seasoned
M a r c h 2016
Over 50 & living the good life!
Filing tax returns
Shield yourself from identity theft
Slow down
Handling overwhelm in a busy world
Adventures
Interesting ways for seniors to enjoy travel
Take a day trip
Fun things to do in and around the Brazos Valley
3 3 4 4 6 8 10
seasoned
Steps to shield yourself from tax return identity theft Handling overwhelm in a demanding world Try natural methods for back pain before surgery Organize for better thinking and memory Feature story: Day trips in and around the Brazos Valley Interesting ways for seniors to enjoy travel Calendar: Local events for seniors
seasoned A publication of The Eagle PUBLISHER Crystal DuPre DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING Sean Lewis
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Steps to shield yourself from tax return identity theft
We can take steps to reduce our chances of being a victim of identity theft, but we are all still vulnerable. Some things are out of our control. Forbes reported that in an affidavit in a Florida case, an FBI agent noted that military personnel serving in combat zones make attractive targets because they don’t have to file their tax returns until 180 days after they leave the combat zone. This means the crooks can file for a refund first.
government offices. The list goes on. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that in 2015, hackers stole personal data of more than 330,000 taxpayers. They used the IRS “Get Transcript” database. This is where we can get data from our prior returns. If the creeps can use information from your prior returns, the fake return can be more difficult for IRS filters to detect.
How do they get our info? Sometimes they get our data in onesies and twosies. They call you and claim to be the IRS. They scare you into giving up private information. I saw this myself when one TracY Stewart of my staff got such a Financial Literacy call at work last year. They told her things I knew were flat out wrong. But when you get the call, they play on your fears and many of us panic. I talked her off the ledge and the creep hung up. Unfortunately, it is far more efficient for criminals to get our personal information in mass bulk of dozens to thousands at a whack. Many times this theft is perpetrated with the help of sneaky insiders. These criminals are employed at tax prep businesses, health care billing offices, law firms, debt collectors and
How can you reduce your risk? There are many things you can do to reduce your risk, but you cannot eliminate it. 1. Change your passwords regularly. Yes, it is a pain. Do it anyway. 2. Use different passwords for each portal. Reread #1 above. 3. Never ever give out your Social Security number. New Medicare cards will not include Social Security numbers. 4. Never ever click on links from tax prep companies because the email can be from a phisher. 5. If you use a tax preparer, ask about their data protection. Thieves target old-line respectable CPA firms. 6. Keep your refund amount to a minimum. Figure out a different way to save money. If you are a victim, you will have to wait several months to get your refund. 7. Never leave mail in your home mailbox with the cute flag up. Drive to
the post office. 8. Never ever reply to emails from the IRS. They don’t do email. 9. If you get a call from the IRS, hang up. They will send you a snail mail letter if they want to reach you. 10. Try to get an IP PIN from the IRS. If you get approved for one, you will get a special PIN to file with your paper return the next year. This is not a slam-dunk. The IRS does a lengthy investigation to verify that you (and not the crook) are the rightful owner of your Social Security number. Go to www.irs.gov.
How will you know if you are a victim? This is very simple. You will know you are a victim when the IRS rejects your tax return because they already have a return with your Social Security number. What should you do if this happens to you? Act fast. This does not just involve your refund. Once crooks have your
private information, they won’t stop at filing a fake return. They will open accounts and apply for loans. Call your banks and financial institutions. Call your credit card providers. Contact the credit reporting agencies. • Equifax online at www.equifax. com/home/en_us then click Customer Service or call 1-888-766-0008. • Experian online at www.experian. com/fraud/center.html or call 1-888397-3742. • TransUnion online at TransUnion. com/customer-support/contact-us or call 1-800-680-7289. Go to www.irs.gov for a list of steps to take. See www.irs.gov/Help-&Resources. If you think this is all bad enough, consider if you are selected for an IRS audit. The notice will be mailed to the last address on record at the IRS. That could be the address provided by the criminals. Contact Tracy B. Stewart, CPA, PFS, CFF, CDFA, CFP® at www. TexasDivorceCPA.com.
2015
Handling overwhelm in a demanding world I don’t know about you, but I’m busy. Too busy, probably. In our world, we seem to put a premium on speed. The faster we move, the better. The more we get done, the more satisfied we feel (at least, for a little while). Gary Roe Make that list. Hospice Check those items off. Keep pushing. Keep striving. Keep up. Get ahead. Stay ahead. Move faster. Ugh.
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Our world spins quickly. Global society gives us immediate access to all kinds of information. News and events demanding our attention bombard us continually - presidential campaigns, economic updates, refugee crises, immigration issues, the war on terrorism, financial instability, natural disasters, regional conflicts, racial unrest, human rights issues and political upheaval, to name a few. Trying to keep up with all this is time-
See Roe page 5
March 1, 2016 | 3
Try natural methods for back pain before surgery
I’m 58 years.old, and I was recently diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis with radiating leg pain. I have intermittent pain in my back, buttock and down the back of my left leg. Sometimes my pain is a 7-8/10. My back and leg pain appears to get worse with prolonged sitting and standing. I am on pain medicine right now and my MRI report says I have bulging discs and degenerative changes in my lumbar spine. I would like to avoid surgery, but I can’t live with this amount of pain all the time. Can you Leon Bradway tell me what is the Physical Therapy best course of action to help me relieve my pain?
Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is the narrowing of the spinal canal that most often is noted in patients 50 and older. Narrowing of the spinal canal in the lumbar area can put pressure on nerves that exit out from small holes along the spinal column. Compression on nerves can cause pain in the back and pain to radiate down one or both legs. Symptoms include numbness/ tingling in one or both legs, difficulty walking because of pain, muscle weakness in the leg(s), inability to get comfortable at night because of back or leg pain, and in severe cases, bowel or bladder problems. As with many sufferers, you may
explain your pain. Deficiencies in any suffers will go through this revolving door of physician pain management for or all of these pain contributers can complicate the pain management and months or even years with little relief recovery process. It’s very important and hope. A major problem with this to work with the whole person when type of pain management care is that it comes to pain, especially pain that’s the muscle and psychological systems lasted greater than four weeks. There are completely overlooked. are other structural deficiencies There is a better way to combat that need to be addressed to ensure back pain and lumbar spinal stenosis. maximum pain relief. Your first line of medical treatment Physical therapists use a variety prior to opiates and MRIs should be of natural treatment methods to help physical therapy. If you have back you manage pain, including distraction pain of any kind when you go in to manual therapy, manipulation, see your primary care provider the intramuscular stimulation (dry first thing you should be given from needling), heat/ice, electrical him or her is a referral to physical stimulation, cognitive behavioral therapy. Why? Because over the past 10 therapy, and several different kinds of years, multiple research studies have specific exercises to help relieve pain. looked at specific back pain exercises Working with a physical therapist on versus other forms of treatment, such pain management may take four to six as medications, steroid injections, weeks, but the long-term benefits are ablations and surgeries, and the No. 1 well worth the time spent. treatment that reduces and or abates back pain for the long-term is exercise. Look at our website, Physical therapy is the correct choice bvphysicaltherapy.com for this article and proven consistency to relieve and view seven lower back exercises your back pain and leg symptoms. to help relieve lower back and spinal Not only can a physical therapist stenosis pain. Call a physical therapist assist you with pain management for today and schedule yourself for a back lumbar spinal stenosis, but they will evaluation. determine what other factors have contributed to or increase your lumbar Leon Bradway is a doctor of physical spinal stenosis pain, such as a postural therapy and director of the Sports, Back alignment problem, a lack of trunk or and Pain Management Clinic. See www. leg flexibility, or significant weakness bvphysicaltherapy.com. either in the abdominals, trunk core muscles or in the lower extremities. You will also IN-HOME SENIOR CARE SERVICES be taught pain-coping ® strategies, relaxation techniques and positive reinforcement ideas to
wonder what caused this condition. Our spine consists of individual vertebrae separated by discs. The discs are primarily composed of water, and their purpose is to support and stabilize our spinal column. As we age, the water content in the discs diminishes and eventually the disc “flattens out”. Once this happens, the vertebrae in the spinal column begin to compress together, irritating surrounding soft tissue and nerves that can result in back, leg and buttock pain. Other life factors that can increase the rate of spinal degeneration include the type of work activity ( heavy lifting, repetitive tasks), prior motor vehicle accidents, old sports injuries, poor body posture (sitting and standing), obesity and core muscle weakness. What are your options if you’ve been diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis? Treatment options can vary dramatically. First, depending on the severity of your pain and presentation of your symptoms, given your age and medical history, your primary care physician can prescribe you pain medications, schedule you for an MRI, and or refer you to a spinal surgeon. As you’ve mentioned earlier, surgery is your very last option. However, you can also visit with a physician who specializes in pain management. The pain physician might relieve your pain with steroid injections, strong opiate pain medications, nerve ablations, nerve stimulators and other methods. This is usually the course of action many back pain suffers undergo with little or no pain relief at all. Back pain
Interactive Caregiving Makes Every Moment Matter
Organize for better thinking and memory
We all think with ideas and information that we hold in working memory. Working memory is like a scratch pad with a succession of content on the pad that is streamed into the brain’s thinking apparatus. What is held on the Dr. Bill Klemm working memory The Memory Medic scratch pad is either retrieved from memory or inserted from real-time experience (like what you are reading or hearing).
So, how does organization apply? As the brain seeks information to put on the scratch pad, it has to know where it is. Thinking is slow at best and possibly incoherent if ideas and information are located in disorganized repositories, such as sticky notes, memos and documents located randomly in different places. How can anyone keep a stream of coherent thought going if there is constant interruption trying to find the note or document one needs at each stage of thinking? The other thing is that working
memory has very limited capacity. Thus, when accessing notes and documents to use in thinking, the content needs to be easily extractable in small chunks. Here is an example that we can all relate to. Congress seems wedded to producing omnibus bills of some 2,000 or more pages. Even if legislators read the entire bills, they couldn’t digest the content in any coherent way because the bills are not designed for thinking. No surprise, then, that we end up
See Memory Medic page 9
4 | March 1, 2016
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challenge, and not necessarily popular. Wise King Solomon said, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the spring from which everything else flows.” If we lose our hearts, we lose ourselves. No amount of busy-ness is worth that. When we get quiet, questions assault us. At first, our minds race with “What’s next? What do I need to be doing now?” The gravitational pull of the usual noise is strong. The voice of the urgent is demanding and compelling. “These things must be done, now! This must happen today! If you don’t get this done pronto, you’re toast!” The urgent always seems to end in an exclamation point. If we endure the initial onslaught and dare to stay quiet a little longer, however, other types of questions begin to surface: “What’s life all about? Why am I here? What’s my purpose? What’s really important?” This is the voice of the important. It’s far less noisy. It whispers to us about relationships and things like love, acceptance, reconciliation, forgiveness, trust and wisdom. It reminds us why we’re here, and invites us to streamline our thoughts and lives
rise. Mental and emotional disorders are exploding exponentially. Our technology boasts of us being more connected, yet most feel more alone than ever. Our connection is often feeble and thin. For human beings who by nature hunger to love and be loved, this does not satisfy. I believe there is something crying out from deep inside us. A sort of nagging discontent that something is not quite right. Something is missing. A hidden desire, buried long ago. We can’t seem to put our finger on it, but it’s there. This is uncomfortable. So we run. We move a little faster and strive a little harder. We immerse ourselves in the noise around us – anything to silence this unruly discontent. If we’re not careful, we can drown out the voice of our own hearts. We need some solitude. Among ancient cultures, solitude was cherished. Solitude isn’t just quiet time. It’s purposeful time alone. It doesn’t happen naturally. We have to be intentional and choose it. The ancients actually capitalized the word, “Solitude,” and called it a “discipline.” Purposeful, quiet times alone were sought and practiced. There was an understanding that a meaningful life begins with hearing the heart. Japanese writer Natsume Soseki once expressed this hunger for something more than activity. “In the midst to a world that moves, I alone am still.” Practicing healthy solitude is a
Roe
from page 3
consuming, emotionally draining and probably unrealistic. Our personal worlds spin just as fast. We have careers, businesses, possessions, homes, relationships, children and grandchildren (and perhaps parents, also) - all of which require energy and focus. We have personal issues, relational quandaries, health concerns, financial challenges and family complications. Along the way we get hit. We lose people, relationships, pets, jobs, homes, physical abilities and dreams. Oh, and we’re all aging. Life is full, and exhausting. I can see myself as a kid sitting in front of the TV watching “The Tonight Show,” mesmerized by that guy trying to keep all those plates spinning at the end of those sticks. The more plates in the air, the faster he has to move, and the more frantic the scene becomes. I get tired just thinking about it. In my work as a hospice chaplain, I have conversations of many types with all kinds of people. One theme is pretty constant. They’re tired. Many of them are exhausted. They are reviewing their lives and relationships. Many wish they had done a lot differently. When I ask what they would say to the rest of the world about life, the most common answer is some variant of, “Slow down and pay attention to the important stuff.” Slow down? How? Our world is one of constant change. So much is unpredictable. Everything seems in flux. To me, it feels a bit like swimming in an unruly ocean. Much is happening and quickly. Our hearts are impacted by this. We’re on edge, and have grown terribly impatient. We expect everything quickly. Now, When you purchase a Lift Chair in fact. Average attention span on the Internet is, gulp, 8 seconds. Stillness isn’t valued anymore. We have trouble Valid until 12/31/16. Free Delivery with being quiet. It’s as if purchase purchase. Only available at College Station Location we’re all running from something. It seems that being alone with our own thoughts is, well, scary. We’ve grown unsettled and nervous. Anxiety 979.696.0261 | altusmedicalequipment.com 2551Texas Ave South Suite A | College Station,TX. and depression are on the
around our purpose. It challenges us to leave a legacy that matters. Our hearts long for a meaningful and powerfully significant life. We’re going to have to engage in some solitude to connect with that. Then we must learn to practice solitude regularly to tune into the voice of our hearts and begin to live out meaningful priorities. Our world says, “Faster.” Faster isn’t always better. Sometimes, it’s just faster. Our hearts are heaving. We’ve been running for a long time, and some of us aren’t even sure we’re on the right road. Let’s give our hearts a break. They deserve to be heard. As we take time to listen, we just might rediscover our purpose. Life could become more significant than ever. And since we’re all getting older, there’s no time to lose. What’s important today, now? Gary Roe is a chaplain, author and speaker with Hospice Brazos Valley. He is the author of the award-winning bestseller “Heartbroken” and three other books. Visit Gary at www.garyroe.com or contact him at 979-821-2266 or groe@ hospicebrazosvalley.org.
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March 1, 2016 | 5
Take a d
Fun ways to enjoy the outdoors
By STACY CANTU Special to The Eagle
As spring approaches, local seniors might want to take advantage of the nice weather and enjoy the outdoors by taking a day trip in or near the Brazos Valley area, including several choices such as wine tasting or visiting a theme park or alpaca farm. Brenham About a 40-minute drive away from Bryan-College Station, Brenham (in Washington County) offers a variety of places that are perfect for a short day trip. Horseshoe Junction, at 290 Westwood Lane, is a theme park with several features to keep visitors active. “Horseshoe Junction is a great destination for seniors during a quick day trip to Brenham,” owner Brett Smith said. “Only 35 minutes from College Station, Horseshoe Junction is the best place to enjoy a game of miniature golf on our 1880s Texas-themed 18hole course. Cool off inside our Outpost Arcade featuring the best in current video and redemption games. Snacks and drinks are always available in the snack bar.” For the more adventurous seniors, go-karts, laser tag, bumper boats, rock wall and jumpers round out the activities at Horseshoe Junction, Smith said. Horseshoe Junction is open daily for Spring Break (March 1120), every weekend year round, and every day during the summer. For more information, visit www.horseshoejunction.com. Seniors may also enjoy a trip to the Chappell Hill Lavender Farm, at 2250 Dillard Road. According to the farm’s website, 3,000 plants cascade down over rolling acres to a gazebo and pond. During the cutting season, which usually begins in August, visitors can stroll the fragrant rows and cut their own fresh lavender. “We are close to College Station, so the trip is minimal and beautiful,” said Debbie McDowell, farm owner. “There is no fee to come and tour our farm. The scene here is so tranquil, which most seniors can really appreciate. They can sit in the rockers on our porch and just take it all in. We always sample our culinary items so they have a chance to taste some of the various foods, which include lavender. During the blooming season (May through June and August through October), they can cut their own lavender bundles. We also bring in many other hand-crafted items from local artists, which adds variety to our gift shop.” The farm’s gift shop, The Lavender Patch, offers a variety of items such as soaps, lotions, jams and pet products made with lavender. Starting March 4, the farm will be open on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit www. chappellhilllavender.com.
A day trip to downtown Brenham can also be an enjoyable way for seniors to spend a day. “Historic downtown Brenham is a great place to stroll, have a yummy lunch, shop for a variety of goodies to take home, and view the passing scene from a street-side bench,” said Lu Hollander, tourism advertising/public relations manager for the Brenham/ Washington County Chamber/ Convention & Visitors Bureau. “For history buffs, a historic walking tour brochure is available in the Visitor Center (located at 115 West Main St.). Toubin Park, a pocket park in a beautiful outdoor setting just off Alamo Street, tells the story of the burning of Brenham in the 1860s. Brenham Heritage Museum is also a history destination.” The Brenham Heritage Museum, at 105 South Market St., is open Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on the museum, visit www.brenhamheritagemuseum. org. The Antique Rose Emporium, at 10000 FM 50, is another way to enjoy the outdoors. The retail garden center offers award-winning display gardens. Visitors are welcome to visit the emporium Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Antique Rose Emporium is also a mail order nursery source for Earth-Kind, Pioneer and old roses. For more information visit www. antiqueroseemporium.com. For more daytrip ideas in Brenham and Washington County, such as local wineries and Blue Bell Creameries, see www.visitbrenhamtexas. com. Navasota Plant and flower enthusiasts may enjoy a trip to Martha’s Bloomers. Martha’s Bloomers, at 8101 Highway 6 Bypass in Navasota, opened in 2000 as a home and garden store and has grown into a dining experience and all-day shopping destination. Martha’s Bloomers is filled with flowers, trees and shrubs. Martha’s stocks hardto-find varieties to meet the landscaping needs from the novice gardener to the Master Gardener, according to the website. Along with a café, Martha’s Bloomers offers several other amenities including one of the largest green houses in the area filled with tropical plants and The Pottery House, which offers
6 | March 1, 2016
glazed and terra cotta pottery from information, visit www.marthasbl For more attractions in Grimes navasotagrimeschamber.com.
Bryan-College Station Messina Hof Winery & Resort, Bryan, is a destination where visit grounds, a meal and wine samplin
There are several options for seniors to enjoy the outdo the Chappell Hill Lavendar Farm (pictured). T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
day trip
in and around the Brazos Valley
m around the world. For more loomers.com. s County, visit
“Messina Hof is something special and different for elderly groups to do,” said Savannah Gaines, public relations coordinator at Messina Hof Winery & Resort. “They can come here and take a tour and have lunch, then go to another attraction like the George Bush Library.” The winery offers a tour aimed to introduce wine enthusiasts and history buffs to the six generations of tradition and heritage at 4545 Old Reliance Road in involved in the making of Messina Hof wines. The tour lasts tors can enjoy a stroll through the approximately one hour and participants taste four of their wines. ng. For more information, visit www.messinahof.com. Other local wineries with vineyards are Peachcreek Vinyards, at 2029 Peach Creek Road in College Station and Lone Hen Winery, at 12455 Hopes Creek Road in College Station. Animal lovers may like a trip to local farms such as Royal Oaks Alpacas. Royal Oaks Alpacas, at 9525 Grassbur Road in Bryan, owns 45 Huacaya alpacas and three llamas. The farm also boards alpacas for another family, giving the farm a total of 51 alpacas. Tours of the farm are offered for a minimal fee, and visitors will learn about alpacas, touch their luxurious fiber, and perhaps even receive an alpaca kiss, according to the website. Royal Oaks also has a farm store, where visitors may purchase alpaca yarn and other items made from alpaca fiber. For more information on the farm, visit www. royaloaksalpacas.com. Another nearby excursion is Lake Bryan, at 8200 Sandy Point Road (FM 1687) in Bryan. Visitors to Lake Bryan can participate in activities such as boating, kayaking, walking or running. There are also several mountain bike trails. During warmer weather, visitors can visit Lakeside Icehouse, a restaurant on the lake that often offers live music. For more information and the Lakeside Icehouse schedule, visit www.lakebryan.com. Millican Reserve, at 19851 FM 2154 in College Station, is home to a wide range of native inhabitants, from the soaring redshouldered hawks to the crawling ironclad beetle. According to the website, native species find their homes in the mosaic of woodlands, savannah, ponds and creeks that make up the reserve. Several distinct ecosystems also define Millican Reserve, including deep oors within a day’s drive of Bryan-College Station, such as yaupon thicket, spring-fed creeks and expansive T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
post-oak savannah. The monthly Market on the Green at Millican Reserve, which is held on the third Sunday, promises all this land has to offer, the website states. Seniors can explore the open-air bounty, full of fresh vegetables and ripened fruits from area farmers. The market also offers baked goods, green plants and local artisanal creations. Market visitors can also enjoy lunch and live music. For more information on Milican Reserve visit, millicanreserve. org. For more to things to do in Bryan-College Station, visit www. bcschamber.org and www.visitaggieland.com. Somerville Lake Somerville can provide seniors with a relaxing getaway. According to the lake’s website, both Birch Creek, located at 14222 Park Road 57, and Nails Creek, located at 6280 FM 180 in Ledbetter, units of Lake Somerville State Park, offer a multitude of recreational opportunities such as camping, picnicking, boating, fishing, hiking, biking, volleyball, horseshoes, basketball, backpacking and equestrian use. More than 20 miles of trail are open to hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians, affording visitors the opportunity to exercise and enjoy the beauty of the park. Water lovers can enjoy boating, fishing, swimming and skiing on Lake Somerville. For more information visit, tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/lakesomerville. La Grange The Jersey Barnyard, at 3117 Texas 159 in LaGrange, consists of approximately 100 cows that are milked twice every day. The farmers also farm 740 acres for pasture and hay. According to the farm’s website, the farmers welcome visitors to stop by to see where milk comes from and what has to happen for a gallon of milk to appear in the grocery store. Visitors are welcome to take a tour of the farm for a small fee. A tour guide will take them on a guided educational tour to feed and pet the barnyard animals and see the working family Jersey dairy. For more information on this farm visit www.texasjersey.com. More There is always something for anyone in the 50 plus crowd to do within a day’s drive from Bryan-College Station. For additional daytrip ideas, check out other areas near the Brazos Valley, such as Round Top (www.roundtop.org) and Bastrop (www.visitbastroptx. com), or find a nearby park at tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks. A quick web search can turn up boundless ideas; a few more sites with day trip ideas include thedaytripper.com, www. allacrosstexas.com, www.trails.com and www.traveltexas.com.
March 1, 2016 | 7
Interesting ways for seniors to enjoy travel
Metro Creative Connection Research indicates that traveling is at the top of the list of interests motivating today’s men and women over the age of 50. Seniors are perhaps the most likely demographic to indulge their love of traveling. Retirement leaves lots of time for recreation, and many choose to spend that time on the road. Travel also can improve adult longevity, say geriatricians at the University of Arkansas. Those in the travel industry understand that
men and women over 50 comprise a large percentage of their customers and have catered many travel packages toward this influential demographic. The following is a look at some of the more popular travel opportunities for men and women over 50. Genealogical tourism: This is one of the fastestgrowing markets in vacation travel. Genealogical
See Travel page 9
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Travel
from page 8 tourism involves individuals traveling to areas of historical significance for their families, such as churches where past relatives may have married and villages where grandparents or cousins once resided or were employed. This can create a tangible link to one’s past and open up more opportunities to learn the varied genealogical history that has shaped a family, and even one’s personal identity. Extended vacations: Seniors may have the capacity to devote more
Memory Medic from page 4
with incoherent, ineffective and even destructive legislation. Common sense methods for organizing The underlying principle should be to have a place for everything and put everything in its place. Examples: • Put important items (bills, car keys, purse, etc.) in their own same place. • Put sticky note reminders in key places. • Keep a calendar (but remember to check it each day). • Get a file cabinet and label the files in the most meaningful ways. • Have a tote bag or briefcase that always has in it what you need for the day. Be proactive. If information of a given type accumulates over time, don’t wait until the end to organize it. Organize as it goes along. For example, my federal tax information accumulates throughout the year. I don’t wait until tax time to organize it. As bills, receipts and the like come in during the year, I file them in file cabinet folders I have already set up for income tax return preparation. Come April, I can put all the information the tax accountant needs in a matter of a few minutes. And it reduces his time, which lowers my tax preparation bill. Computer methods Computers give us access to enormous amounts of information. But the bad news is that the more information, the greater the need for T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
always aspired to climb a mountain or see a rain forest may be inclined to realize these goals as they get older. Nontraditional tours can include living like indigenous peoples or following the footsteps of early explorers.
time to travel and not be caged in by strict time constraints. That makes them eligible for extended vacations. These can include long-term rentals in tropical locales, several-week sightseeing cruises or guided tours overseas that touch on several different countries or cities during the trip.
All-inclusive tours: All-inclusive packages remain a popular option for travelers of all ages. These vacation packages charge one price for accommodations, entertainment, sightseeing, food and many other amenities. All-inclusive vacations remove some of the headaches associated with organizing various components of travel so that a person
Off the beaten path: Adventurous travelers may not be content to stick to the resort lifestyle or standard vacation options. Active men and women over 50 are charting their own vacation courses with bucket list-style vacations that may be off the beaten path. Travelers who have
You can keep the notes open all the time on the computer desktop or temporarily closed. Stickies is a much more sophisticated system that runs on Windows. Unlike Sticky Notes which appear all at once on the desktop, Stickies notes are separately attached only to whatever document you are working on. • Flashcards provides a simple way to create flashcards with the information you are trying to learn and drill yourself to help make it stick in
good organization. In the case of website addresses, most browsers have good systems for bookmarks, but after a couple years of saving bookmarks, I find that I have not been sufficiently thoughtful as to how I set up folders and subfolders. For other kinds of information, the demand for organizational sophistication varies with the home and workplace workload. Here are a few free computer tools: Tools that synchronize across devices • One-Note On-line is included in Microsoft Windows. It allows creation of separate notebooks, and labeled “pages” within each notebook that accept separately pasted items that can be dragged about the page. • Evernote helps you keep all sorts of notes in topic-specific notebooks. • Google Docs is like Evernote, but is document focused. • Google Calendar helps you track events, set reminders, import appointments straight from Gmail, and is shareable. • Remember the Milk is a “to-do” reminder. It has specific apps for the web and multiple portable devices, and you can connect it to multiple devices. It syncs with Outlook or Google mail.
can focus on relaxation and having fun. Singles meets: Single vacationers over 50 may want to meet other men or women in their age bracket in the hopes of finding romance. These vacations double as relationship mixers and give men and women the opportunity to mingle with others in similar situations without the pressure of traditional dating. Travel is a way to see the world, meet new people and experience various cultures. Seniors increasingly embrace travel because they have both the time and the means to take vacations.
your mind. • WiseMapping is a mind mapping tool that provides you with an awesome way to keep notes in an organized fashion. Items in the map can have attached text commentary. Maps can be shared and exported in multiple formats. Readers wanting to know more about how the brain works may be interested in Dr. Bill’s recent book, “Mental Biology” (Prometheus).
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Other tools • TelePixie sends wake-up calls, reminders and alerts to your mobile phone. • Sticky Notes comes with Microsoft Windows, and is a computer version of the paper sticky notes you put on the refrigerator, walls and elsewhere.
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CALENDAR Ongoing Sit and Fit Chair Exercises - Seniors meet at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, from noon to 1 p.m. Gentle workout while sitting in a chair. Features fat-burning aerobics and weight lifting. For more details, contact 979-7646351 or mrodgers@cstx.gov. Line dance workshop for beginners – Seniors are invited to a free line dance workshop for beginners, held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on the first, second and third Monday of each month, at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Learn the steps and terminology. No registration necessary. Contact 7646351 or mrodgers@cstx.gov for more information. Line Dancing - Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, holds line dancing for seniors on Tuesdays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and on Fridays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Low impact workout, to the hottest tunes. For more information, contact 979-764-6351, 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov. Classic Country and Bluegrass Jam Session – Bluegrass Jam Session is from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. All levels welcome. Bring string instruments and a friend. Open to all who like to listen to or play this kind of music. For more details, contact 979-764-6351 or mrodgers@cstx.gov. Friday Bridge - Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, offers bridge for seniors on Fridays from 9 to 11:30 a.m. For more, contact 979-764-6351 or mrodgers@cstx.gov. Learn how to play 42 dominoes - Learn the game of 42 every Wednesday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or mrodgers@ cstx.gov for more information. 42 dominoes - Seniors meet every Thursday to play 42 at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. For more details, contact 979-764-6351 or mrodgers@cstx.gov. Bible study – Bible study is held for seniors at 9:15 a.m. every Thursday at Lincoln Center, 1000 Eleanor St. in College Station. Contact 979-7643779 or awilliams@cstx.gov for more information. Maj Jongg - Seniors interested in learning the game will meet at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station on Thursdays from 9 to 11:30 a.m. For more information, contact 764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov. Game Night - Seniors are invited to Game Night from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays at Southwood Community
Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Table games and dominoes provided or bring your own favorite game. Meet friends and enjoy a fun game night. For more information contact 979-7646371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov. Dominoes - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, plays dominoes all day on Tuesdays and Fridays and from noon to closing Wednesdays. Sack lunch for those playing dominoes from 11:30 a.m. to noon Wednesdays. For more details: 979-822-6873/www. brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com. Bridge – Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, plays Bridge from 12:30 p.m. until closing on Tuesdays; noon to closing on Thursdays; and 12:20 p.m. to closing Fridays. Partner needed Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more details: 979-822-6873 or www. brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com. Games - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, plays board games, Scrabble and other card games on Tuesdays. For more details: 979-822-6873/www. brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com. Bible study - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, holds Bible study 9:15 to 9:45 a.m. on Wednesdays. For more information, call 979-822-6873 or visit www. brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com. Exercise class - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, holds exercise class 9:45 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays. For more details, call 979-822-6873 or visit www. brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com. Bingo - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, plays Bingo 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays. For more details: 979-822-6873 or www.brazoscountyseniorcitizens. weebly.com. Canasta - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, plays Canasta from 11:30 a.m. to closing on Thursdays. For more details, call 979-822-6873 or visit www. brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com. Potluck luncheon - Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, 1402 Bristol St. in Bryan, has a potluck luncheon 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fridays. For more, call 979-822-6873 or visit www. brazoscountyseniorcitizens.weebly.com. One-on-one computer help - 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays and Saturdays at Larry J. Ringer Library, 1818 Harvey Mitchell Pkwy. S. in College Station. Contact the Reference Desk to schedule a 30-minute session, at 979-764-3416. For more information, visit www.bcslibrary.org. Free Beginning Bridge Class - All seniors 55 and older who would like to learn the game of bridge
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are invited to join every Wednesday in March from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. at Southwood Community Center. To register call 979-764-6351 or email mrodgers@ cstx.gov. March 2 Computer Club for seniors: “All Things Google” - The Computer Club is open to all seniors interested in learning more about the computer world. Meetings are held at Carter Creek Training Room, 2200 North Forest Parkway in College Station, at 9:30 a.m. No pre-registration needed. For more information, contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-7646371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov. March 3 Free seminar on Estate Planning and Probate – Seminar by local attorney, Marie Portales Rodriguez. Monthly education seminars are offered at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, from noon-1 p.m. No registration necessary. Open to all seniors. For more information, call 979-764-6371 or email mrodgers@ cstx.gov.
See Calendar page 11
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Calendar
from page 10 March 8 Senior World Passport Program: Korea Texas A&M Public Partnership and Outreach and College Station Parks & Recreation Department hold this free program for seniors. Enjoy presentations on different countries at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, from 10 -11 a.m. No pre-registration needed. For more information, contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-7646371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov. March 15 Nutrition Education by Texas A&M Agrilife - Texas A&M AgriLife Extension offers monthly cooking demos with new recipes and food choices for healthy living. Join other seniors at Lincoln Center, at 1000 Eleanor, from 10-11 a.m. For more information, contact Annie Williams at 979-764-3779. March 16 Family History Computer Group: “Ten years between the census” - The Computer Group shares an interest in finding family history and storing it on your computer. Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month at Carter Creek Training Room, at 2200 N. Forest Parkway in College Station, from 9:30-11 a.m. No registration is required. Open to adults 55 and older. For more information, contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov. Exploring History Luncheon: “The Meridian Highway: Advancement of Auto Accommodations” - The College Station Historic Preservation Committee and the College Station Parks and Recreation Department present monthly lectures with lunch on the history of the community. The luncheons are held at Aldersgate Church, at 2201 Earl Rudder Freeway South in College Station. A reservation is necessary for lunch; the cost is $5. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. Speaker will begin at noon. RSVP the Friday before the luncheon at 979764-6351 or mrodgers@cstx.gov. March 17 Free Movie and Popcorn: “My All American” Adults 55 and older are invited to enjoy a free movie and popcorn at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Movie begins at 1 p.m. For more information, contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov. March 22 Computer 101 Class - Learn basic computer skills and how to use the Internet and e-mail. Class is offered on Tuesday and Thursdays for two weeks T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
from 9-10:30 a.m. at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Cost is $45. To register visit rectrac.cstx.gov or call 979764-3486. Computer 102 Class - Basic computer skills required. Class offers instruction on tool bar functions, formatting documents, use of picture tools, printers and more.Class meets on Tuesday and Thursdays for two weeks from 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Cost is $45. To register, visit rectrac.cstx.gov or call 979-764-3486. College Station Medical Center’s free Diabetes Self-Management Program – Free six-week accredited diabetes education program, offered by the College Station Medical Center, promotes healthy living with diabetes. Class is held 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, starting March 22, in the auditorium at 1651 Rock Prairie Road in College Station (across from the College Station Medical Center). Class helps participants take control of their diabetes and teaches: practical ways to deal with pain, fatigue and depression; easier ways to plan meals and read nutrition labels; better ways to talk to doctors and family members about their health; and how to take action and solve health challenges. This class will also be offered from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. starting April 4 and 1-3:30 p.m. starting May 3. The deadline to sign up for any of the three classes is 10 business days before the class begins. Contact Cindy Roberts at 979-764-5139. March 23 Senior World Passport Program: Poland - Texas A&M Public Partnership and Outreach and College Station Parks & Recreation Department hold this free program for those ages 55 and up. Enjoy presentations on different countries at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, from 10 -11 a.m. No preregistration needed. For more information, contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979764-6371 or mrodgers@ cstx.gov.
month at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, at 10 a.m. Visitors welcome. For more information, call 979-764-6371 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov. March 29 Free Health Tip Session: “Keep Your Senses Sharp” - Monthly health education sessions are offered by Angels Care Home Health. Nurses will speak on this topic at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, from 1011 a.m. No registration necessary. Open to those 55 and older. For more information contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov. March 30 Senior World Passport Program: Argentina Texas A&M Public Partnership and Outreach and College Station Parks & Recreation Department present this free program for seniors. Enjoy presentations on different countries at Southwood Community Cente,r 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, from 10 -11 a.m. No pre-registration needed. For more information contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.
Home Care Committed to Keeping you Independent We provide quality non-medical care in any setting from your home to the hospital throughout the Brazos Valley.
We Specialize in
Companionship • Fall prevention Running errands/doctor visits • Personal hygiene/bathing
March 28 Senior Advisory Committee meeting - The Senior Advisory Committee meets on the last Monday of each
Call for your FREE assessment. Let us show you the Signature Select difference! Family & Aggie Owned 1716 Briarcrest Drive, #300 in Bryan• Phone: 979-691-7309
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Always here. Always caring. Always giving you our best. St. Joseph is now CHI St. Joseph Health. For 80 years, St. Joseph has cared for the people and families of the Brazos Valley. From times of emergency and illness to times of great joy and healing, we’ve always been here for you, always caring and always giving you our best through all of life’s moments. We’re proud to have joined the Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) family of more than 105 hospitals nationwide in leading the way to healthier communities for us all. When Mary "Mike" Hatcher needed a local hospital she could trust, we were there for her. And we'll be there to care for you and your loved ones, too...as always.
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T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E