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04 | CONTENTS
SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER: IN THIS ISSUE
PUBLISHER’S LETTER 07 FEATURE 08 IN THE NEWS 10
Fall into Fall Texas Ranks Last in Nursing Home Report Card Surviving Veteran Spouses Missing Benefits Healthcare Reform Survival Guide
HEALTHY LIFE 16 THE ARTS 20 TEXAS STYLE 24 BOOM VOYAGE 27 BOOMER BUZZ 29 SENIOR SENSE 33
Mental Relief of Physical Pain | Easy Cucumber Appetizers See You at the Fair! The Exclusive Marco Bicego Diamond Cairo | Shaping the Grade Kicking Back on the Cabin Veranda A Rule Is a Rule | Mystery Writer Introduces 60 is the New 40 Surviving as a Sandwich Generation Caregiver Politely Rewarding In-Home, Senior-Care Caregivers
ON THE COVER Boomers Enjoying Maguire’s North Dallas Restaurant. Pictured: Fred & Barbara Schlesigner, Raul Enriquez, and Dr. Kat Smith. Photography by Katherine Garcia.
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06 | MASTHEAD
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Chris Attig David Call Christina Castle Lyn E. Cathey Scot Duke Angela S. Duppe John Ebey
Leah Frazier Ryan Holloway Sonja Kabell Edward Lewellen DeeDee Lowder Claire Maestri Michael-John Tucker
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PUBLISHER’S LETTER | 07
PUBLISHER’S LETTER Ah…colorful fall! Football, the kaleidoscope of bright leaves, and cooler temperatures abound. And, of course, it heralds the arrival of fairs and their offerings of fried foods, scary rides and rodeos. You will experience fall in the September/October issue of BoomerBuzz Texas Magazine…a bold, seasonal publication that will hopefully inspire you. Learn about the oldest county fair in the state and a reminder of The State Fair of Texas opening. Plus a few great appetizer recipes that are healthy and delicious! Leah Frazier helps dress you for the season in her article, Fantastic for Fall: The Exclusive Marco Bicego Diamond Cairo. David Call talks about the trends in home décor this season, and travel expert, Lyn E. Cathey, entertains with Kicking Back on the Cabin Verandah! You will also find great books to fall into and be introduced to a female baby boomer sleuth. There’s an unacceptable report card on our nursing homes, news for Vietnam veterans, and an easy-toread healthcare reform guide. The value of the sun each day and mental relief for physical pain are also discussed in this autumnal issue. And, Senior Sense talks about Surviving as a Sandwich-Generation Caregiver and Rewarding In-Home, Senior-Care Caregivers. Anyone who has provided care can tell you it is a hard, hard job at times and caregivers need relief. Our fall issue is definitely a cornucopia of colorful foliage and I hope you enjoy every page!
Happy, happy fall Boomer readers!
08 | FEATURE
Texas Ranks Last in Nursing Home Report Card By Michael-John Tucker Texas gets an F-rating and ranks 51st in the first-ever, state-by-state nursing home report card survey conducted by Families for Better Care (a nursing home resident advocacy group). The group scored, ranked, and graded states on various federal quality measures ranging from percentage of facilities with severe deficiencies, to the number of frontline caregivers averaged per resident, per day (http://nursinghom ereportcards.com/g radingmethodology/). There is a lot to learn from this report, and it gives us a bi-partisan look into the “why� Texas nursing homes are failing. The main finding in the report is the lack of proper staffing for, and abuse and neglect of patients. Out of all 51 states (including District of Columbia), only 7 states provided more than one hour of professional nursing care per resident, per day. According to the report card, fewer than 15% of Texas nursing homes staffed at above-average professional nursing levels, while almost 70% hired at or below the minimum number of caregivers required to meet residents’ needs.
HireDallasNurses.com is disappointed, but not surprised, by these findings; citing that they have been tracking these patterns in our nursing communities for over a year. Our company was founded to advance the nursing community through a higher standard in education and patient care. We examine the topperforming states, see what they are doing, and try to communicate the best practices to the nursing homes here in Texas. This report shows that some states are doing a great job. Alaska is leading the way in how nursing homes should operate in terms of staffing and operations. We believe staffing is the most-important factor in the quality of care people receive at a nursing
FEATURE | 09
facility. We are seeing an unacceptable trend happening in health care (specifically in nursing homes) where the facility is trying to improve their bottom line by cutting corners on staffing. If the number of aides and nurses is too low, the staff is always stressed and unable to provide the care the patient deserves. Moreover, we have found that there is a high turnover-rate causing no continuity in care. This makes the staff unaware of the patients’ needs.
homes accountable for below-standard care. We often work with our clients to educate them on: various “red flags” to look for when trying to choose a nursing facility, what questions to ask, and what resources are available. We are also working with facilities to improve the quality of the hired employees. We offer professional boot camps, training seminars, and retention incentives for facilities to help improve these findings.
We believe the families need to have more education and resources to hold the nursing
In closing, we believe we can change the nursing home values by working in partnership with families, regulatory agencies and the nursing facility. We have a lot of work to do and the baby boomers and elderly deserve optimal care from our state’s nursing facilities.
Michael-John Tucker, HireDallasNurses.com, is an advocate of better health practices in our communities and where the mission is to guide and aid each nurse to become the very best in their field.
10 | IN THE NEWS
Veterans Disability Benefits: Are Surviving Spouses of Vietnam Veterans Missing Out on Past-Due Benefits? By Chris Attig The Attig Law Firm has recently helped two surviving spouses of Vietnam veterans prevail in their claims for benefits to the VA. Both cases resulted in substantial past-due benefit payments to the surviving spouses. Both cases had very similar fact patterns that went unnoticed by a great many attorneys who had previously looked at the cases. This made me wonder – are the surviving spouses of Vietnam veterans missing out on valuable benefits to which they are entitled when the cause of the Veteran’s death was (or should have been) service-connected?
If you are the surviving spouse of a Vietnam veteran who passed away, and the following sounds like your situation, please consider contacting a Veterans Benefits attorney to discuss your case. Vietnam veterans that had “boots on the ground” in Vietnam during the Vietnam War are presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange. For these Vietnam veterans, certain medical conditions are presumed to have been caused by Agent Orange exposure (unless another cause can be definitively proven). If a Vietnam veteran dies from one of those
IN THE NEWS | 11
conditions, then the VA may be able to determine that the veteran’s surviving spouse is entitled to survivor benefits. (See the list below for the conditions I’m referring to) The problem is that the VA doesn’t always know that the Vietnam veteran died of these conditions for 3 major reasons: 1. Either the condition wasn’t known to be connected to Agent-Orange exposure at the time of the veteran’s death, or, 2. The VA made a mistake in concluding that the veteran’s death was not caused by the condition that resulted from Agent-Orange exposure, or they conclude that the condition did not play a substantial role in the veteran’s death, or, 3. At the time of an earlier claim, the Vietnam veteran’s surviving spouse may not have been able to prove that the particular condition caused their husband’s death. What does all that mean for you, the surviving spouse of a Vietnam veteran? Regardless how long it has been since your Vietnam veteran husband passed away, you might be entitled to survivor benefits if some, or all, of the following apply to you: 1. Your husband had “boots on the ground” in Vietnam, during the Vietnam War.
2. Your husband died because of one of these diseases, or you believe that one of these diseases played a role in causing your husband’s death: • AL Amyloidosis • Chronic B Cell Leukemias • Chloracne • Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 • Hodgkin’s disease • Ischemic Heart Disease • Multiple Myeloma • Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma • Parkinson’s Disease • Peripheral Neuropathy • Porphyria Cutanea Tarda • Prostate Cancer • Respiratory Cancers • Soft tissue sarcomas 3. At some point since your husband’s death, you applied for surviving spouse benefits to the VA and were denied. If any, or all, of those criteria apply to you, then you might be entitled to collect a substantial amount of past-due survivor benefits from the VA. This could include past-due benefits dating to the veteran’s date of death, benefits predating the veteran’s death, and a monthly survivor’s annuity known as Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). In these cases, I encourage you to contact a Veterans Benefits attorney to discuss your situation.
Chris Attig is accredited by the VA to handle Veteran and Survivor benefits claims. His law firm, the Attig Law Firm has a single purpose: getting more information and more power to more veterans and their survivors in their VA claims.
12 | IN THE NEWS
HEALTHCARE REFORM SURVIVAL GUIDE By Ryan Holloway Under the Affordable Care Act, most Americans are required to carry health insurance or pay a penalty. What does this mean for individuals who don't have (or can't afford) employer-sponsored coverage? The best advice is to find someone you trust and let them guide you. They should have your best interests at heart and be willing to take the time to find different strategies to get you what you and your family need. Below is a Healthcare Reform Survival Guide, developed to assist you in understanding the changes that will take place in 2014. 1. Evaluate your current medical plan a. Have you been rated up for medical history? b. Are you healthy? (or for businesses, is your population?) c. Do you have any exclusion riders? d. Have you been declined covered? e. Are you in the State or Federal risk pool? Based on the above, there are 2 courses of action to take: If you (or your population is healthy) consider changing to a 12/1 renewal date OR moving to a new insurance company during the last quarter of this year. If you have had trouble getting coverage due to medical history in the past, or are on either the State or Federal Risk Pool program, consider plans for a January 1 start date. 2. IF you do not have coverage now, you need to look at both markets (pre- and post- HealthCare Reform implementation). a. Younger, healthier folks will be better off cost-wise placing coverage before January 1st. b. Folks who have medical histories, or are a little older, could actually benefit from lower rates starting January 1st (I said could, not would). 3. Know that all plans have a new tax being applied to them as of January 1 (doesn’t matter the effective date) so plan on paying about 4% more come January, whether you have an older policy or a new one. 4. Coverage is mandated for everyone come January 1st. If you choose not to put coverage in place for you or your family, there is a $95 per adult and $47.50 per child per month penalty. The max is $285 for a family, or 1% of family income, whichever is greater. Ryan Holloway is President and Chief Strategist at Holloway Benefit Concepts, a veteran and Co-Founder at Veterans in Business who thrives on assisting others in understanding and making benefit decisions that are the best for themselves or their businesses.
14 | HEALTHY LIFE
Enjoy the Sun! “It is the summer's great last heat, it is the fall's first chill: They meet.”–Sarah Morgan Bryan Piatt
By Sonja Kabell As we move from the hot season of summer into the cooler times of fall, the day gets shorter and the temperature drops. We replace our short sleeves for sweaters. The wind picks up and the leaves change. Being native Texans, our family always welcomes fall. We welcome the cooler temperatures, the light evening breeze, and what the season brings to us from a festivity-perspective. Fall brings more opportunities to enjoy outside activities, which provides us with a sense of well-being. There is nothing like breathing in fresh air and enjoying the sunshine. Sunshine helps boost our health, our happiness and our overall well-being. Unfortunately, a lot of us fear a little sunshine. We hear horror stories about the harmful rays of sunlight—probably the reason over 40% the world's population is vitamin-D deficient. Vitamin D is extremely important to our health. So important, that the lack of proper amounts in our body can lead to issues such as depression, anxiety, fatigue, and body aches. People that live in the northern hemisphere can be effected so much, that they can get a form of depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which lasts from the fall to spring. The physiological effects of vitamin-D deficiency are associated with low bone density (which can lead to osteoporosis), poor muscle strength, and an increased cancer risk. How do you know if you are vitamin-D deficient? Your primary caregiver can test your vitamin D levels. How can we get the proper amounts of vitamin D? According to the “My Healthy Home”, by Dr. Myron Wentz and Dave Wentz, moderation is the key when it comes to exposing your skin to the sun’s rays. 15 to 20 minutes of sunlight on your face (without sunscreen) is recommended each day. This may lower your blood pressure, assist in the detoxification of your liver, strengthen your immune system, and, of course, provide your body with the most-convenient and least-expensive source of vitamin D. You can also take a vitamin D supplement. But beware that not all supplements are created equal, so do your homework. Also consider taking a supplement along with eating foods fortified with, or rich in, vitamin D like: wild-caught salmon, canned tuna, eggs, low-fat dairy, and Portobello mushrooms. This essential nutrient packs a powerful punch in favor of our health. Protect your most valuable asset, your health, and go enjoy the sun! Sonja Kabell, is the founder of Creating Healthy Lifestyles, a speaker and freelance writer who enjoys helping others obtain a healthy life. She resides in Texas with her family.
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16 | HEALTHY LIFE
Mental Relief of Physical Pain By Dr. Edward Lewellen Go back to the times when you had these experiences: •
•
• •
You ran hot water on yourself in the shower and the area where the hot water was running became numb. You were lying on an arm or hand when you slept and it “fell asleep”. You were busy working or playing a sport and, when you got home, you found you had a bruise or cut and you didn’t even know you had hurt yourself. If you’re a military veteran and you (or someone you were in combat with) were injured, maybe even severely, but didn’t realize it until you were in a situation where you could feel safe and then realized you/they had been wounded.
These examples illustrate how the mind can remove the sensation of pain automatically, without any intentional thought on your part. But, is it really possible to get relief from physical pain through using your mind in a day-to-day environment? Can the mind really control physical pain caused by things like a cut, broken bone, or torn muscle? Let’s consider how the nerves and brain work together to create the sensation we call “pain”. The brain is the central “computer” to all the nerve activity in our bodies. There are sensory receptors that constantly check for variance in pressure, temperature, and pain in our bodies. When a variance occurs, this starts the process of transduction. The sensory receptors convert external stimuli, like heat or pressure, into sensory impulses within the body. Once transduction occurs, bursts of nerve impulses are sent to the central nervous system, entering the spinal cord, and then sent to the brain through one of these neuronal pathways: • •
Through a pathway called the dorsal column tract located at the back of the spinal cord. Touch, vibration, and pressure impulses travel through this pathway. Through a region of the spinal cord called the substantia gelatinosa, which then fires the neurons up to the brain in one of three different pathways known collectively as the spinothalmic tracts. These tracts carry impulses of pain and temperature.
Here’s what happens when the sensory inputs travel via sensory and neural pathways to the brain. There is an area in the brain called the Somatosensory Strip that, amazingly, extends from about one ear
HEALTHY LIFE | 17
to the other ear across the brain. This area houses a complete map of the entire body. This strip of cortex is sectioned into areas representing every part of the body, from the eyes, ears, nose, teeth, and jaws, to the arms, elbows, hands, each finger, down to each toe. Although there are other areas of the brain that receive information about the sense of touch, the Somatosensory Strip receives the primary inputs and then sends outputs or signals to other areas of the brain. Any interruption between the brain and the nerves can cause a lack of sensation to occur. As mentioned above, we’ve all experienced having no sensation from lying on an arm, hand, or other body part too long and it “goes to sleep”. This is called “paresthesia”. How does all of this relate to pain management? If you suffer chronic pain, studies show that it is probably because of hyperstimualtion of central neuronal pathways which has led to neuropathological remodeling. This means that you have created a mind loop, a memory, a neuronal pathway of the sensation of pain that keeps running. (Think of this being like your reaction to the stimulus, “What’s your phone number?” You automatically trigger the pathway that contains your phone number). The purpose of pain is to alert you that you need to pay attention to a part of your body. When you don’t pay attention, the sensation of pain increases in order to get your attention. This “paying attention” isn’t just an acknowledgement that you have the sensation. The sensation is asking you to really care for the part of your body with the sensation that is painful. This doesn’t mean saying things like, “That darn leg! I’m going to walk on it just to show it who’s boss!” This will actually cause the pain to worsen. With chronic pain, what happens is that you may have gotten injured and the sensation that was painful was there to alert you to it needing your attention. It sometimes happens that the brain forgets to shut off the “pain” signal after the need for it is gone. Again, it’s hyperstimulation that causes the pathway to be continuously ”fired”. I’m going off on a tangent for just a moment to help illustrate how the mind can provide relief from physical pain. I work with people on many different challenges that keep them from reaching their full potential. One of those things is smoking. If you have ever smoked, or known someone that smokes, and wanted to quit, you know it can be extremely tough. Smoking is said to be harder to stop than stopping the use of heroin. Almost every day I help someone stop smoking through the use of Mind Science (hypnosis). It is actually very easy to stop smoking with the use of hypnosis because what it is able to do is to break the neuropathological remodeling (neuronal pathway/mind loop) that smokers have. It isn’t the nicotine that keeps people smoking, because over 93% of the nicotine is gone after just 8 hours. So, when a smoker wakes up, most of the nicotine is already gone. What smokers are addicted to are the habits, behaviors, and beliefs of what smoking does for them. I have helped people that have smoked for more than 40 years stop in just one session of hypnosis by breaking the mind loop of a smoker. Now, back to pain management. Since hypnosis can help with smoking cessation, weight loss and other “physical” challenges, then it can, and does, work with pain management. I have successfully helped people with pain from surgeries, sports injuries, and even the pain and lesions caused by chemotherapy, all of which are very “physical”. If you would like more information on how hypnosis might benefit you, please contact me. Until next time, keep on creating life in forward motion! Dr. Lewellen has an honorary Doctorate of Divinity in 2006 at ULCM after 30 years serving as an ordained minister, is a Certified Executive Coach, Master NLP Practitioner, Master Hypnotist, and Master Life Coach. He writes and speaks on Transformative Thinking which teaches you how to control your mind, which helps you get rid of limiting beliefs, hurts, habits, and hang-ups that hold you back from living the life you want." www.trans-think.com
18 | HEALTHY LIFE
Easy
Appetizers
Shrimp Stuffed Cups Ingredients • •
• • • • • •
2 standard cucumbers 3/4 pound medium shrimp, thawed, deveined and shells on 1 Tbs. prepared horseradish 1 tsp. lemon juice Kosher salt to taste freshly ground black pepper 1 (15-ounce) can chopped tomatoes, drained 2 Tbs. chopped parsley, divided
Directions 1. Peel the length of each cucumber to form alternating stripes of unpeeled and peeled. Cut the cucumbers into 12 (3/4-inch) pieces. Scoop out the center using a teaspoon or a melon baller leaving the bottom and sides intact to form a cup. Turn them upside down onto a towel and let them drain while you make the filling. 2. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over medium heat. Add the shrimp and cook until bright pink, about 3 to 4 minutes. Strain and rinse in cold water. Remove and discard shells. Save out a few whole shrimp for garnish. 3. Chop the shrimp into small pieces and put them into a bowl. Add the horseradish, lemon juice, salt and pepper (to taste), half the can of tomatoes and 1 Tablespoon of parsley. Evenly divide the shrimp mixture between the cucumber cups. Arrange them on a serving platter and garnish with whole shrimp and remaining parsley.
HEALTHY LIFE | 19
Blue Cheese Walnut Cups Ingredients • • • • • •
1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened 3 Tbs. sour cream 1 Tbs. minced green onions 1/2 cup almonds or chopped walnuts 2 cucumbers
Directions: 1. Using
a zester, vegetable peeler or fork, score the length of each cucumber to create a striped effect. Remove the ends and cut each cucumber into ¾ inch rounds. Using a melon baller, scoop out the seeds from the center of each cucumber round to form a cup. Turn them upside down onto a towel and let them drain while you make the filling. 2. Reserve 1 Tbs. of the almonds or walnuts as a garnish. 3. Combine remaining ingredients and stir until well blended. 4. Spoon the mixture into the cucumber cups, garnish with the remaining nuts and chill until serving time.
20 | THE ARTS
See You at the Fair! By Christina Castle The oldest county fair in the state of Texas will celebrate its 145th year on September 13-21 at the Washington County fairgrounds in Brenham, Texas. Hosting a variety of events, the Washington County Fair (established in 1868) is touted as the first county fair held in the state of Texas. The fair will include concerts with such outstanding singers as Gene Watson, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers. Rodeos incorporate youth and ranch rodeos, team roping, a “Muttin Bustin” event, and bull riding extravaganza, as well as a wild steer saddling contest. Livestock shows, arts and craft shows, special attractions, carnival, commercial exhibits, and more, are planned. Washington County is the birthplace of the Texas Republic and the county is filled with tradition, history, and natural beauty. There's
something here for everyone. And, there’s ample parking for all visitors and participants. So, put on your boots and hit the trail for Brenham!
The Texas State Fair is the biggest in the United States and the only fair in the country to include a full-blown auto show. The state fair offers a chance to ride one of the tallest Ferris wheels in North America— the Texas Star— which is 212 feet high (roughly the equivalent of a 20 story building). It’s the only state fair to host a legendary college football rivalry as an annual event. (The Texas vs Oklahoma game has been played during the fair every year since 1929). The highlight of this year's event is the return of the Fair's iconic host, Big Tex—the 52-foot (16 m) tall statue and marketing icon of the annual state, and a cultural icon of Dallas and Texas. Since 1952, As the result of an electrical fire last year, the newer and bigger Big Tex will be unveiled at the start of this year’s event. The state fair begins the last Friday in September. Just follow Big Tex’s “Howdy!” Christina Castle is a freelance writer who lives in Dallas, TX.
www.davidcalldesigns.com 214.679.9263
TEXAS STYLE | 23
Fantastic for Fall: the Exclusive Marco Bicego Diamond Cairo Collection By Leah Frazier, Style Contributor
World-renowned Italian jewelry designer, Marco Bicego, visited Dallas from July 17 to July 18, 2013 for several appearances at area Neiman Marcus stores. From trunk shows to exclusive and private meetings, Bicego hit the ground running once he hit the Big “D”, and never looked back. Even though Bicego was heavily-inundated with promotional meetings and press runs for his newest fall collection, Diamond Cairo, the globally-respected designer invited BoomerBuzz Magazine to one of Dallas’ more trendy and upscale locations for a sneak peek and more in-depth look into his latest collection and as to why he has fallen head-over-heels with draping the American woman in his precious jewels. Although the Marco Bicego jewelry collection is highly coveted by Hollywood celebrities such as Sheryl Crow, the Olsen twins and his biggest fan, Oprah; Bicego was exceedingly humble in that, A-list or not, his collection is designed with the everyday woman in mind. When asked what type of woman he envisions wearing his newest Diamond Cairo collection, Marco replied, “The timeless, sophisticated, and modern woman. When it comes to handbags, accessories and fashion, American women are the best…especially at layering their jewelry, which fits perfectly with my collections.” Marco’s newest collection, Diamond Cairo (as demonstrated by its name) was wholly-inspired by the natural wonders of Egypt’s shimmering sand and a glistening eternal sun. This collection (as well as all of Bicego’s collections) was entirely handcrafted in Italy. An expert and connoisseur in the craftsmanship of fine gold jewelry, the latest designs from Bicego are perfect for complementing any fall attire. All of the jewelry pieces from the Diamond Cairo collection are handcrafted with care, with each piece containing a hand-engraved emblem of the Marco Bicego brand. According to Bicego, no two pieces are ever created alike. Each will have its own unique set of striations and characteristics. The Diamond Cairo collection will be sold exclusively at Neiman Marcus and features between 10 to 12 different pieces. While the various yellow gold necklaces and earrings can be adorned by women of all ages, Bicego personally recommends the triple- or more-stranded necklaces for the 50 and older women of style. Layering, according to Bicego, is one of the simplest ways that boomer women can upgrade their outfit from ordinary to chic. Choose from any of his single-strand, gold-plated necklaces from his Africa collection and combine them with the multi-stranded sets in this current collection and any fall wardrobe will immediately reap the rewards. After wrapping up his limited time here in Texas, many quickly realized that Marco Bicego is more than just a household name, he is a legend. Mastering the art of continuously revolutionizing women’s jewelry, Bicego stays committed to the desires and needs of the elegant and sophisticated woman. With his newly-released collection, Marco Bicego continues to surpass his competitors by never compromising the integrity of his product and maintaining a commitment to everlasting quality. Stop by your nearest Neiman Marcus today to experience the grace and magnificence of the Diamond Cairo collection and remember that the Bicego brand is never a trend…it’s always in style.
24 | TEXAS STYLE
L e a
h Frazier is an image consultant, fashion blogger and fashion and style writer in Dallas, Texas. More of her work can be found on Examiner.com, CBS Local and her blog, Beautyforeashes.blogspot.com.
TEXAS STYLE | 25
Shaping the Grade! By David Call
Squares, quadrilaterals, triangles…are we back in math class?
Maybe, but these geometric shapes are dominating the world of home design trends for fall. Envision sculptures from the Nasher Sculpture Center imprinted on fabrics and wall coverings and you will have the look for the season! Whether you love the type of geometrics displayed in textiles on the Echelon Home duvet cover or the more minimalist look and simple shape of the Gem Table from Tema Homes, designed by Filipe Alarcao, there are options for you. Geometrics are it for tables, lighting and accessories and can be found in a plethora of colors—especially bronze, which is big for autumn. David Call, owner of David Call Interiors, loves the modern motifs for fall and says they can easily be incorporated into most any style home for a simple décor change. He says, “Geometric patterns are easy to incorporate into a variety of décors and their designs can enhance neutrals with harmony and balance.”
26 | TEXAS STYLE
According to Call, "Scale and the common shape of the Dezeen lights create a family of minimalistic pendants, which add dimension to a dining area.” David also says and you can find them crafted in metal, wood, and synthetics in an array of powder-coated colors like grey blue, tomato and bronze. Call sees the base of the Rhomsoid console as an art piece, itself, which creates interest that balances the simplicity of the tabletop.
While designed for the consumer seeking high-quality, contemporary home products at moderate prices, Adesso’s Zig Zag accent table (below) adds a unique architectural piece to your decorating scheme offering compact stylish design with maximum storage space.
According to Call, for best results, add pops of fall color in your accents while keeping the larger pieces in a neutral color scheme. If you do not want to go full-blown with a room change, but desire a little fall drama, choose a funky geometric wallpaper, rug, drapery panels, or toss around some exciting pillows. Your room will be in the fashion know, and you will earn a good grade in math class! David Call, designer to many of Dallas’s elite and owner of David Call Interiors loves the challenge of finding just the “right” look for his patrons. He enjoys the art scene in Dallas, designing extraordinary events and freelance writing.
BOOM VOYAGE | 27
Kicking Back on the Cabin Verandah By Lyn Edwin Cathey The group assembled in Amsterdam – twelve of us all together – a blend of clients, family and friends.
if you like!) Our room (for 3 people) cost €260 ($405) for one night, without breakfast. It was nicely appointed, on the ground level, with a canal view. We boarded the Celebrity Century in the afternoon for a 5pm sailing. A quick recap of our experience of the ship:
The Toren Shocked at the cost of 4- and 5-star hotels, I spent a great deal time online researching properties in the heart of Amsterdam for our one-night, pre-cruise stay. Finally settled on The Toren, and we were very pleased. It is a small, 35-room boutique hotel on a canal just around the corner from the Anne Frank house.
Cabins: were well-appointed and designed. They were contemporary in décor (having been refurbished in 2006). All of us were on the starboard side aft on Vista deck in Concierge Class, verandah cabins. Our cabin had an adjoining door to the adjacent cabin – perfect for keeping an eye on teenagers, who seemed to multiply like rabbits at times. We’d peek in there and see two or three (two belonged to us) – then a few minutes later and there would be 10 or 12! The verandahs also had an adjoining door that could be opened.
The Toren, by coincidence, was recommended in 2012 TA Magazine as one of the best small hotels in Amsterdam. (Just call me a trailblazer,
Exceptional Wine Onboard Food & dining: were excellent! We were given a table for 12 (oval in shape) positioned up against the floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the wake of the ship (see photo). It
28 | BOOM VOYAGE
made for some very beautiful sunset dining, since we were on the late sitting and the sun typically sets at around 9p or 9:30p at this time of year in these climes. Also, we dined one night in the Murano – the very, very upscale, small restaurant off the main lobby. The food and service were simply outstanding – probably one of the finest dining experiences I have ever enjoyed – and well worth the $30 p/p surcharge. Advance reservations were required.
letting your passengers step off the ship right into the middle of things!
Cruise ship & HMS Belfast in the Thames
Sunset in the Century Dining Room Ports & Shore Excursions: the ship is so large that we had to tender in at two ports (Edinburgh & St Peter Port) and in other ports we were at least a long walk or short taxi ride from town. The exception was Amsterdam, itself, where the ship was docked within blocks of the train station and the older, center section of Amsterdam. The upscale Silversea line has solved this problem with one of their expedition ships (at least in London). I could not believe my eyes. But, there it was …tied up to the HMS Belfast in the middle of the Thames! (The Belfast is now a floating military museum, permanently anchored in the river – see photo.) Talk about
Entertainment: was typical, formulaic cruiseship fare. A couple of comedians, a couple of singers and a production show. The production show got my vote as “best-in-show” – pardon the pun. Front Desk: service was generally very good, prompt and friendly. A great deal of shipboard account business could be answered quickly via the cabin’s flat-panel TV. There was a channel (private to our cabin) that updated our onboard account daily. This was a nice feature allowing for periodic checks to make sure no one in the family (no names will be mentioned, but you know who you are!) was going “overboard onboard” with charges. Overall, it was a great cruise (my first with Celebrity, but certainly not the last). They produce a high-quality product. And, the perks of the Concierge-Class cabins are well worth it.
Lyn E. Cathey has been in the travel business for over 30 years as owner of TripFinder.com and he enjoys travel, guitar, photography/videography and cooking. But his true passion is humorous writing! He lives with his family in Memphis, TN and will regularly grace the pages of Boomer Buzz with his funny random thoughts on traveling the world.
BOOMER BUZZ | 29
A Rule Is a Rule By Scot Duke
One of the many things the Caddie Club
to their associated player to keep them from
requires of our caddies is to know the basic
making a mistake. Unfortunately, the caddie
rules of golf. This does not mean they need to
can only do so much.
recite them all, but understand them and their Pace of Play is a Bigger Issue
practical applications.
In the recent Jeff Overton DQ, if his caddie had The rules of golf have been in the news a lot
been on top of things, he would have blocked
recently. The Tiger Woods “wrong drop�; the
Jeff from going over to the practice green while
USGA Long Putter Rule; and now, the
waiting on the group ahead to tee off. It is
disqualification
at
unclear if the caddie tried and Jeff just did what
the Colonial. Naturally, all of these rules govern
he wanted to do. But, for the most part, a
how the player (or the golfer) should play the
player will at least listen to what their caddie
game of golf. And, in most cases, the caddie
has to say since he or she is the only person
(DQ)
of
Jeff
Overton
could help by providing a few words of advice
30 | BOOMER BUZZ
they can talk to about their game with when
to hit a golf shot.
Yeah, yeah, at the
inside the ropes of a professional event.
professional level there is a lot of money riding on each shot, and at the amateur level there is
What Really Needs to Change
this fear of looking like an idiot if they can hit
However, there is a bigger, underlying issue that
the green in two on a 612-yard par 5. However,
could ultimately eliminate the rules violation
something needs to be done to wake these
that resulted in Jeff Overton being DQ’d. In a
golfers up to the fact that a round of golf should
recent article published in the NY Times, they
not be a drudgery.
addressed more important issues facing Golf. The USGA needs to address over-placing a new
Back in the day when the rules of golf
rule that is in place— banning long putters. The
were established, there were only a few people
pace of play should be front-and-center of what
playing golf. The pace of play was not an issue
needs to be addressed immediately by the
then. Unfortunately, those days are long-gone
governing body of golf. If the pace of play at
and golf courses (including professional tour
the Colonial had not been atrociously slow, Jeff
events) are now packed with golfers. This is
Overton wouldn’t have felt the urge to
good for golf and golf courses, but bad for pace
“meander” to the practice green to stay loose.
of play. Times
have
changed
and
so
should
golf. Changing the rules for pace of play at the top of the “food chain” —the PGA and LPGA Pro Tours—will set the example needed to improve the pace of play for the everyday-golfer. It certainly would have eliminated Jeff Overton from be DQ’d if there was better management of the pace of play.
Golf Needs to Change Quicker A caddie can help in the pace of play, but only to a point. It seems too many golfers, both at the amateur and professional levels, have lost consciousness on the time they are taking
Caddies can work to improve the golf experience by knowing the rules. But, there is a limit to how much they can help the pace of play
when
the
golf
course
gets
too
crowded. Hope things change soon.
Director of Operations for KEYimage Media Solutions and Caddie Club Golf of Dallas, President/CEO of Innovative Business Golf Solutions, LLC Blogs: www.scotduke.com www.mrbusinessgolf.com To chat with Scot call 214 549-0306 scot.duke @ gmail.com, scot @ keyimagemedia.com or scot @ caddieclubgolf.com - See more at: http://caddieclubgolf.com
BOOMER BUZZ | 31
Mystery Writer Introduces “60-Is-The-New-40” Female Sleuth for the Boomer Generation By Christina Castle Novelist Elliot Nash introduces Molly Rosenblum, a new breed of female sleuth, in his comedic mystery, The Secret Life of Molly Rosenblum. As evidenced by new forums such as the burgeoning Boomer Lit group on goodreads.com, there is a growing market for books that feature baby boomer protagonists who face the challenges of aging with the fearless engagement of the Boomer Generation. With his new novel, The Secret Life of Molly Rosenblum, Elliot Nash introduces protagonist Molly and her “Fab Four” friends, who embody the boomer take-charge sensibility. Nash, a year-round resident of Delray Beach, Florida, sets his novel in this popular retirement paradise. Just like many of the Secret Life’s target readers, Molly and her four BFFs are adjusting to a new way of life. But that doesn’t mean they have forgotten who they are or how to have a good time. Molly Rosenblum has spent three years not getting over the loss of her husband, Seymour. Her longstanding affair with her denial is dashed, unexpectedly, when she finds herself suspected of committing murder in the handicap dressing room of the local Marshall’s store. An adorable, yet eccentric, retired cartoonist proceeds to sleuth her way out of this charge with the aid of her friends and you will be engaged by the 29 cartoons scattered throughout the story. And what mystery worth its salt does not have a little romance thrown in? Enter Harold Golden, the arrogant and often irritating, yet handsome, clothes horse who volunteers to help Molly solve the case while creating a little pep in her step! The Secret Life of Molly Rosenblum is available on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Secret--‐Life--‐Molly--‐Rosenblum--‐ebook/dp/B00CW0B32U
Christina Castle is a freelance writer who lives in Dallas, TX.
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SENIOR SENSE | 33
Surviving as a Sandwich-Generation Caregiver By John Ebey
An increasing portion of the population is becoming a part of the Sandwich Generation – a group of people caring for two, different generations. These people are in the difficult position of being responsible for both their aging relatives and their children still living at home. They often have to juggle many tasks at once, determining which problems take priority over others, and dealing with large amounts of stress. Especially now that many seniors refuse to go into an assisted living facility or accept outside caregivers, their children must bear the burden of managing two, different households.
loved one can't perform; and finally, get home to their families and make sure they're fed; help the kids with their homework; and get ready for the next day. Financial Strain Emotional and physical exhaustion aren't the only drawbacks of caring for both aging parents and kids living at home. The experience can also be financially devastating (something many caregivers fail to consider). Keeping an aging parent at home may seem like a cost-effective alternative to a nursing home, but expenses quickly add up. Sometimes hiring part-time caregivers or even sending loved ones to adult daycare centers is necessary to make sure proper care is provided. Those in the Sandwich Generation sometimes feel financially strained from the pressure of sending their kids to college, saving for retirement and keeping up with their parents' medical and care-related expenses. Getting a head start and saving early-on can help cover some of these expenses and help a family in times of need. How to Cope
Hard on Families Taking care of a young family can be hard – doing it while working a full-time job and caring for aging relatives can be much harder. Those in the Sandwich Generation are often required to do countless things in a day – get their kids ready for school; complete tasks at work; head to their aging relative's home to cook dinner, clean, and help with any other duties their
If you find yourself taking care of both your parents and your children, remember you are not alone. Take steps to lessen the stress and financial strain. Write down your thoughts and feelings in a journal and let your emotions flow. Create a funeral plan for your elderly loved ones to make sure wishes are fulfilled and financial obligations are met. You cannot predict your final day, but you can prepare for it. As a licensed funeral director John Ebey has served Restland Funeral Home for over 32 years and presently makes presentations to the Dallas and Tarrant County areas promoting the value of Pre Planning and Hospice.
34 | SENIOR SENSE
Politely Rewarding In-Home, Senior-Care Caregivers By Claire Maestri I was driving through Taco Bell the other day
The amazing thing to me is that the senior-care
and enquired to the drive-through speaker,
caregivers that I have worked with over the past
“What is an Enchirito™?” I received a reply and
10 years are proud of their elder-care work
then ordered one,
product. They gloat
with nachos and a
on
healthy,
diet Dr Pepper. After
recovered,
well-fed,
a moment, I added,
clean, and engaged
“Please.” As I drove
clients.
around to pay, the
they
manager approached
rewarded
the
client
window
and
However, are
most when
or
a
family
began to tell me how
praises them. I have
much he and his
seen, time and time
team appreciated my
again,
asking for my meal in
positive
where
this
feedback
a polite manner. He stated that no one EVER
inspires the caregivers to do more. They are
says “please”.
empowered to learn more and really hear the
As I drove away, I related this experience to
requested changes when families make them.
how senior-care caregivers must feel. They
I am always amazed by what showing a little
perform expected, repeated tasks that become
kindness can bring out in a person. Although it
part of the fabric of everyday life. Their daily
is difficult to age or care for an elderly parent, it
tasks are done out of necessity, yet so many
is not hard to share a smile, a “please” or a
elderly clients and families take what they do
“thank-you”.
for granted. I think this is true whether the elder care is provided in the home, at an assisted living center, or in a skilled nursing facility.
Claire Maestri is a freelance writer of senior topics and an expert in helping families find quality senior care options. She lives with her family in Dallas,
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