some non-political graphics. As in, bigger versions of buttons I already have out there in my stores. Be nice stocking stuffers, etc. Nifty to stick an Earth button on your re-usable totebag (here @ only $14.99), too.

Stay tuned. Again, this new merch will be rolled out in mid-October. The new buttons will come out fast, as they're really easy for me to whip up with the graphics already present.

News w/ More to Come RSN

I've been busy working on my other blogs and stores (it's 9 pm already!), but I want to let you in on some news for now, with more later this week.

Check out the new feed from my primary blog - CHM Biz News Blog - which you'll find on the sidebar here. There's a CafePress sale!

It's a good idea to keep an eye on the CHM Biz News Blog, anyway, as it's the best information source about my business, with the possible exception of my monthly CafePress newsletter.

You may also want to check out my Music Stuff Blog, also found here, with a horizontal banner toward the bottom of this Page, not on the sidebar. There's some fun stuff I just put up there you might enjoy. Involving music, of course.

And, last, but certainly not least (and I should have mentioned this on the CBN Blog, but...later...), and that is...I think I have my price mess cleaned up. I'm not yet ready to signal the 100% all-clear, but all is looking good, and has for a few days now. CafePress IT is still working on the issue (I certainly wasn't alone with this problem!), when *they're* done, then I'll feel all is corrected. Just an FYI, especially for those of you who read my newsletter which referred to this.

Now, I'm off to dinner and the rest of the Emmies (or is that Emmys?).

: )

Poll: Family ties key to youth happiness

Poll: Family ties key to youth happiness - Yahoo! News (AP)

Interesting, important, and, especially if you're a mom, encouraging survey done by the Associated Press and, yes, MTV.

IMHO, these two together - AP and MTV - could come up with a pretty good overview of what's going on with today's youth.

Hey, some good news (for a change). : )

Keep cool.

Stopping By & Update

Hope all are keeping cool!

The "limited time" "Buy 3 Shirts, Get 1 Free" CafePress promotion is over now.

I have been hard at work re-organizing my CafePress premium stores, as you may notice, also adding new graphics and merch. Been busy putting together Back-to-School Features as well (which I had better complete RSN!).

I've been in the process of marking down my Value T-Shirts.

My Value T-Shirt mark-down is for two reasons:

1. CafePress will be increasing its price for printing on a second side later this month. What this means is that either we shopkeepers can pass along the price increase to you guys (!), we can cut our mark-up (!!), or we can remove the graphics on the second side (a ton of extra work on top of an already heavy workload at the busiest part of the online retail year). I most likely will do the first and third: pass along the mark-up, plus start removing some - but not all! - of the second graphics. What this means is that all my merch printed on two sides will be slightly more expensive, but you'll start to be seeing prices drop as I remove the second graphics from many items. BTW, I have many, many items (most?) which have only one graphic, so they will not be affected in any way, price or otherwise. So....to make a long story shorter, my offering the Value tees at a lower price, may compensate a little for the increased price of the two-graphic items. (I'm giving it a shot for now, anyway. Running it up the flag pole; seeing if it will fly.)
2. The economy. It's getting a little ugly out there. The stock market has been like a roller-coaster this year - you have to hang on tight, and it's starting to get a little sick and nauseating. Then there's all those "sub-slime" (thank you for this apt word, Jim Cramer) and otherwise screwed-up mortgages and other "creative" financing/credit crunch. Gasoline prices, higher food prices... It's not a time to expect people to want to throw around their cash. It's a time where someone might be more interested in spending $9.99 for a tee she really likes and can afford, while, perhaps, the more expensive shirts have to be passed up (especially those with that added two-graphic CafePress mark-up!). The more flush among you won't care, but I do have sympathy for those who are uncomfortable shelling out more than $9.99 for a T-shirt at this time.

Telling you far more than I should, it's good news/bad news for me when I sell stickers, buttons, magnets, Value Tees, and the like. Good news in that I made a sale and that someone has appreciated and is now enjoying my stuff. But a little disappointing in that I'm making only $1 or two on the sale. (The more expensive items bring me $5 or more...)

Anyway, I'm way long, too long here. Just updating you, and wishing you well. Keep cool!

Study: Chocolate reduces blood pressure

Study: Chocolate reduces blood pressure - Yahoo! News (AP)

Yet another "chocolate is good for you" story...

Note the mention, also, once again, of the healthiness of red wine.

Yes, I've got my red wine and my 60% cacao dark chocolate. What a wonderful way to be healthier.

Of course, the trick is to have just a little of these items.

Along with fewer carbs, calories, "bad" fats, less salt, smaller portions... As well as plenty of regular exercise.

Keep cool!

Have a happy 4th of July, Americans out there!

New Merch, New Music Graphics, etc.

This is bad, because I'm going to be directing you to my other CafePress premium store today, Music Stuff & More.

Well, for you ladies interested in music you'll appreciate my new music graphics, and all of you will get to see the new Junior Jersey.

The new Jersey is basically an elongated T-Shirt and comes in your choice of white, a light coral pink, or a light aqua blue. See it here.

The new music graphics? Customers requested a purple Circle of Fifths and a Bass Clef Circle of Fifths, so I made some recently. Check out the "NEW NEW NEW" section in Music Stuff & More to see what I'm talking about.

Next steps? One of them will be to update the "For Women Old Enough..." store! I'll include the new Junior Jersey (see above) there.

Keep cool! And have a good 4th of July, all you Americans out there.

New Merch & Other News

I've been literally under the weather lately (bleeping climate change affecting my eyes, lungs, and sinuses - the downside of living in SoCal), as a result I haven't been keeping up with all my work as well as I'd like.

Can't believe I didn't post here yet about the arrival of the new Junior spaghetti tank tops and the new maternity tops, many of which have been in the For Women Old Enough... store for a while now. I do plan to add yet more. Check them out in "Sales & Features" The maternity tops come in black or white. The new spaghetti tank tops come in pastels as well as in white. See still more of this merch in the "Moms Rule" sections, and elsewhere in For Women Old Enough..., as well as in the Music Stuff & More store.

Here's some other - this is brand-new - news regarding all my CafePress stores from my CHM Biz News Blog (and please subscribe while you're there).

Of particular interest For Women Old Enough... (both you and the CafePress store), are the new Junior Jersey T-Shirts, which will be replacing the soon-to-be-former Junior Baby Doll T-Shirts. These are expected to be of higher quality - and will be offered in pink or blue, as well as in white. These new Jerseys ought to be in my CafePress stores within the next few days, according to CafePress, which is doing the bulk of the adding (quicker for you, easier for me - good news all around).

To view these changes at my family-friendly, women-friendly, children-family other CafePress store - a bigger one, frankly (huge!), please visit Music Stuff & More

I also recommend, once again, subscribing to my monthly CafePress newsletter. I'm really good at getting this newsletter out every month for years and years now, and still am, come heck or high water. It's probably the best way to keep up with what's going on regarding my CafePress stores. (Yes, I'm still working on my website - !, and still upgrading my blogs...).

You'll find my monthly CafePress Newsletter subscription/sign-up thingie in a box there on the right sidebar here, as well as on my CafePress premium stores' Storefronts.

Yet more, on a personal note: Yes, I've seen the new "Pirates", I'm happy to report : )

And, Friday's my birthday - no milestone, though. Yes, that makes me a Gemini. Not surprising, I am pretty much of an airhead. ; )

Be well, and do have good weather.

SALES & FEATURES : For Women Old Enough... : CafePress.com

I hope that you moms out there had a good Mother's Day!

SALES & FEATURES : For Women Old Enough... : CafePress.com

A "For Women Old Enough..." store update:

This Page linked to above will give you a good summary of what's new in the store. But, I'll also make a list here:

~ From now on, ALL of my totebags in both of my CafePress premium stores (that would be "For Women Old Enough..." as well as "Music Stuff & More") will be sold at the reduced price of $14.00. This is to encourage bag re-use, yet another way we can help our planet - and, ultimately, ourselves.

These CafePress canvas totebags are good for re-use, being strong, easily washable cotton canvas. The bags can also be used as shoulder bags. (I've a couple of these bags myself, so I do have personal experience with using them.)

~ Along that line, surely you've seen the World in the "For Women..." store. No, really, the Planet Earth. CafePress merchandise with a high-quality NASA photo of the Western Hemisphere of the Earth graphic is now available in both of my CafePress premium stores.

~ There is brand-new CafePress merchandise available. I've been starting to add the maternity tops (in both white and in black) and the new Junior spaghetti tank tops (in nice colors) to both of my CafePress premium stores. Also, I continue to add other merchandise (always working at catching up) to both stores.

~ As I've mentioned previously, here and/or in my monthly CafePress newsletter or CHM Biz News Blog, some CafePress merchandise is about to be discontinued.

In fact, if CafePress doesn't remove the U.S. Custom Postage right away, I should/will, because the price of postage is changing this week, while this postage is not (being 39 cents). All in all, I recommend not buying the CafePress Custom Postage - or for that matter, the soon-to-be-discontinued CafePress Postage Pals. Actually, these postal items may already be unavailable.

CafePress apparel to be discontinued in early June include the Junior camisoles, the Junior baby-doll T-shirts (to be replaced with new Junior jerseys - stay tuned), and the light-blue trucker hats.

Note that the black trucker hats will continue to be available and are not being discontinued.

= "For Women Old Enough to Know Better" store
= "Music Stuff & More" store

More About the Tech Survey...

Pew Internet & American Life Project

Okay, these are my results: I'm a "Connector."

Sounds rather on the mark, actually.

But, this is about much more than me - check out the other general definitions and information.

Re the "Connector" definition...

"Ethnically, it is mostly white (72%); 16% are Black and 12% are English-speaking Hispanics. The typical Connector has been online for 9 years, which suggests they were a second-wave of late 1990s adopters. Most are women (55%) and they rate above average in educational attainment and income."

All true for me, except I've been online 17 years. What's "average educational attaiment"? I'd rate above-average income-wise if you were to average it out over the decades! (Bleeping recessions and their impact on employment...grumble, grumble.) We did have an above-average income in 1990 when I first went online. Pretty hard otherwise - it cost $25/hour! (Can you say offline-text-readers? Can you appreciate the value of a "free flag" - free access privilege -in those days?)

All in all, however, the most interesting and important take-away from that quote just above is this: "most [Connectors] are women."

(Why does that somehow seem not really that surprising...? Aren't we females generally a more "connecting" bunch than males?)

Survey shatters technology assumptions

Survey shatters technology assumptions - Yahoo! News (AP)

What kind of technology user are you? (Gotcha, yes, you most certainly are a technology user if you're reading this.)

Anyway, are you a "Hi-tech Elite"? A "Productiviy Enchancer"? "Lack-luster Veteran"? A "mobile-centric"?

This article contains definitions and stats from a survey. Also contains a quiz - which I'm about to try myself.

From the article: "Eight percent — mostly women in the early 50s — occasionally use technology and might use more given more experience. They tend to still be on dial-up access and represent potential high-speed customers "with the right constellation of services offered," Horrigan said." [emphasis mine]

True and not true - I fly along with Verizon's FiOS, with the servers on the other end (and my "old" computer and its "old" XP OS...) trying to keep up with me. OTOH, I do live in a metropolitan area and do have a college-age son at home (yes, the FiOS was his idea - I was okay with T-W's Roadrunner cable broad-band...)

BTW, I've been online since 1990, actively. Definitely an online veteran - not only were few people online back then, but women were only ~20% of them. I could write a book, maybe I will someday?

SALES & FEATURES : For Women Old Enough... : CafePress.com

SALES & FEATURES : For Women Old Enough... : CafePress.com

Finally got my Mother's Day and Mother Earth Features added to this "Sales & Features" Section!

Check 'em out (Please?)

TGIF. Have a nice weekend! : )

Sharing a Secret?

The cat's out of the bag... This is not yet public, but I'll share this with you blog people and hope that CafePress wouldn't mind (I sincerely doubt it would.).

From an official CafePress person:

Hi Shopkeepers,

We're adding excitement to Spring with new items and new color choices. Soon you'll see:

-- Maternity T-shirts: It's what you've been waiting for! With this shirt, we'll be offering a special belly print (10" x 10") area. Available in black and white.

-- Jr. Spaghetti: 3 new colors added! The colors are light pink, light blue, and lemon

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Me again.

Note that this merchandise is not out yet. But, it'll coming soon.

I know this is not so much a young woman place, or its accompanying store, but I thought you'd like to know. After all, you do have daughters, some of you. I will be making the maternity tops available in my stores - I do support moms - of all ages. : ) I think my already-available "Moms rule" graphic would work on those maternity tops, for a start.

Have a nice weekend! I'm looking forward to a quiet day by myself: baseball (just in front of the TV) while playing/working with my bead stuff, and reading my vast multitude of library books. Kicking back, relaxing, and, frankly, taking a break from this bleep electric box. Looking forward to Spiderman, too, in the next few days. Spidey's back! : ) (If you think I'm a bleep fool now, wait 'til "the Pirates"'s arrival later this month. Yo Ho, Yo Ho...) I'm just an old bleep kid. : D

15 Ways to Save Money on Gasoline

(bankrate.com)

A helpful how-to listing.

We need all the help we can get with this...

Note also that the less gas burned, the better the environment and air quality.

Coffee can be good for you, experts say

Coffee can be good for you, experts say - Yahoo! News (Reuters)

In a glucose kind of way according to these studies. As in coffee might possibly help prevent Type 2 diabetes.

I'm guessing that if one already has Type 2 diabetes or are in a pre-diabetes, in-between place (as I am, and so many), the slowing of the intestinal absorption of glucose that coffee appears to do would apply to us pre-diabetics as well.

A tip: cinnamon appears to good for diabetics/those-of-us-with- glucose-issues. Just in case, I usually sprinkle some cinnamon in my coffee. Makes it better, anyway. Cinnamon is otherwise supposed to be good for you as well, as is its "cousin", nutmeg.

Tip #2: As in how much coffee to drink? I would think this old adage would apply - All things in moderation, including moderation.

Reversing Alzheimer's memory loss may be possible

Reversing Alzheimer's memory loss may be possible - Yahoo! News (Reuters)

It's good to hear such positive and hopeful news about Alzheimer's Disease.

This article makes me wonder yet again about something I've long suspected - that Alzheimer's patients frequently get worse, or at least deteriorate at a faster rate, when they are "put away" into nursing homes. ("Warehousing" some have called it.)

This could be from lack of stimulation. A lack of mental exercise - literally!

Also, being home alone in that easy chair in front of the TV too much would have a similar effect it would seem.

It's becoming more and more obvious to me that throughout our lives we need to continue to work our minds, as well as work our bodies.

Toddler calls 911 after mother collapses

Toddler calls 911 after mother collapses - Yahoo! News (AP)

I like this story and had to share it. Good for this little guy!

Add this toddler hero to the assortment of other heroes who you would not think able to contact 911 for help in an emergency (dogs, cats, etc.), but surprise and gratify us all by doing just that.

Woman crashes car into Huntington Beach store

Article - News - Woman crashes car into Huntington Beach store (Orange County Register)

This is an old lady who is not acting like a groovy lady.

She drives a better car than I (2006 silver Accord), however, mine (2000 not-silver Accord) is in better shape right now, since mine has not been driven through the front of a drugstore.

The good news is no one was hurt - the driver's airbag wasn't even activated.

Unfortunately, this is yet another in a long, too-long, string of "pedal-confusion" accidents caused by elderly drivers.

I do think the time has likely come for drivers to be more rigorously tested, say, upon their 75th birthday. Illinois already does this, I think all states should.

Woman, 95, to be oldest college graduate

Woman, 95, to be oldest college graduate - Yahoo! News (AP)

Well, good for her!

The story of this woman (see above) certainly shows that it is never too late to complete a degree.

Yet another groovy lady to add the the string of them in the news lately.

P.S.: Did you hear that the NYC dirtbag who beat up the 101-year-old lady (as she was on her way to church), stealing $31 from her, has been arrested? On drug charges, not surprisingly. Real tough guy - beats up the extreme elderly, then rides off with his take on a stolen little girl's pink bike. Loser...

These two tough NYC women this guy attacked that day are also groovy ladies in my book. They even fought back. Walker as weapon?

Grandma makes emergency landing in field

Grandma makes emergency landing in field - Yahoo! News (AP)

I love stories like this. From the article...

She [the forementioned grandma] said she flies a couple of times a week and plans to fly again. But she worried about what her children would say now.

Fits in with the recent story posted here re the 102-year-old golfer who hit a hole-in-one.

Good for both of them!

(Makes me feel lazy and inadequate somehow...)

Hormones can raise breast cancer risk

Hormones can raise breast cancer risk - Yahoo! News (AP)

Yet more verification of the nastiness - no, the danger - of HRT.

From this article...

"After rising steadily through the 1990s, the breast cancer rate dipped from 2001 to 2002, from 138 cases to 135 cases per 100,000 women. After the federal Women's Health Initiative study reported in July 2002 on the health risks of hormones, use of the pills plunged.

So did the breast cancer rate the following year — to 126 cases per 100,000 women. It was the steepest fall since the government started keeping records in the 1970s.

The drop was seen in all of the cancer statistics registries reviewed in the study, and no other cancer rate changed as dramatically — strong signs that hormones were playing a role, specialists said."


I resisted my doctors' entreaties to take HRT for years (they started in at me when I was only 45!), and I only give in because doctors urged it as a prevention against osteoporosis - which I got anyway!

Doctors were really suckered in by the drug companies on this, I believe, BTW. Related, I also believe doctors didn't handle this well.

Anyway, whether or not HRT was entirely the cause of my tumor I can't answer, but I do know that the tumor was "very strongly receptive" (quoting my pathology report) to hormones. OIOW, whatever the cause, it was indeed a fact that the HRT was feeding my tumor royally and generously. Every pill I took, every patch I put on, was feeding my tumor. : ( I can't believe I went to so much trouble and expense to feed and grow my cancer.

No wonder some women like me have sued these people. You can tell it makes me angry. I don't dwell, though, what's the point? I do warn others about HRT, though, when the subject comes up.

102-year-old Calif. woman hits hole-in-1

102-year-old Calif. woman hits hole-in-1 - Yahoo! News (AP)

Don't you love a good-news story?

Amazing.

Hope you had happy holidays.

My Yahoo Avatar

Introducing my Yahoo avatar, that goofy thing you can see at top right...

Some of you may have seen this version of me from my website. I really do look a lot like this - but not nearly as young and thin these days I'll 'fess up. (However, I'm not overweight and the Plus-Size Yahoo avatar stuff wouldn't be me, either.) My beloved beach (Orange Coast) looks like this, also, although usually with a lot more people, darn it (I like surfers, though...).

I've started including endangered animals with my avatar. Last week was a polar bear, this week, penguins again.

(Is this my old lady version of playing with dolls? I like those Virtual Villagers a little too much also... Well, whatever floats my boat. It's legal, etc.)

Under Construction...

I don't think I need to tell you that - you can see for yourself. ; )

Please pardon the dust while I figure out my Blogger upgrade and get all the details taken care of.

Cancer society recommends breast MRIs

Cancer society recommends breast MRIs - Yahoo! News (AP)

Interesting...

Something for me (and many of you reading this) to ask our doctors about the next time we have our annual mammograms. Especially if you have the risk factors mentioned in this article.

It is true that sometimes it's better to use more than one tool in order to make sure one is tumor-free. And it's all about catching any possible tumor as soon as possible. Whatever you do, don't wait for it to show up as a lump - I had Stage 2 breast cancer and never had a perceptible lump - not even to doctors!

Over 40? Be sure you get your mammogram (and whatever other relevant tests you might need) annually.

Healthy Naps - washingtonpost.com

Healthy Naps - washingtonpost.com

An afternoon nap? Sounds as if it might be good for you.

This article is funny, too:

"In our dreams, the new Democratic majority in Congress quickly introduced the Freedom Of Restorational Time for Yawning, Whittling, Inclining, Nesting, Knitting and Sleeping (FORTY WINKS) Act, mandating thirty minutes of "quiet time" for every worker...

Republicans countered with the Solitude Investment and Entrepreneurial Sleep Trading Account (SIESTA). Trial lawyers soon consolidated into a class action the lawsuits of thousands of widows whose husbands had not been permitted to nap at work. Big Pharma began marketing a 30-minute snooze pill, which House Speaker Nancy Pelosi insisted be covered under Medicare Part D..."

Whether it's FORTY WINKS or SIESTA, apparently it's something to be considered (taken along with that dark chocolate and red wine from my previous posting?).

Chocolate improves blood vessel function: study

Chocolate improves blood vessel function: study - Yahoo! News (Reuters)

Yet again dark chocolate proves its worth!

As if it had to...

Of course, the 60% cacao content or better is the healthiest.

And, unfortunately, as with red wine, it's not as healthy if you over do it.

Cute Knut

Cute Knut (Warning: Extreme Cuteness)

I'm not usually into cute unless it's babies, little kids, or, sometimes, baby animals.

I'm into Cute Knut, the now-famous baby polar bear who lives in the Berlin Zoo.

(We need all the polar bears we can get these days...)

BRAND-NEW Kids & Plus-Size T-Shirts : For Women Old Enough... : CafePress.com

BRAND-NEW Kids & Plus-Size T-Shirts : For Women Old Enough... : CafePress.com

Find more of this merchandise elsewhere in this store, with more being added. Find this merchandise being added in my other premium store as well - Music Stuff & More

New Mom & Granny Shirts Added

(That's the latest - the transparent background - version of "Groovy Grandma" at left.)

Check out the "Sales & Features" section of the store For Women Old Enough... for featured Lent/Easter Christian crosses, flowers, green Celtic Christian crosses (St. Pat's is coming), and plenty - lot and lots - of pink graphics, as well as pink shirts. Think Spring.

Lots of new shirts have been added recently to this store (as well as my Music Stuff & More store). Just today I added transparent-background versions of the "Moms Rule", "Grannies Rule", and "Groovy Grandma" graphics so that they could be added to the dark shirts available on CafePress now (see "Groovy Grandma" graphic just above - the brand-new version).

"Dark", BTW, includes a jillion other colors now in addition to black. For example, green, red, and blue now come on "dark" shirts. Women's "dark" T-shirts now include purple (violet?), red, aqua, and gray. There are many more colors of shirts these days around here. And, V-necks are now available, and many more Women's-sized shirts.

Granny finds grenade in groceries

Granny finds grenade in groceries - Yahoo! News (Reuters)

"I found a bomb in the potatoes," the woman said.

She noticed it wasn't a regular potato after she brought it home and was washing it up.

The good news is that the woman is safe and sound and able to tell her story.

No, this is not believed to be a terrorist act. Apparently an old WWII grenade was harvested along with the potatoes from a farm field in France.

Feeding your brain: new benefits found in chocolate

Feeding your brain: new benefits found in chocolate - Yahoo! News (Reuters)

Trust me to come back again with a good-story about the benefits of chocolate (or red wine...).

Note that the Mars company funded this study. Just the same, it seems appear that chocolate in moderation and with enough cacaco in it (try the 60% variety), is a good for you.

(This good for the brain twist is a new one...)

Savings tumble poses risk to boomers

Savings tumble poses risk to boomers - Yahoo! News (AP)

Are YOU saving?

From the article:

"The 1 percent negative savings rate in 2006 followed a 0.4 percent negative rate in 2005. There have been only four years in history that the savings rate has fallen into negative territory. The other two were 1932 and 1933 during the Great Depression."

And a woman is quoted saying: "I think we are consumer-driven. We have to have things."

NO, you don't freaking *have to have* things. Jeesh.

I'll admit that a portion of the problem is the troubling and growing gap between the haves and the have-nots. But, just the same...

(Can you tell I'm in a disgusted mood toward humanity - mostly my fellow Americans - today as a result of yesterday's report about our planet being busted, mostly on account of us, and there's not too much we can do about it. It's small satisfaction that I can say "I told you so." as I plan to purchase a couple of air conditioners. Looks as if I might be living closer to the beach someday - without even moving.)

Handbags a health hazard, women warned

Handbags a health hazard, women warned - Yahoo! News (Reuters)

Yeah, well, duh...

The key to successful long walks for me *is to not carry a heavy bag*.

Not only does a heavy bag make the long walk harder, but my right hip starts hurting. The hip never did make it back 100% from all the hauling I used to do to and from my college art classes (using backpack and portfolio case!)

In my case, I can't simply switch my bag to my left shoulder, because I have lymphedema issues with my left arm and shoulder. (Use a backpack instead? Might work?)

I have osteoporosis, too, as do many women over 50. (BTW, have you had your bone density tested?)

But, regardless of my own personal old lady issues...

Another factor in this situation is all the hi-tech crap we're hauling now. I shouldn't say "crap", as I have my dear iPod and Palm with me here as I speak... Point is we're hauling more stuff these days: cellphone? iPod? Palm? laptop? Nintendo DS? Even car keys are heavier than they used to be (really).

Also, what's the deal with kids' heavy backpacks in recent years? Whatever happened to school lockers?! I couldn't believe the loads my son carried - it worried me. His back bothered him, too.

Less is more... Ah, simplicity. Simplify, simplify, Thoreau wisely wrote.

Majority of US women living without spouse

Majority of US women living without spouse - Yahoo! News [AFP]

Curious, but not surprising, really.

More senior women stay fit playing hoops

More senior women stay fit playing hoops - Yahoo! News (AP)

Hmm.

The "Hot Pink Grannies", eh?

"...there are stunt games like playing against a team of teenage boys who each have one hand tied behind their backs. "

Anyway, a bunch of women having a good time - that's the best part.

This article does have some medical caveats - a good idea.

You know I've been eyeing that hoop in that basketball court here in my apartment complex for some time...several years... As a kid I was pretty good at sinking baskets actually.

Again, hmmm? I'd have to get a basketball... That's very doable.

??

Valentine's Day, Promotion & New Beginnings

It's a new year, I've got my new Web publishing software (Dreamweaver 8), CafePress has a new promotion, and I'm as ready as anybody can be after 9 pm on a Friday night (haven't had dinner yet, either) to roll up my sleeves and get to work around here, including working on the store attached to this, "For Women Old Enough..." I've got to get with the program and get that latest version of Blogger here as well. Pheww. I want and am ready to dig in, though.

The Valentine's Day merch is in my other store, not here yet. Check it out. It'll be coming here - to this store - soon.

The promotion? For Valentine's Day CafePress, beginning Monday, January 14, will be offering free Super Saver Shipping on orders over $50 (before tax and shipping). Coupon code: VDAYSHIP

Have a nice weekend. (I'm going to stop working now and go eat dinner already!)

cRANKy™ - the Search Engine for Those Ages 50+

cRANKy™ aka cranky.com

I read about this new search engine for The ARRP Generation, had to check it out.

Why is "sex" the #1 most searched term?? Huh? Gee thanks, Viagra...

What, me cranky?

Please visit my website's Wazzup Page if you're interested in cooking with Captain Jack Sparrow (he uses lots of rum, are you surprised?), or if you wish to see what all you can do with the fancy new iPhone - much more than you might think.