BoomerBuzz Magazine April 2014

boomerbuzz magazine WELCOME to MY LEARNING CENTER The Mortgage Calculators & Document Checklist

Jump Into Spring ...

Literally!

Springtime DINING AL FRESCO

boomers...living life to the fullest | APRIL 2014

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APRIL: IN THIS ISSUE

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

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April Showers, Bring May Flowers

FEATURE

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Welcome to My Learning Center

HEALTHY BALANCE

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Jump Into Spring…Literally, Gardening Checklist

NEWS WORTHY

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In the News, Why Can’t Boomers Hold Their Alcohol Anymore?

YOUR STYLE

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Dining Al Fresco, Bright & White Ladies Spring Fashions

BOOM VOYAGE

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REDEFINING

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It’s Never To Late to Define Yourself

SENIOR SCENE

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Knocking on Heaven’s Door

On the Cover: Beautiful art from Gabriel Munoz of Coppell, TX. Thanks for sharing your colorful bouquet!

Finding Your Greek Isle

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PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Robin Roberson TECHNICAL & WEBSITE DESIGN AdPow, Inc. BoomerBuzz RADIO DIRECTOR Raul Enriquez PUBLIC RELATIONS Isabell Rossignol PHOTOGRAPHY Becca Menig & Katherine Garcia CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Suzannah Garrett

Cynthia Stock

Sonja Kabell

Kara Times

Hanson Myers

Randy Watkins

Stanford Smythe

Karol Wilson

Cynthia Stock

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REGISTRATION ON OR USE OF THE MAGAZINE CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF BOOMERBUZZ MAGAZINE’S USER AGREEMENT AND PRIVACY POLICY. THE MATERIALS ON THIS SITE MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED, DISTRIBUTED, TRANSMITTED, CACHED OR OTHERWISE USED, EXCEPT WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM BOOMERBUZZ MAGAZINE.

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PUBLISHER’S LETTER Spring has sprung, Spring Fever, Spring Into Spring! That’s what we are doing at BoomerBuzz Magazine; April Showers Bring May Flowers is the theme for the current issue and we hope you find something new tucked in the pages of the magazine.

If you plan to move this season or are just starting to consider a home change in My Learning Center by Randy Watkins, a series we will be showcasing over the next few months, you will have access to Mortgage Calculators and Documents Checklist. And we help you ready your physical activities and garden in the “Healthy Balance” section.

“In the News” has some very interesting tidbits for boomers that are totally noteworthy with new heart surgery options making news, Gen Xers having greater diabetes than our generation and boomers being single at midlife and not being able to drink as much as we used to. And of course what would spring be without new fashions ladies you will know just what is in style this season and Karol Wilson serves up a delicious menu for Dining Al Fresco. Yummy!

With boomers spending more on leisure travel than any other segment of the population an excellent choice for spring travel might be the Greek Isles and you will learn about the adventures of the lesser islands you might visit.

Beautiful photography will entice you!

BoomerBuzz is proud to announce that Cynthia Stock, one of our original and dedicated contributing writers has published and sold her first book, The Final Harvest of Judah Woodbine, and she discusses the writing and publishing process as well as a great book review of Knocking on Heaven’s Door (for all who care give an aging loved one) in this issue. Both are good reads. Congratulations Cynthia!

I do not usually promote products here but I want to introduce you to Chapau (inside front cover). Last year I met the founders of this interesting jewelry line which combines technology with beauty. It is a specially processed material designed to enhance a color change depending on how it's viewed and the color of the clothing with which it's worn. It is truly, the jewelry of the future!!! For birthdays, anniversaries, Mother’s Day gentleman you will make your better half very happy with a piece of this unique accessory! And it would also be a wonderful bridesmaid gift which is different from anything ever given!

We hope you enjoyed BoomerBuzz Travel and BoomerBuzz Radio which we launched last month and if not give them a read and listen. Both are easily found on BoomerBuzzMagazine.com.

Thanks for reading and Happy Spring,

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Welcome to My Learning Center The Mortgage Calculators & Document Checklist

By Randy Watkins As a trusted mortgage advisor, it’s my job to make sure home buyers understand the home loan process and all their options, every step of the way. Over the next few months I will share some information to help take the mystery out of home mortgages. There will be an overview of different topics offering a better understanding of the home loan process. Once you’re ready to move forward, or if you have any additional questions, you will want more in-depth information to help you make an informed decision about your home financing.

I recommend you start with a mortgage calculator, so you have some insight into what you can expect from a new mortgage; how much you might qualify for, how much you can save when you buy instead of rent, and a look at payment schedules. My website offers such a calculator or your mortgage loan officer can provide you with the same, which should show you the following: Payment Calculator — How much will my monthly payment be?

How much can I borrow? — Plug in some basic financial information to get an idea of how much you may qualify for.

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Refinancing: is it worth it? — For some people, refinancing just isn’t the right solution; for others, it’s a smart option for lowering monthly payments.

Where do you fit in?

Rent vs. Buy — You may be shocked to learn how much you’re spending on rent over the years — and that owning can cost the same or even less!

Interest Only — This is a mortgage option that can help you get into a new home now and keep your payments low for a fixed initial period. See how much you can save!

The information provided by our calculators cannot be guaranteed in regards to your individual financial position by W.J. Bradley Mortgage Capital, LLC. All examples are hypothetical for illustrative purposes only. For the most accurate and personalized results, please contact me directly for more information on a home loan and your financing options.

Once you’ve checked out the calculators and gotten some ideas about what you want to do, we make a list of any questions you may have, explore your options and nail down exactly what you qualify for and how you can achieve your financial goals!

You and your loan lender will need to gather information on your financial situation in order to process your application for a home loan or a refinance of your current loan. You may be asked for some or all of the documentation shown below during the application process. As always, if you have any questions or need help, your mortgage advisor is just a phone call or an email away.

Below I have outlined some of the items usually requested. This is not a comprehensive list but it will get you started.

Income verification:

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Pay stubs for the last 30 days

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W-2 forms for the last two years

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Child support/alimony — friend of the court printout or 12 months’ of cancelled checks*

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Awards letter for Social Security and 1099 for disability income

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When income is derived from rental property, commission, interest or other sources of income besides salary, tax returns may be required

Sources of funds/down payment: •

Bank statements for the last three

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months, including savings, checking and investment accounts •

Stock and securities account statements for the last three months

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HUD settlement statement if using funds from the sale of property

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Sale of asset — proof of ownership, proof of sale and proof of funds transfer

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For gift funds — a gift letter, evidence of transfer and sometimes evidence of withdrawal

If you are self-employed:

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Signed completed tax returns for the past two years, including personal, partnership and corporate if applicable; please include all schedules

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Business profit-and-loss statement year-to-date for current year if more than three months have passed since the end of the tax year

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Current balance sheet

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Copies of last two years of business license

Payment history: •

Cancelled rent or mortgage payment checks for past 12 months, if not available on credit report

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Copy of land contract, if applicable

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Child support/alimony

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Bankruptcy/Consumer Credit counseling proof, if received

Additional information, if applicable: •

Purchase agreement, including legal property descriptions and any addendum

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Divorce Decree

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•

Explanation of discrepancies in credit

* Alimony, child support or separate maintenance income need not be included if it’s not to be considered as income available to repay the loan. Child support or alimony income may be used if you received it for the past 12 months and it will continue for at least three years into the loan period.* Alimony, child support or separate maintenance income need not be included if it’s not to be considered as income available to repay the loan. Child support or alimony income may be used if you received it for the past 12 months and it will continue for at least three years into the loan period.

In the May issue I will share information on Understanding Credit Ratings and a Glossary of Terms you will need to understand.

Randy Watkins Residential Mortgage Loan Originator / NMLS # 177234 direct: 972-381-2426 | cell: 214-684-1164 | fax: 877-273-5832 Randy.watkiins@wjbradley.com | www.mywjb.com/randy-watkins W.J. Bradley Mortgage Capital, LLC 16479 Dallas Parkway, Suite 120 Addison, TX 75001

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JUMP Into SPRING! Literally!

By Sonja Kabell

I have been collecting data and reading publications over the years on why it is so important to become regularly active. Most of us miss this very important component of long-term health. This article will try to influence you to become more active daily and as we move into spring, there is no better time to start.

You have read the headlines and hear it from your doctor - get active! Does regular activity help you lose weight? Sure! I encourage my clients weekly to find something they like to do and get busy. Does being active improve your mood? Absolutely! Going for a walk is a great way to get rid of frustrations and clear your head instead of eating that cookie. However, regular activity does so very much more.

According the Cooper Institute, research clearly shows that all Americans should be regularly physically active to improve overall health and fitness and prevent many unwanted health issues.

The health benefits of physical activity occur for people of all age groups, all race and ethnic groups, and people with disabilities and chronic conditions. Furthermore, the health benefits of physical activity are generally independent of body weight, meaning that overweight or obese adults do gain health and fitness benefits by being regularly physical active. In addition, the benefits of physical activity far outweigh the possibility of adverse outcomes such as injury and heart attacks.

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The major benefits of being regularly active published by the CDC are: • • • •

Control weight Reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease Reduce your risk of diabetes and metabolic syndrome Metabolic syndrome is a condition in which you have some combination of too much fat around the waist, high blood pressure, low HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, or high blood sugar

• • •

Reduce your risk of some cancers like colon and breast cancer Strengthens your bones and muscles which help us as we age Increase your chance of living longer! That in itself should be a motivator!

Now that I have built the case for regular activity, what does that mean? For most adults, it is important to do two types of activity – aerobic and muscle-strengthening. .

For substantial health benefits, adults should do at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) a week of moderate-intensity, or 75 minutes (1 hour and 15 minutes) a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity. Aerobic activity should be performed in episodes of at least 10 minutes and should be spread throughout the week.

Strengthen/Muscle-strengthening activities involve a moderate to high level of intensity or effort and work the major muscle groups of the body: the legs, hips, back, chest, abdomen, shoulders, and arms. Muscle strengthening activities for all the major muscle groups should be done at least 2 days a week.

You now know the what, where and why, and it is your turn to decide on the how! What do you have to lose???

Sonja Kabell, Weight Loss and Wellness Consultant, Founder of Creating Healthy Lifestyles and In the Pink, A Healthier You Radio Talk Show Host on Pegasus Net Waves.

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IN THE NEWS

By Stanford Smythe

New Heart Surgery Shuns Rib Cracking Reported by Bloomberg new technology is aiming to change the face of cardiac care for many aging baby boomers.by allowing doctors to insert man-made heart valves with a catheter instead of cracking open the chest. The procedure can take as little as one week of recovery time since the procedure requires just a 1-inch cut, while open-heart surgery, which pierces the breastbone with a slice that can run the length of the torso, takes as long as eight weeks.

Doctors say the difference is that it can make aortic valves made by Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (EW) and Medtronic Inc. (MDT) -- designed to use the new procedure -- standard issue for heart patients. Medtronic wants to expand use of its valve based on data to be reported at the American College of Cardiology meeting in Washington the last weekend of March. If the findings are positive, CoreValve may join Edwards’ Sapien valve in boosting the procedure’s popularity.

The procedure now is “generally used for people that have contraindications to surgery,” said Robert Siegel director of the Cardiac Noninvasive Laboratory at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. “But we keep pushing that envelope.”

Gen Xers Will Have More Diabetes Than Baby Boomers Generation X, people born from 1966 to 1980 and most children of baby boomers, are fatter and twice as likely to have diabetes as Baby Boomers were at the same age, according to an Australian study that predicts younger generations will be sicker and costlier to care for in old age.

National health survey data were used to compare the groups at age 25 to 44 years. While Generation X was better educated and less likely to smoke, their prevalence of obesity was about 50 percent higher than recorded for Baby Boomers, born from 1946 to 1965, at the same age and especially for males. “The physical activity and food environment has changed drastically over the past decades to one in which transport options

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encourage sedentary behavior and food high in fat and sugar is often more readily available than a healthier alternative,” they said, adding that if trends continue, “there will be significant implications for workforce capacity, health care utilization and, therefore, health costs.”

Their findings, published in PLOS ONE, suggest the current generation of breadwinners may be vulnerable earlier in life to diabetes, hypertension and other lifestyle-related diseases, pulling them out of the labor force at a younger age.

Many Boomers Likely to Be Single in Their Retirement Years An older couple strolling along the beach in retirement or playing golf are depicted in many advertisements, but there’s a good chance that baby boomers will be single during the retirement years. Largely due to the death of a spouse or divorce, 42 percent of Americans age 60 and older were single in 2012, according to Census Bureau data.

Dating in retirement sometimes serves a different purpose than dating in your 20s and 30s. “You are not looking for someone who will be a good parent or to start a family,” says Gail Saltz, a psychiatrist and associate professor of psychiatry at the New York Presbyterian Hospital WeillCornell Medical College. “You are often looking for somebody to have fun with.”

By this age, almost everyone has a complicated relationship history of former spouses and also children. Among the 60-and-older population, 21 percent are single due to widowhood and 14 percent are divorced. Just 5.8 percent of senior citizens never married and 1.5 percent are separated.

“Many have had marriages that have ended under difficult circumstances. Others have served as caretakers to a sick partner and are reticent to enter into another relationship where they might feel obligated,” says Julia Samton, a neuropsychiatrist and director of Manhattan Neuropsychiatric. “After experiencing emotional and/or physical losses, it is common to establish defensive walls that interfere with intimacy. Dating successfully means a commitment and willingness to open up and move forward despite feeling vulnerable and anxious.”

Dating can be especially difficult for women during the retirement years because women significantly outnumber men, especially at the oldest ages. “Single women do outnumber single men, mostly due to widowhood,” Samton says. “In general, for both men and women, the pool gets smaller.”

Stanford Smythe is a speaker, writer and business owner who enjoys consulting.

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Why Can’t Boomers Hold Their Drinks Anymore

By Suzanna Garrett

Once you turn 50 you may not be able to handle your wine, beer or cocktail like you used to.

You may still state, “I can down half a bottle of Napa’s finest and barely feel a thing. I once drank a six-pack on

What gives? Same amount of alcohol, same body, right? Well, no — but then, honestly, you knew that, right? By the time you reach your baby-boom years, even if you eat healthy and exercise, your body composition has probably changed. You are likely to have more fat and less muscle. And that can change

Groundhog Day and was still awake enough to see my shadow.”

Not so fast, baby boomers. As people age, many believe that they feel the effects of alcohol more easily, and science bears this out.

how the body absorbs, and rids itself of alcohol, said Dr. Christine S. Ritchie of the University of California, San Francisco, and a spokeswoman for the American Geriatrics Society.

Your body metabolizes alcohol more slowly than it did in your younger days so it stays in your system longer and it is

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and Type 2 diabetes, the National Institutes of Health recommends that people over 65 shouldn't consume more than seven drinks in a week, and never more than three drinks on a given day.

much easier to get drunk. So, even with no changes to drinking habits, baby boomers probably won't hold their liquor quite as well as they used to.

“Muscle is where we carry most of our water,” Dr. Ritchie said. “So if you have less total body water, the concentration of alcohol is higher.” Some also theorize that because alcohol is fat soluble, having more fat may allow it to remain in the body longer.

Because many of us are taking prescription drugs, which might interact with the alcohol, we may also feel the effects of alcohol more than when we were younger. And there may also be another explanation. Many people may not really recognize the small cognitive impairments that have come with age, but when drinking, it may be a different matter. Alcohol may unmask some of those changes.

All this means that on a holiday, while we health-conscious boomers are thinking twice about how much to eat, we should also think about how much we are drinking. Nodding off at the table is one thing. Nodding off behind the wheel is something entirely different.

And by the way, that was not your shadow you saw on Groundhog Day — unless you have a tail.

While there is some evidence that a single drink per day may protect against coronary heart disease, heart attacks

Suzanna Garrett is a health writer from Tallahassee, FL who enjoys finding unique ways to enjoy eating and drinking without the detriments.

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DINING AL FRESCO Spring is here and it’s time to move dining outdoors. Here’s a great spring menu that’s easy and healthy.

Of course, if you can’t resist, place out bowls of your favorite potato salad (consider making it with nonfat plain Greek yogurt) or chips and hot sauce and let guests make the choice to indulge. A light Pilsner beer or a sweeter white wine are perfect beverage selections.

Endive Wraps

Makes 36 Ingredients: ¼ cup olive oil (evoo) 2 Tbsp. fresh grated ginger 2 lb. diced (small) chicken breast ¼ cup teriyaki sauce (low sodium) 1 Tbsp. sesame oil 1 lb. dried cherries, rough chop 2 cups shredded carrots ½ cup diced green onions 36 endive leaves ½ cup toasted almond slices

Preparation: Heat olive in a large pan over medium heat. Add ginger and chicken and saute 5-6 minutes until chicken is completely cooked. Remove from heat.

Transfer chicken to a bowl and add teriyaki sauce, sesame oil, cherries, carrots and green onions. Mix well.

Refrigerate 1 hour or up to 2 days.

Place 1 Tbsp. of chicken mixture on each endive leaf and garnish with toasted almonds.

23 Berry season is just about to begin in Texas. Here’s a fresh strawberry salad to try. Add a little chicken with a little more dressing for a light lunch.

Strawberry-Basil Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

Serves 6 Ingredients: 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 3 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

½ tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. pepper (consider white pepper) 8 C. Romaine lettuce, torn 2 C. sliced strawberries (about 1 lb.) ½ C. vertically-sliced Vidalla or 1015 onions ¼ C. torn fresh basil Preparation: Combine the evoo, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Stir well with a whisk. Add lettuce, berries, onion, and basil. Toss gently to coat and serve immediately.

After your strawberry salad, it’s time for the main dish. The skewered shrimp and coconut with a tangy dipping sauce can be prepared indoors with a heavy-duty grilling pan or outdoors on the grill, but keep the skewers and shrimp away from direct heat and soak your skewers in water before you get started.

24 Shrimp Skewers with Coconut and Jalapeno-Cilantro Dipping Sauce

Ingredients for the sauce: 3 Tbsp. light coconut milk ¼ cup chopped cilantro 1 Tbsp. lime juice ¼ cup chopped and seeded jalapeno ¼ cup salt Ingredients for the skewers: 2 Tbsp. fresh pineapple juice 1 Tbsp. evoo 1 tsp. grated lime rind 1 tsp. minced garlic ¼ tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. red pepper 20 shrimp (about ½ lb.), peeled and deveined 20 one-inch cubes of fresh pineapple 10 6” skewers Preparation for sauce: Combine first 4 ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Stir in ¼ tsp. salt and cover and chill for at least 30 minutes.

Preparation for skewers: Combine pineapple juice, evoo, rind, garlic, ¼ tsp. salt and 1/8 tsp. red pepper in a large bowl. Add shrimp and toss to coat. Let stand 10 minutes.

Thread 2 shrimp and 2 pineapple cubes alternately onto each of 10 6” skewers. Brush skewers with pineapple juice mixture.

Heat heavy grill pan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add skewers to pan. Cook 4 minutes on each side or until shrimp is done. Serve with dipping sauce.

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A light dessert is the final touch to your patio soiree. This tart is so simple to make and the yogurt and berries make it a decadent choice without the guilt. If you’re not a blackberry fan, see the alternative that follows.

Frozen Fruit Tart Ingredients: 2 – 2 1/4 cups lowfat vanilla yogurt 9” graham cracker crust 12 oz. fresh blackberries 2 Tbsp. confectioner’s sugar Preparation: Whip yogurt and pour into pie crust. Use back of spoon to smooth and place in freezer for 3 – 4 hours.

Remove and place fresh berries on top. Freeze another 20 minutes at least, and then dust with the sugar prior to serving.

Variation: Use peach yogurt, peaches, and drizzle lightly with maple syrup.

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Bright & White for Ladies Spring Fashions

By Kara Times

From simple blouses to tribal inspirations, this season’s spring trends are wearable and easy to transition to summer. Most of the newest fashions reflect a previous season and can be found in your favorite boutique or department store.

The classic white blouse or boyfriend button-up was reinterpreted on the runway for spring, but look for a necktie detailing, embellishments or asymmetric cuts for a new spin The plaid oxford is upgraded this season with feminine details, patterns, and new silhouettes. These blouses looks great tucked in denim and skirts. And watch for the shirt dress to make a comeback!

It is time to trade in your heels and espadrilles for Luxury Loafers. Best paired with capri’s or denim, these flat versions come in many colors, textures, and designs. Best bet: Cole Haan loafers. But if you prefer a little “pep in your step” Del Toro has a style just for you!

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Bright colorful florals are a no-brainer for spring.

From small prints to large blooms, look for this trend in knits, weaves, and dresses. Tops are best paired with solids. But pay attention to your body type when wearing this spring fashion trend. If you are afraid to wear fresh garden florals try a lovely handbag or shoe.

If

wearing

flowers does not tickle your fancy, try opting for Ikat tribal prints instead. They can carry you throughout the season into fall. with colors as rich and bold as the sunset on the Serengeti.

When in doubt, wear black & white as the classic color combination this season. This is a simple easy look that most women have in their closet. Make this look into your own with jackets, handbags, and accessories.

Pant legs are ranging from skinny to full. The palazzo pant is officially back and most brands are bringing back this high-waisted pant in many prints and colors. Pair this pant with a solid tee and a denim jacket Sporting a backpack is back!! This is not the school bag you used to carry. Instead, this bag is smaller with details and different fabrics.

When wearing this look, it is meant to be over one-shoulder not on the back.

The hottest color this spring is white and while it can be worn with any color, the most sophisticated combination is with creamy beige or tawny.

My tip for the spring season shopping spree is to look for options that last into next season.

Happy Shopping!

Kara Times is a Board Member for The Fashion Group International-Houston that lives in Houston Texas.

30 The most common questions about gardening come from people just starting out: What do I do? How do I start? Ask any experienced gardener and they will tell you they never stop learning, so don’t wait until you think you ‘know it all’ to get started; try following some common guidelines, get started NOW, and learn as you go. Preparations are a critical part of spring gardens and checklists are a must so nothing is overlooked. Here are a few tips and techniques for achieving the green environment and healthy foods you and your family want to enjoy for the next growing season and years to come.

Choose a date six weeks back from the last frost date in your part of the country to determine a timeline and follow this list.

•

Need new beds? Try laying out newspaper 5 - 6 sheets deep, add several inches of compost over the sheets. This will kill existing vegetation by smothering it. Then, four months later, you can dig it up to work the compost into the soil. No sod removal is required. This is best done in December, January or early February.

•

Shop and order seeds in December, January, or the first week in February. The earlier the better for best selections.

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Test soil to determine nutrients lacking for good growth of particular plants or garden. Use your county extension service as a resource. Ask them what you need to do, how long it will take, and how you can plan accordingly.

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Check shrubs and woody plants to determine what needs pruning. Follow your local nursery recommendations for early spring bloomers like forsythia, and prune promptly after flowering is complete.

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For perennials, Spring is the time to transplant divisions or movement of the full plants. Work out plant trades with neighbors or garden club members.

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Check gardening and lawn tools for cleaning and sharpening, especially the shovels and small hand tools. Service your mower if you forgot last fall. Budget for new or replacement tools now.

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Organize your garden shed or workbench. Clean, sterilize, and organize and replace damaged terracotta pots. Do the same with any planters or starter trays. Try sterilizing with a bleach and water solution of 1 part bleach to ten parts of clean hose water. Rinse with clean hose water thoroughly after sterilizing with the bleach-water solution and dry completely. Do outside or in well-ventilated area or in fall.

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Clean and repair outdoor furniture. If too cold to paint, you have a head start before the weather warms.

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Check your chemicals (if you are not organic) for any old ones you might have stored. Dispose of properly by calling your Waste Management Department for guidance on recycling or disposing of any which are hazardous.

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Finding “Your� Greek Isles for a Springtime Vacation

By Hanson Myers

Fishing boats cast colorful reflections in azure waters, whitewashed villages cascade down lavender-dusted slopes, and craggy headlands are punctuated by ancient ruins. Greece is one of those rare places where ancient history is still very much a part of modern life and visitors are as much drawn to the country’s epic intellectual history as its beauty and charm.

With more than 2,000 islands, ranging from tiny atolls to the veritable continent that is Crete, maritime Greece is unmatched sheer variety.

Beaches, history, walking, cycling, water sports, festivals, food ecology: chances are if you want it, they've got it.

The sunny climate, great beaches, and relaxed culture attract travelers from all corners of the world although deciding which islands to visit can be daunting. Here are just a few of the incomparable offerings to consider.

Hydra, Saronic Gulf Wealthy Athenians head to charming Hydra for relaxing weekend breaks: cars, motorbikes and high-rise buildings are banned on the island.

Hydra port is the only town; the interior is largely uninhabited. Narrow streets lead from the pretty harbour to the cathedral, museum, monasteries, churches and galleries. Donkeys and water taxis transport tourists to small villages and swimming spots along the coast. The architecture is unique for the region, with many art galleries and museums in 18th-century mansions.

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Milos, Cyclades This volcanic island has a spectacular lunar landscape of red, brown and white rocks, and around 70 equally colourful beaches: white, gold, red and grey. There are pretty whitewashed fishing villages and more rugged mountain settlements. White rock formations, Milos. Photograph: Corbis

Kastelorizo, Dodecanese Tiny Kastelorizo is Greece's smallest permanently inhabited island and the furthest from Athens. It has pretty Anatolian-style houses, hilltop castles and very clear seas.

Fresh seafood at one of the many tavernas flanking the harbour is the way to go. Take a boat to the Blue Grotto, a dazzling sea cave underlit by refracted sunlight – it is much bigger than the more famous grotto in Capri, Italy. Carry on to St George, a tiny rock-isle, to snorkel and sunbathe in seclusion. Back on Kastellorizo, hike up to the monastery and castle above the harbour for views across to Kas in Turkey – or even take a day trip there. Kastelorizo island. Photograph: Alamy Ithaca, Ionian Trek along the cobbled footpaths or cycle around the dirt roads of the interior or visit Exogi and Anogi, two crumbling villages on twin capes in the north of the island with views across the archipelago. Ithaca is just a 45-minute ferry ride from Kefalonia, but is far less developed. In the lush green valleys and rugged hills, hiking trails lead walkers to hidden ruins and stunning sea views. You can brush up on your Greek myths at the archaeological sites, as Ithaca is thought to be the homeland of Homer's Odysseus.

Frikes Bay, Ithaca. Photograph: Corbis

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Syros, Cyclades A bustling, working island, Syros, is littlevisited by foreign tourists, although Athenians have caught on to its charms. It has a fascinating capital, Ermoupolis (also the capital of the Cyclades), a 13thcentury Venetian-built town called Ano Syros with narrow lanes and marble steps lead to St George's church, from where there are panoramic views of six neighboring islands and lovely beaches in the north.

On the third Sunday in August the Kakavia (Bouillabaisse) Festival is celebrated and every September the “trygopati�, vine harvest stomping takes place.

Tilos, Dodecanese With a countryside peppered with Byzantine chapels, Crusader castles, a monastery and an abandoned village, Tilos specializes in eco-tourism and is a protected environment, with an abundance of birds and other wildlife. The valleys are full of wildflowers, pine, oak and almond trees.

In one cave the remains of a previously unknown species of dwarf elephant were found: there's an exhibition about the discovery. Of the island's 19 beaches, many can only be reached on foot or by boat.

No matter which island(s) you visit you are destined to be enraptured by white-washed houses, turquoise waters as far as the eye can see, romantic sunsets, Mediterranean flavors, and mythological references.

Hanson Myers is a world traveler and freelance travel

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It’s Never Too Late to Define Yourself Self-Publishing: An Alternate Route for Writers

By Cynthia Stock

I have always been a writer. I kept journals for many years, took creative writing classes, and read, and read some more. My first novel started as a short story. In a small writer’s workshop after several rewrites, my story grew into a novel. At the time I believed writing was the hardest part.

I suffered sleepless nights when my protagonist wouldn’t leave me alone. I sat for long hours at the computer creating a world in which my character evolved. I submitted chapters to workshops and cried when I had to excise parts of my “baby” to make the exposition tighter and eliminate unnecessary words. I agonized over the constructive criticism of a professional

editor. When I finished the rewrite, I felt satisfied and ready to call myself an author.

Think again. In a talk about creativity and art, Phillip Glass said he didn’t feel his music was complete until it had been heard. So I felt about my novel. And the second part of the author’s journey began. I was ready for anything with one limitation: I wanted my book published before I turned sixty-three.

In the course of my education about writing and publishing, I took classes from a community writing organization as well as a local university. The university classes and instructors provided a glimpse of publishing in the historical sense: acquisition of an agent, sale of the book by an agent, purchasing of the book by an established house, and marketing, printing, and distribution driven by that house. Time and experience taught me publishing was a business in flux thanks to the computer age, environmental issues, and, of course, the bottom line.

The university provided select authors an opportunity to go to New York and meet with several agents of well-known publishing houses in hopes of being “picked-up.” I flew to this experience with high hopes, belief in the quality of my work, and not the faintest idea of how to sell

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myself, the proverbial “untested” author. I blogged about Moneyball, the movie in which a GM takes a chance on questionable talent in MLB. I researched editors, rehearsed my synopsis and sell, and made myself sick from the stress. In New York I received one request for my full manuscript, one for a partial, and very cordial rejection e-mails.

Then I began the unsolicited submission process. I only sent to agents open to unsolicited material. I found many who did not or who were not accepting any new material because they were inundated with submissions. I realized from my working writers groups how many aspiring writers existed. I started a folder to keep track of which agents I submitted to, what I sent, and if I got a response. Hand-written, personalized rejections were touted by instructors to be an exceptional compliment. Many more were form letters with electronic stamps. As my list of rejections grew, I became more skilled at matching agents with my genre, sharpening my synopsis, and mass producing packets of cover letters, the synopsis, and the first fifty pages of my manuscript. I took solace knowing the author of The Help received almost sixty rejections, that Dr. Seuss garnered over four hundred. I labored in between stretches of twelve hour shifts, strained my marriage, and gained thirty pounds.

I never lost faith in the quality of my work, but I chose a new approach: self-publishing. It was a decision I don’t regret.

For someone unable to find an agent, selfpublishing services amount to a smorgasbord of choices. Another writer-friend had already selfpublished. After she shared her experience, I followed her lead and began by searching the company’s web site, publishing packages, and, of course, cost. Publishing packages existed across a continuum of price and author participation. Until I began to shop, I didn’t realize I would need to be a decision maker and marketer of my product. A career in professional nursing hardly prepared me for such an undertaking.

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I finally bought a mid-priced package. The company made the process remarkably pain free. From the beginning, contact people helped me format my manuscript to company standards, provided me with thorough editorial comment and recommendations, suggested reasonable time frames for task accomplishments, and updated me frequently about processes out of my hands.

I selected my book cover from a limited pool photographs. To my amazement, the one I chose was almost the exact one I had picked four years ago before completing the first draft. I compared chapter layout and formatting to several books in my personal library and found them comparable to traditionally published books. The turnaround time for changes suggested by my feedback occurred in a timely manner. I attended to small details and felt the accomplishment of my dream within reach.

I received an electronic proof copy for my approval.

Shortly thereafter a package arrived in the mail. I was at work when it came. My husband placed it on the shelves in the foyer. The next day, a representative from the company called and asked my opinion.

“Of what?” I asked. With the phone in one hand, I found the package and opened it.

Energy surged through my body. I didn’t need to say anything because the joy in my voice said everything. I held my novel in its hard proof copy. Five years of work took tangible shape. All the files of chapters in their original and rewritten forms, all the

on-line saved documents, all the time spent molding and shaping the characters in the life of the novel came together. Despite the beautiful cover, the artistic design of chapter pages, and the presentation of the jacket biography and synopsis, reality hit me when I found the ISBN and Library of Congress numbers. I was a published author.

I want my novel to be read by those who love the written word. It would be nice if it were a best seller. I have already cast the stars to play my protagonist in the different stages of his life on screen.

I have received my invitation to the Oscars for which it received a “Best Picture” nomination. In reality I deserve to celebrate my part in two accomplishments: the writing and the publishing. And on this day that is more than enough. I just found out I sold my first book.

Cynthia Stock is an RN in Dallas, TX and a published author.

Contact @ www.Cynthia-Stock.com

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Knocking on Heaven’s Door: More Than a Beautiful Lyric

By Cynthia Stock

I confess. Sometimes I cry when I read a book. Imagery, exposition, and visceral emotion give birth to tears. Most recently, the intricate weave of fact with intimate details of the death of Katy Butler’s father in Knocking on Heaven’s Door hit me with such force I wept. Ms. Butler shares an emotional journey and couples it with statistics and trends in modern health care.

Knocking on Heaven’s Door resonated with my professional and personal soul. As a nurse celebrating my fortieth year of bedside practice, I doubted a “non-medical” person could teach me. But when Ms. Butler shared her poignant memory of the tender touch rendered by a technician who shaved her father, she affirmed my practice of shaving men daily.

From that anecdote in the book, I knew she understood my point of view as a seasoned practitioner. As a baby boomer torn by tending my own health issues and those of my mom’s, I saw my private self on almost every page.

A minor deficiency in nursing student experience symbolizes the health care

behemoth in which technology increases exponentially, while ethics and human dignity decline. Today nursing students get out of school having never shaved a patient.

They can talk about drugs, pulmonary artery pressures, and advanced practice, but haven’t learned about comfort and individualized care.

Thanks to scientific advancements, medicine has the capacity to do more and more. Technology abounds in every wellequipped tertiary care facility. As a young nurse I grew and embraced change every year I practiced at the expense of compassionate care. Ms. Butler provides the insight to why and how this juxtaposition of priorities took place. She illustrates how a modern, aggressive approach to health care devours a family.

And she creates an impetus for rethinking the goals and process of health care delivery.

After her father’s first stroke, Ms. Butler and her mother embarked on a tumultuous course to provide the best care for him. It

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seemed after every decision, another challenge requiring another decision appeared. For every step forward, her father took two steps back. In the process, Ms. Butler’s fiercely independent mother, a loving wife, experienced a loss of life of her own. In an effort to keep Mr. Butler home and maximize his recovery, Mrs. Butler subsumed her needs. An act of love, no doubt. But the decisions posed a threat to her physical and emotional survival.

Ms. Butler’s description of the last years of her father’s life can be summed up succinctly. Survival did not mean recovery.

She raises the question that is “the elephant in the room” in any family discussion about health care decisions.

Every person chooses how to live. Is it not a logical conclusion that he should choose how to die?

The availability and cost of advanced medical technology act to complicate the factors in the decision making process. Ms. Butler describes the irony of Medicare’s willingness to pay for a costly pacemaker

while denying the cost of a “truss” to help provide comfort to her father until he could be cleared for a bilateral inguinal hernia repair.

How did our culture get to a place where modern “lifesaving” allows a person to know “the suffering of life without its joys, and the helplessness of death without its peace”?

The diminished value given the family practitioner is a starting point. I remember Dr. Barrow, our family doctor. He treated my anemia when my blood count dropped so low I fainted after a penicillin shot. He addressed my teen-aged depression. He made house calls. He knew my family and the context of our lives. With the advent of multiple specialists and an ever-changing reimbursement structure, family practitioners struggle to survive.

Reimbursement is driven by time, not talking, treatment, not affirmation of the individual as a bio-psycho-social being where three spheres interact to define what health is for that person.

The next problem, simply put, is our passion for technology leaves little room for compassion and planning. In the urgency to fix a problem, an intervention is chosen and implemented with no time for assess the far reaching effects of one procedure. The team members where I work rarely get to see patients on their way home. The question of how a family will function after a patient is discharged hardly is a consideration when recovering a patient

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from open heart surgery or inducing hypothermia after a cardiac arrest. Real time crises diminish the truly fundamental issue of what will happen after discharge.

For any family, anticipation and planning for this must begin before a crisis.

Every hospital uses social workers who manage an amazing portfolio of resources.

Care must be planned around the family as a unit, not just the patient as an individual.

Family harmony versus dysfunction.

Children who are retired and can care for their parents versus those who still work.

Parents who demand their independence versus those incapable of demanding anything. There is no fool proof recipe to cover all situations. Successful transition of a patient from the hospital to the community is a tabula rasa, a work of art attempting to recreate life after a health care event.

Discuss end-of-life issues before death is imminent. Second: As a patient or family member, arm yourself with knowledge and questions about risks, benefits, and possible outcomes of any procedure or treatment, both short and long term. Know that coexisting, pre-existing conditions affect outcomes. Heart surgery is not just about the heart. Include plans on caring for a family member once he is discharged home.

Third: Empower a representative who will speak for someone who cannot.

The power, truth, and insight of Ms. Butler’s make it must reading for health care professionals, anyone with a frail parent or sick relative, and anyone critical of our current health care system. However it is not an easy read, and for many, there will be tears.

For many, differentiating between life and living raises the ultimate conundrum. Is living being warehoused and immobile in bed, in a nursing home? Or is it defined by the ability to do certain things? Is living just a heartbeat and respirations? Or is it the ability to talk, move, read, and interact?

I confront the problems and issues in Knocking on Heaven’s Door on a daily basis.

Because I am a nurse, I am biased, but not jaded, when I suggest solutions. First:

Cynthia Stock is an RN in Dallas and a published author.

Contact @ www.Cynthia-Stock.com