Whistlestop Express December 2010

Whistlestop DECEMBER 2010

E PRESS

Whistlestop.org

The Leading Information Resource for Marin's Active Aging Movement

Generosity Blooms Bright in December

by JOHN BOWMAN

H

uman generosity is as widespread this time of year as red poinsettias and holiday greetings. Nonprofit organizations like Whistlestop benefit from this outpouring of love and that means people like David Rose benefit as well.

David, 50, of San Rafael, suffered a stroke 11 years ago, affecting his speech and changing his life drastically. Without the daily support of Whistlestop Wheels and drivers, David would be isolated. He would not be able to have the independence to go to the grocery store, the bank, or to the College of Marin for computer classes and physical therapy. Lucelle, one of David’s Whistlestop drivers, says, “David’s huge, kind heart

T

Lucelle Hoefnagels, Whistlestop Wheels driver, helps David Rose buckle up on a recent trip. connects him with everyone, despite his limited speaking ability.” He is seen nearly every day on Whistlestop buses, often with his young son, going to church or to his son’s Tae Kwon Do class. David is just one of thousands of neighbors who benefit from Whistlestop Wheels.

he Holiday Luncheon is scheduled for Wednesday, December 8.

The event will be from noon to 1:30pm in the Jackson Café, 930 Tamalpais Ave., San Rafael. Please join us for a delicious meal and live entertainment by the Christmas Jug Reservations Required Band and by Bread & Roses. The fee is

Join Us for Holiday Luncheon December 8

Honoring Our Apollo Space Heroes page 3

There are many ways your contributions can help at Whistlestop. A few examples: $50 will help pay for new volunteer driver programs; $100 helps deliver developmentally disabled riders to their art classes; $500 will pay for 12 older adults participating in a cultural excursion to San Francisco. )

only $6 for older adults and $9 for those under age 60.

Reservations are required. Please call 415-456-9062.

There will be no Gingerbread House Decorating Party this year., so please join us for our Holiday Luncheon on December 8.

Herons & Egrets Grouse About page 12

Grand Mom's Look at Vows of Poverty page 14

Table of

Whistlestop

CONTENTS 3 4 5 6 8/9 10 11 12 13 14

Readers Write In Land Wilson Mystic Table Mark Lindsay Recipe of the Month New Board Member Michael Rice At Whistlestop Whistlestop Activities Calendar The Kidney Corner Shar S. Carlyle The Bird's Side of Marin Richard Pavek Financial Nuggets Jeff Stoffer Grand Mom Audrey Mettel Fixmer

Marin Senior Coordinating Council, Inc. 930 Tamalpais Avenue San Rafael, CA 94901 Chief Executive OfďŹ cer, Joe O’Hehir Board of Directors President, Dennis Thompson Vice President, Terry Scussel Chief Financial OfďŹ cer, Jeff Stoffer Secretary, Michael Hingson +AREN !RNOLD s *ANE ,OTT s $EBBIE -ILLS $AMIEN -OROZUMI s -ICHAEL 2ICE The Whistlestop Express IS A PUBLICATION OF THE -ARIN Senior Coordinating Council, Inc. A 501 (c) 3 NOT FOR PROlT ORGANIZATION The Mission of Whistlestop: 4O PROMOTE THE INDEPENDENCE AND WELL BEING OF -ARIN #OUNTY S OLDER ADULTS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO enhance their quality of life.

Whistlestop Contact Information Main Number 415-456-9062 Whistlestop Fax 415-456-2858 www.thewhistlestop.org Information & Referral OfďŹ ce 415-459-6700 s resource@thewhistlestop.org The Whistlestop Express Editorial, Art Direction & Sales John & Val Bowman Editors s JOHN BOWMAN GMAIL COM Missy Reynolds Art Director mreynolds@paciďŹ csun.com Advertising Linda Black s 415-485-6700, Ext. 306 The Whistlestop Express is printed on recycled paper 4O BE ADDED TO OR TAKEN OFF THE EMAIL LIST FOR The Whistlestop Express, please call 415-456-9062, ext. 141. Or send an email, with your request, your name and address to INFO@thewhistlestop.org.

3UBSCRIPTIONS MAILED TO YOUR HOME IS YEAR

2

The Whistlestop Express December 2010

PERSPECTIVE by DENNIS THOMPSON Please Put Whistlestop On Holiday Giving List

T

he responses I received from my last column in the Whistlestop Express were truly inspiring. Having so many people express their support and willingness to pitch in to help us with our mission makes volunteering at Whistlestop even more worthwhile than it has been.

These past seven years I’ve spent volunteering on the Whistlestop Board have been extremely rewarding simply because we can see every day the results of our efforts. This past month has felt extra special due to the words of encouragement from fellow Whistlestop supporters like you. Having an old friend or a complete stranger call me up and say they want to help or to just say “good job� really means a lot to a volunteer. Who doesn’t like a little recognition? If you recall, I had asked for help in recruiting new Board members to enable Whistlestop to meet the fast growing demand for our services. I received many phone calls, emails and personal words of encouragement from people offering their support.

I feel that the year has gone by too quickly and I wonder how the holidays could be upon us already. Each year I promise that I’m going to get certain things done before the new year, and each year I’m in a panic to fulďŹ ll that promise. This year I really

mean it. One of those important year-end projects is to make charitable donations.

More than 85% of Whistlestop’s annual cash contributions are received during

85% of Whistlestop’s annual cash contributions are received during the holiday season. the holiday giving season, a special time of caring and generosity. Your holiday gift can bring an older adult in need or a person with disabilities out of social isolation into a place like Whistlestop, which offers caring support.

By now you may have received our annual holiday gift appeal letter. If not, please use the remit envelope enclosed in this newsletter.

Please join us in doing something good for an older adult in need or a person with a disability.

If you have any ideas on how we can improve on the work we do, please feel free to call me at work: 415-4541500, or email me at dennis@ jtspainting.com. ) Dennis J. Thompson is President of Whistlestop’s Board of Directors.

Readers

WRITE IN b y L A N D W I L S O N Honoring Our Apollo Explorers

D

uring the 1960s, 32 Americans were selected to attain one of our country’s greatest achievements – landing people on the moon and returning them safely back to Earth.

These courageous individuals became the heroes of the Apollo space program. They endured years of grueling schedules, training, and personal sacrifices. Some even paid the ultimate price during Apollo’s darkest hour – the loss of the entire crew of the Apollo 1 mission.

Our efforts to put people on the moon yielded vast developments in technology, space travel, and moon science. One of the great legacies of our Apollo astronauts has been a more detailed understanding of our planet. As each Apollo mission yielded breathtaking images of Earth from a distance, people worldwide became more aware of the Earth and of their relationship to it.

It was no coincidence that in the year following the first moon landing, the environmental movement was born, as marked by the establishment of Earth Day, the EPA, and many other prominent environmental groups.

The 1970s are remembered as “the environmental decade.”

When I had children, I started exploring ways to inspire in children respect for the environment through a story. My research led me to learn about the profound observations astronauts have made about the environment. In 2000, I had the privilege of interviewing three Apollo astronauts – Captain Walter M. Schirra, Jr., (Commander of Apollo 7), Frank Borman (Commander of Apollo 8), and Eugene Cernan (Pilot aboard Apollo 10, and Commander of Apollo 17). All three of these space explorers expressed passionately that the view of Earth from space transforms the human understanding of who we are in this world and the impact we are having on it.

“In space you see how beautiful the Earth is

Continued to page 7 www.Whistlestop.org 3

The Mystic

TABLE b y M A R K L I N D S A Y Leftovers Don’t Need to Taste Like ... Leftovers

“W

e’re having leftovers tonight.�

This announcement always carries with it a tone of resignation, a sentence that never ends in an exclamation point. No one is happy to eat leftovers except for, maybe, the ďŹ rst turkey sandwich on the day after Thanksgiving. But, even turkey sandwiches get tiresome after a day or two.

This needn’t be so. Some of the best recipes in the world were born of the necessity to liven up yesterday’s food. Last month we presented a recipe for risotto and tomatoes. This month we’ll take the risotto and

make arancini out of them.

Arancini means “little oranges� in Italian. It is the way Italians have learned to enjoy leftover risotto, a dish that holds little appeal when simply reheated.

One can dress up arancini with meat and cheese and condiments, but, in the spirit of the theme, we’re keeping things simple. Often, when we resort to eating leftovers we’re tired, broke, or both. So, let’s make an easy and economical meal out of yesterday’s risotto.

Leftover risotto reheats into a starchy, gloppy mess, better suited for adhering wallpaper

to a wall (except for maybe the lumps) than for eating. But, the sticky stuff rolls into balls very nicely and when you fry them, they transform into the most delectable treats.

Transforming leftovers is economical but also a celebration of life. As you’ll see in the coming months, we can make every meal special, even if it’s something that we used to call leftovers. Now we can call them arancini! )

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The Whistlestop Express December 2010

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Recipe of

THE MONTH Arancini with Tomatoes and Zucchini

T

his month’s recipe takes last month’s dish and transforms it into something entirely new. While the instructions call for Risotto with Tomatoes and Zucchini, you can substitute any risotto dish that you might have made the day before. Arancini are a traditional, Sicilian dish. In Sicily, they can be filled with meat and cheese and are quite rich and festive. In this case, we’ll keep it simple and emphasize the transformation of our leftover risotto into a tasty, new but simple dish.

2-3 cups leftover Risotto with Tomatoes and Zucchini (or any other variation) 1 egg, beaten 1/2 cup breadcrumbs vegetable oil, for frying salt to taste Set up a workstation that consists of a beaten egg in a shallow bowl, a small plate with the breadcrumbs on it, and a large, empty plate for the arancini.

Press the risotto into 2-inch diameter balls (or you might make 3-inch diameter, flat patties instead). Make sure the balls or patties are compact and well formed. Otherwise they might break apart in the frying pan.

Dip them into the beaten egg on all sides. Let any excess egg drain off and then roll the balls or patties in the breadcrumbs. Put them onto the large plate.

Put enough vegetable oil into a frying pan (a small, cast-iron skillet is perfect for this) so that it comes halfway up the sides of the pan. Heat the oil over high heat, making sure that the oil never gets hot enough to smoke. When the oil ripples, it is hot enough to receive the rice balls.

Add the balls, one at a time, so as not to lower the oil heat too much. This keeps the rice light and crispy and prevents the absorption of too much oil. Turn the balls when the first side is nice and brown. Fry the second side in the same way and then drain on paper towels.

Don’t leave the arancini on the paper towel too long or they will get soggy. Sprinkle them with some salt and serve immediately. ) Mark Lindsay, MFA, is a food writer, artist and former Whistlestop Board member.

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Whistlestop PHOTO CONTEST RECEPTION

Keith Marsh with his Best of Show photo, Race Track in Death Valley.

Ann Rivo with her Jellyfish Monterey Aquarium photo.

Ron Leach at Photo Contest Reception at Whistlestop. Ron's wife, Linda, won first place in the Travel category for her photo East Meets West.

6

The Whistlestop Express December 2010

by John Bowman

Bank Executive Michael Rice Is Newest Whistlestop Board Member

A

chance meeting with two Whistlestop Board members at the Marin Human Race about a year ago ultimately led to Michael Rice’s joining the Whistlestop Board of Directors.

Michael, senior vice president of business lending with emphasis on SBA products at Circle Bank, is the Whistlestop board’s newest member. “I just happened to stop by their table and met Dennis Thompson and Yvonne Roberts,” said Rice. “And I enjoyed visiting with them and hearing about Whistlestop. I had first heard about the place years ago because relatives of mine in the county used to ride the buses. I thought that was just for older people but later realized younger people with disabilities can also ride.”

Michael has worked with small business owners in the North Bay for 26 years, providing financing solutions tailored to fit their needs. He joined Circle Bank in April 2009 and has spent more than 20 years in senior management and lending positions with banks and financial firms in the San Francisco Bay Area. He also has served on the boards of the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club and American Cancer Society. “I decided that Whistlestop is where I want to put my nonprofit energy for the next several years,” he said. “I want to help our older population, keeping them active in our community. I really like the mission of Whistlestop and all the good work they do there.”

Michael grew up in Mill Valley, and now lives with his wife, Jennifer, and daughters Olivia, 6, and Sara, 4, in San Anselmo. He enjoys sailing, playing tennis and mountain biking. )

Continued from page 3 with its blues and white clouds, brownish, pinkish continents. It’s alone in the vastness of space. You see that it is fragile, and you want its people to be responsible citizens because this is the only world we have.� – Frank Borman “When you can blot out your link to reality with your thumb, it’s overwhelming to be that far away from home. This place represents everything you understand. It represents your family and what you feel. It’s too beautiful to have happened by accident.� – Eugene Cernan

# # # # ! # # # #

# # "

“From space, you can see pollution on Earth in the form of discolored waters created by people in populated areas. It funnels out into the oceans. And when you see that our ozone layer is no more than an eggshell around Earth, you realize that humans had better learn to be more careful with it.� – Walter M. Schirra, Jr. These interviews inspired me to use the theme of seeing Earth from space to write a bedtime picture book for children ages 4-7. If you are looking for a meaningful gift to instill environmental awareness in a grandchild, please consider the purchase of my book, through Little Pickle Press LLC, an environmentally friendly and community-minded publisher. You can receive a 15% discount off their purchases of any merchandise made at www.littlepicklepress.com when you enter WHISTLESTOP at checkout.

Our early space veterans are now slowly leaving this world for other journeys. Let’s salute them for their extraordinary stewardship and the invaluable gifts of knowledge and insight they have given to us and to future generations. ) Land Wilson is a San Rafael native with a history of writing and assisting retirees over the past 25 years. Whistlestop was Land’s grandmother’s favorite place to volunteer during the 1980s and ‘90s.

Readers Write In If you have comments about the Whistlestop Express, our Active Aging Center, or have a personal story you would like to share, send it to Readers Write In by emailing our editor at john.bowman58@gmail.com, or mailing it to Whistlestop.

Helping You Maintain Your Independence

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415-451-0100 www.Whistlestop.org 7

Keep Learning at

WHISTLESTOP BEGINNING COMPUTER/PICTURE CLASS ST ND &RIDAYS OF THE MONTH s TO PM Instructor: Gene Dyer | Fee: $15 Pre-registration required: call Prerequisite Skills: Basic Computer Skills Learn how to transfer digital photos from a camera, CD or flash drive to your computer and how to send and receive them by attaching them to emails. Bring camera and cable.

ADVANCED COMPUTER/ PICTURE CLASS RD &RIDAY OF THE MONTH s TO PM Instructor: Gene Dyer | Fee: $15 Pre-registration required: call Prerequisite Skills: Basic Computer Skills Learn how to tell a story with pictures on computer monitors and TVs in slide shows, using Word, PDF, PowerPoint presentations and movie formats.

HOW TO SURF THE INTERNET SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY &RIDAY $ECEMBER s AM TO NOON Instructor: Susan Wilkins | Fee: $20 Pre-registration required: call Prerequisite Skills: Basic Computer Skills Learn which search engine is the most popular and why, practice using Advanced Search options. Learn why the Internet is a great place to be an armchair traveler and to download free books and watch free lectures from Stanford University, PBS stations, and more.

ART FROM THE HEART $ECEMBER s AM TO NOON Lounge | Facilitator: Carin Powers | Free To sign up: call Join us for a fun new art program!

We will use a variety of media (paints, pastels, collage, etc.)

Come explore your world from a 8

The Whistlestop Express December 2010

whole new vantage point. You may even reacquaint yourself with your inner child! All levels are welcome.

No experience necessary.

“KNIT YOUR PART” KNITTING GROUP %VERY OTHER 7EDNESDAY s PM Lounge | Free Confirm the Day: call Everyone in “Knit Your Part” Knitting Group knits squares that are put together to make an afghan to give to charity.

Bring your needles (size 7 or 8) and any yarn you have. Come join us; all levels welcome.

“RECLAIM YOUR LIFE” PRESENTATION 4HURSDAY $ECEMBER s PM Jackson Café Speaker: Thomas Attardi BS, MA, NMT | Free To sign up: call Straight talk and discussion about how to deal with back pain, sciatica, arthritis and loss of strength. Learn how to increase your range of motion, how to loosen tight tissues around joints to help with flexibility and alignment, proper stretching without endangering or inflaming the joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments, and how to help restore frozen joints and relieve stress in taut or tight bands of muscle tissue. All levels and abilities welcome.

RESTORE & IMPROVE YOUR BALANCE TRAINING CLASS 4UESDAY 4HURSDAYS s $ECEMBER TO *ANUARY #LASSES s TO PM Jackson Café | Fee: $75, payment due at signup Speaker: Thomas Attardi, BS, MA, NMT Registration required: call In the Balance Class, you will learn how balance works, why your balance may be deteriorating, and how you can safely implement very simple exercises to train for better balance. You will learn the best exercises for stronger legs to prevent falls and reduce your risks of injury. We will also cover what to do if you fall. Better balance and believing in yourself will enable you to maintain as much independence as possible. This class runs with a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20 people. So secure your spot today!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP WITH WHISTLESTOP TAX PROGRAM Whistlestop is seeking volunteers to help people with their 2010 taxes.

Volunteers must attend the IRS (VITA) training. For information: email Debbie.benedetti@ thewhistlestop.org or call

X .

FREE LEGAL CONSULTATION FOR OLDER ADULTS To schedule an appointment: call Legal Aid of Marin provides free 30-minute legal consultations at Whistlestop on Thursdays and at the Mill Valley Community Center on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month. Clients must be 60 years of age or older and reside in Marin County to qualify for the service. Marin lawyer, George John, who has been volunteering since 1986, explains, “We give general advice, offer options, explain peoples’ rights, and if appropriate, refer them to attorneys who have expertise in certain areas of law. We don’t become their lawyer.”

GENTLE CHIROPRACTIC SERVICES ND 7EDNESDAY OF THE -ONTH s NOON TO PM Arcade | Fee: $2 Chiropractors: Dr. Amy Cheng Lee and Dr. Jennifer Burns Signups will be taken on the day chiropractic services are offered only. Available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Do you suffer from back or neck pain, tension headaches or aching muscles and joints? For relief from aches and pains of everyday stress and strains, visit Whistlestop to see chiropractic professionals who provide safe, gentle and effective chiropractic care.

County Commission On Aging Meeting 7HAT Marin County Commission on Aging Meeting 7HEN Thursday, November 4, 10am to 12:30pm 7HERE Tiburon Town Hall, 1505 Tiburon Blvd, Tiburon 4OPIC Medicare Updates 3PEAKER HICAP 7EBSITE http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts /HH/main/ag/Commission.cfm 0HONE 415-499-7396

Transportation Numbers Scheduling Rides: 454-0964 Cancelling Rides: 457-4630 Eligibility Coordinator, Janet Van Rijsbergen 454-0964, ext. 160

janet.vanrijsbergen@thewhistlestop.org

Find the right place for your loved one or for yourself

Tea Dance Time Again! &RIDAY $ECEMBER s TO PM Caboose Room | Fee: $2 to cover the cost of food.

Join Whistlestop for music and dancing at our next Tea Dance. If you missed our last dance, you won’t want to miss this one. Snacks and drinks will be provided.

CORRECTION In a graphic in our November issue, we meant to say that by 2020, 1 out of every 3 Marin residents will be over the age of 65 (not by 2010).

Whistlestop.org 9

Whistlestop CLASS

LOCATION

MISC.

COST

MONDAYS

10:30–NOON 11:00–NOON 11:00–12:30 PM 2:00–4:00 PM 4:00–5:30 PM

Senior Persian Group Computer Literacy Senior German Group ESL Citizenship

Lounge Computer Lab TBD Caboose/Café Caboose

479-6020 for info Open Open Aug 16th-Dec 8th 454-0998 for info

Free Free Free Free Free

TUESDAYS

TIME

This Month at Whistlestop

9:00–2:00 PM 9:15–10:30 AM 10:45–11:45 AM 1:00–3:00 PM 2:00–3:30 PM

Senior Asian Group Whistlesizers Cardio Exercise Spanish Class English Conversation

Caboose Caboose Caboose Caboose Board Room

454-1552 for info Open Open Open 454-0998 for info

Free $2 Free Free Free

FRIDAYS THURSDAYS WEDNESDAYS

ACTIVITIES

9:00–10:30 AM 10:00–11:30 AM 10:00–NOON 10:30–NOON 11:00–NOON 2:00–4:00 PM

Tai Chi Qigong Seniors' Circle Computer Lab Senior Persian Group Corazón Latino ESL

Caboose Board Room Computer Lab Lounge Caboose Caboose/Café

Suggested Donation Open Open 479-6020 for info Open Aug 16th-Dec 8th

$10 Free Free Free Free Free

9:00–2:00 PM 9:15–10:30 AM 2:00-3:30 PM 2:00–3:00 PM 2:15–3:15 PM

Senior Asian Group Whistlesizers English Conversation Vietn.Citizenship Chair Yoga

Caboose Caboose Caboose Caboose Jackson Café

454-1552 for info Open 454-0998 for info 454-1552 for info Open

Free $2 Free Free Free in Nov.

11:00–1:00 PM 1:30–3:30 PM 1:30–3:30 PM 2:00-4:00 PM

Loom Knitting ACASA Spanish Club Friday Movie

Caboose Board Room Caboose Jackson Café

1st Fri. Arts & Crafts Peer Counseling Open Free Snacks/Drinks

Free Free Free Free

Jackson Café

Monday-Friday 11:30am-1:30pm Located in Whistlestop Active Aging Center

LUNCH MENU

The Caboose, Computer Lab, Board Room and Jackson Café are all located at Whistlestop’s Active Aging Center – 930 Tamalpais Ave., San Rafael.

UNDER 60 PRICES Main Entrée $6.25 Turkey Sandwich $3.25 Soup $2.25 Hamburger $5.00 Pizza $4.50 Salads $3.50

10

60+ PRICES Main Entrée Turkey Sandwich Soup Hamburger Pizza Salads

$3.75 $2.75 $1.75 $4.00 $3.50 $2.50

The Whistlestop Express December 2010

OTHER ITEMS Tuna Salad Side $1.25 Fresh Fruit Cup $.75 Cottage Cheese $1.00 Desserts $.50 Beverages $.50-$.75

The Kidney

CORNER b y S H A R S . C A R LY L E Program Director, Kidney Community Education sponsored by Community Action Marin

Successful Kidney Transplants Less Costly Than Dialysis

A

n ordinary day in one’s life can become extraordinary without warning. A few weeks ago, I learned that our friend, Edson Rafferty, 69, had received the call: a kidney was waiting for him! Ed, an attorney, inventor, and engineer, had become so depleted by kidney failure that some days he could only lie on a couch by a living room window and stare at the serenity of his beloved Reservoir Pond, as he yearned to be himself again.

Ed was lucky – he received a deceased donor organ, and Dr. Oscar Salvatierra, pioneering transplant surgeon with kidney donor had a successful transplant.

Cindy Grace, and her son, Wayne, But thousands kidney recipient. of others are not so lucky. That is why living donor searches have become so important. Since his recovery, Ed has been working to educate the public and policymakers about some of the economics of transplants, as well as the benefits of finding a living donor. Gradually more people are becoming aware of living donor transplant options, and stepping forward to save a life. Ed and an associate put together data, gathered from the U.S. Renal Data System, that I would like to share with you: s Successful transplants are less costly than dialysis. s For payers – whether it’s federal taxpayers through Medicare or private insurance companies – transplantation costs more at first

but pays for itself within months through lower post-surgical costs, experts said. s The federal program spends about $70,000 a year for each patient on dialysis, versus $17,000 a year for someone who receives a successful kidney transplant. The year in which the person receives the organ is the most expensive, at $106,000, although the savings are realized in two years. s The failure by some doctors to inform dialysis patients about kidney transplantation underscores the need to educate patients and family members.

While living donor transplantation is not for everyone, nor should anyone ever be coerced, manipulated or pressured into becoming a living donor, it is becoming more widely accepted throughout the US, and is allowing people, once tied to life supporting dialysis machines, to become fully independent again. Community Action Marin sponsored Kidney Community Education works with adults ages 18 and up, no age limit, providing resources, referral and education. )

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www.Whistlestop.org 11

The Bird's Side

OF MARIN

b y R I C H A R D PAV E K

The Wet Look

N

o, you can’t order this fellow from the Franklin Mint, though he does look a bit like a painted metal casting.

A few weeks ago, I was near the bridge at the east end of Rodeo Lagoon, a favorite place for Herons and Egrets, grousing about the thick fog patches that were hanging on in spite of the warming sun. But the sun was breaking through over my left shoulder so I decided to wait a few moments to see what happened. The thick wet fog felt 12

The Whistlestop Express December 2010

good on my face – though I worried about it getting on my lens.

Just then, another thick wet batch blew in from the sea.

“Nuts!” I thought and started to get up from the portable stool I sit on when photographing birds when, from behind my right shoulder, in swept this Great Blue Heron with an angry, warning croak. He was much closer to me than he liked, and he didn’t like the fog.

The fog rolled over him as he began to turn towards the sun. Out he came, his fog-laden feathers glistening in the hazy sunlight, giving him the appearance of a shiny lead toy

soldier touched with brush strokes of bright blue and reddish brown. And then he was gone, leaving only these memories etched in my camera.

See these images of the Heron much larger on my blog at www.

RichardsBirdBlog.com (the post titled The Wet Look).

Every weekend I email an interesting photo to Express Readers.

If you’d like one in your Inbox to have something nice to look at amidst the junk, email me at: SHENmaker@MSN.com. ) Till next time, Richard

Financial

NUGGETS

by JEFF STOFFER, CFA, CFPÂŽ

Too Much of a Good Thing?

(Part II)

O

ver the past 40 years, U.S. Treasury bonds have outperformed the S&P 500 (a broad measure of large company U.S. stocks).

Bond prices have risen to levels not seen in 50 years. In last month’s article, we proposed that investors’ current love affair with bonds stems from a desire to avoid risky stocks in favor of the relative safety of bonds. Are bonds about to become the next bubble? Many people, including Warren Buffett, think they are.

While the notion of a “bond bubbleâ€? is debatable, in this second installment on the topic of bonds, we examine this real world investment issue in the context of “behavioral ďŹ nance.â€? A relatively new ďŹ eld, behavioral ďŹ nance, has evolved over the last four decades. Researchers have described numerous ways in which behavior and decisions regarding money are often irrational. The role of herd behavior in the recurrence of asset bubbles is of particular interest.

People are by nature social creatures; they often enjoy doing what others are doing and want to be included. This “herdingâ€? behavior has contributed time and again to situations where investors ock to a particular investment only to have it collapse, leaving them poorer for the experience. Yet, in spite of historical precedent, people still pile on to a hot trend in investing. Why? To make money, like everyone else.

Yet following the herd, which makes us feel secure (“Everyone else is doing it, so perhaps I should as well,â€?) is a behavior that actually hurts us as investors. We suspend our critical assessment of the risks. I can almost hear my Mom saying, “If all your friends jumped off a cliff ‌ ?â€?

We may or may not be experiencing a bubble in bonds, but we should keep the recurring phenomenon of group investing behavior in mind. Might we own too much of a good thing? Knowing when to go along or when to buck the trend can make all the difference in our ďŹ nancial situation. )

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The Whistlestop Express December 2010

nce upon a time, two young ladies enrolled as freshmen at the College of St. Benedict in Minnesota. This made them ‘Bennies.’ They lived in the same dorm, loved the same kinds of literature and theater and enjoyed meals and classes together. This made them good friends despite their differences.

One was ďŹ lled with dreams and the other was ďŹ lled with God. And when they strolled along the wooded paths after dinner, the one ďŹ lled with dreams would talk about becoming a great actress or writing The Great Catholic Novel. Her friend praised her acting and her writing efforts in the college literary magazine. But she laughed when her friend made little things for her hope chest. “Potholders! Why would anyone waste her time on such trivialities?â€?

When they returned as sophomores, the dreamer had a shock. She found her friend waiting on tables, wearing the uniform of the postulant. She had joined the convent. She would take the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Now their paths would take them far apart.

Within a year, one would become Sister Colman O’Connell and the other would become Mrs. Robert Fixmer, the dreamer who scorned poverty, chastity and obedience but who had little more than those potholders.

Bob and I leaped into our race for survival: trying to work with the rhythm method until ďŹ nally we blocked weeks off the calendar each month; feeding the hungry without beneďŹ t of multiplying loaves and ďŹ shes; clothing the naked without suffocating in diapers and unmatched socks.

Later, I returned to St. Benedict’s to visit my friend Dee, or now, as she was known, Sister Colman, PhD. She escorted me and Bob and our throng of children around Catholic University’s $3 million theater, where she was department chair.

I oohed and aahed so much over this dream-cometrue that my daughter later asked, “Mama, is your friend really rich?�

I hugged her and truthfully said, “No dear. We are the ones who are rich.�

I wondered who took the vows of poverty, chasContinued on page 15

Easy Ways to Give to

WHISTLESTOP 1. Car and Vehicle Donation through: Car Donation Services 1-888-686-4483.

2. Ask your bank to designate Whistlestop as a beneficiary. It doesn’t cost you anything and the bank will donate just because you chose Whistlestop as your favorite nonprofit in Marin!

3. Get involved. Volunteer your time to help us serve meals, prepare a mailing, or set up for an event. Come hang out at the Active Aging Center – by showing up you are helping to make the Center full of more energy.

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4. Tell people about Whistlestop's Active Aging programs and services. Being an advocate really helps to spread the word.

5. In-kind donations – for income tax credit.

6. Make a Matching Gift through your employer – Chevron Humankind Program, PG&E Campaign for the Community, and Fireman’s Fund are just a few of the employers with matching programs. )

B y G a r y G r u b e r, P h D

No. 1: Assuming the statement “Only the good die young,” is true, we can infer which of the following? a) No good person lives to an old age. b) Anyone who does not die young must not be good. c) Only those who are not good do not die young. d) All people who are not good do not die young. e) Some people who are not good die young.

Answer: d. The statement means if you die young, you must be good. So all people who are not good, do not die young. Thus choice d is correct and choice e is incorrect. But, note, if you do not die young, you can also be good. Thus Choices a,b,and c are incorrect.

No. 2: If nobody loves nobody which of the following must be true?

I. Everybody loves somebody II. Somebody loves somebody III. Nobody loves anybody a) I only b) II only c) III only d) I and II only e) II and III only

Answer: .d. If nobody loves nobody, then it is like saying nobody loves 0 people. So they must love more than 0 people. Then somebody loves somebody and everybody loves somebody.

Dr. Gary Gruber, author and expert in optimizing scores on standardized tests, is widely published. He welcomes your comments or questions. You may contact him through his website: www.drgarygruber.com.

Continued from page 14 tity and obedience. Is poverty getting a first-class education, living and working in beautiful surroundings but just not owning anything? Or it is living hand-to-mouth with the awesome responsibility of feeding, clothing and educating a big family?

Is chastity sleeping alone or next to someone you love but mustn’t touch?

Is obedience allowing a Mother Superior to design your career? Or is it allowing God to plan your family?

After I finally earned a couple of degrees myself and with 20 years of teaching behind me, I returned to St. Benedict’s, this time for the inauguration of Sister Colman as president of the college. She looked smashing in her designer suit, her light touch of cosmetics and her trim figure, thanks to being a marathon runner. Seeing the mansion that was now hers as president, I understood it was fitting. After all, she needed to entertain dignitaries from all walks of life. Material rewards do come to religious as well as laity for jobs well done. ) Audrey, mother of 10, has been publishing her Grand Mom column in the Madison, WI, Diocesan Catholic Herald for the past 15 years. Contact her at audreyfix@yahoo.com. www.Whistlestop.org 15

Whistlestop E PRESS Marin Senior Coordinating Council 930 Tamalpais Avenue San Rafael, CA 94901-3325 TheWhistlestop.org To subscribe to Whistlestop Express, please send $10 in the enclosed envelope.

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