Maximum Living Nov/Dec 2015

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LIVING FREE

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015

TRAVEL

TIPS Save money, reduce stress and enjoy fun fall and winter getaways.

Pages 4-11

WHAT’S INSIDE

HUMOR

Kids can’t take grandparents anywhere. Page 8

CRAFTS

Let your home tell your story with 4 creative ideas. Page 17

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LIVING INSIDE THIS ISSUE Plan ahead for cheapest, most bearable holiday travel .....4 Reduce stress, save cash with travel experts’ help ..............5 Kids can’t take grandparents anywhere .............................8 Carry-on baggage tips ......................................................... 9 Do you know the way to San Jose by train? .......................

10 Travel briefs......................................................................... 11 Avoid family feuds this holiday season ............................ 12 Christmas song by the numbers ....................................... 13 You won’t miss meat or bread in oven hash .....................14 Make green beans delicious ..............................................15 Cold fridge will help reduce risk of foodborne illness.......

16 Let your home tell your story ........................................... 17 Upcoming events calendar ................................................18 Technology questions answered....................................... 20 Mass confusion only a text away........................................21 Try Social Security’s retirement estimator .........................22

Palladium-Item Media Group EDITORIAL Greg Fallon, News Director (765) 213-5876, gfallon@gannett.com Millicent Martin Emery, Special Content Reporter (765) 973-4468, mmartin@pal-item.com Joshua Smith, Photographer (765) 973-4487, jossmith@pal-item.com

ADVERTISING Cheryl Lindus, VP/Indiana Media Group (765) 213-5701, clindus@gannett.com

CONTACT US EDITORIAL: For comments about editorial content or suggestions for the next issue, contact Millicent Martin Emery at (765) 973-4468.

ADVERTISING: To advertise, contact Cheryl Lindus at clindus@gannett.com or (765) 213-5701 SUBSCRIPTION: To request additional copies of the magazine, contact Heidi Lipscomb at Heidi.Lipscomb@indystar.com or (765) 962-1575 © 2015 Maximum Living This lifestyles magazine is a product of the Palladium-Item Media Group. These materials are the sole and exclusive property of the Palladium-Item Media Group and are not to be used without written permission.

November/DECEMBER 2015 | Maximum Living | 3

PLAN AHEAD FOR CHEAPEST, MOST BEARABLE HOLIDAY TRAVEL Airfares may be cheaper, but watch out for fees David Koenig Associated Press

DALLAS — If you haven’t booked your holiday trip yet, there is no time to waste. Prices are already rising for the days around Thanksgiving as seats become more scarce and will start rising dramatically for the December holidays, if history is any guide.

Here’s what to expect if you’re traveling between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day: » Fares: Holiday travelers might find a little something extra in their stocking — airfares should be a bit lower than last year.

After several years of increases above inflation, fares have dipped this year. In August, the last month for which numbers are available, the average domestic fare per mile was down 6.8 percent from a year earlier, according to Airlines for America, the industry trade group. Experts say that trend is continuing into the fall.

Counting tickets already purchased for peak travel days around Christmas, prices are 3 percent lower than last year, according to online travel company Hipmunk.

George Hobica, founder of Airfarewatchdog.com, said the savings appear to be even bigger on routes flown by the discount carriers such as Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines. He said the major carriers are more aggressively matching the discounters’ fares, which is great for consumers.

Christmas and New Year’s Day will fall on Fridays, meaning that many passengers will try to fly home that Saturday or Sunday. The result is that fares could be higher on those days but cheaper than last year on other days, said Jeff Klee, the CEO of CheapAir.com.

Connecting flights are often cheaper than nonstops, but especially around the holidays you might decide that the added risk of missing your connection isn’t worth saving a few bucks. » Fees: While fares are falling, the airlines are making more money by charging fees for all sorts of things. The big ones are checked-bag and ticket-change fees.

If you want to avoid fees, you can fly on Southwest, which doesn’t charge for the first two bags or changing a ticket. Cut down on baggage by shipping gifts ahead of time or buying gift cards.

If you’re flying on the fee-laden discount airlines such as Spirit, Frontier and Allegiant, plan ahead: Print out your boarding pass before you get to the airport, make sure your carry-on will fit under the seat, and pay bag

4 | Maximum Living | November/DECEMBER 2015

TODD SUMLIN, THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER/AP

Amos Darnell looks for a shorter line at the security checkpoint at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, N.C., on Dec. 24, 2014.

fees ahead of time — they cost more at the airport. » Crowds: Don’t count on an empty middle seat to let you stretch out.

The leading U.S. airlines have been filling more than 80 percent of their seats. That includes early-morning and late-night flights, meaning that many during the more convenient hours are full.

On top of that, airlines are reserving more seats for elite customers and those willing to pay extra for a choice seat — like a bit more legroom. That can make travel more difficult for families.

Airlines say gate agents try to help families sit together, especially those with small children, but don’t count on a stranger to swap seats — he might have paid a $50 fee on top of his ticket price to get that aisle seat.

Of course, those crowds start at the airport, so give yourself extra time to check bags and get through the security checkpoint. » Passing the time: Despite the image of cattle cars in the sky, airlines do provide some amenities for little or no cost that can make holiday travel more bearable.

Websites such as Routehappy let you look up whether a flight has WiFi, power outlets and, in economy, fresh food for sale.

“Don’t just think about price,” said Jason Rabinowitz, data research manager for Routehappy. “For $5 more, a See PLAN, Page 6

MIKE EMERY / PALLADIUM-ITEM

It’s time to start dreaming and planning ahead for trips to warm destinations, such as Maui.

REDUCE STRESS, SAVE CASH

WITH TRAVEL EXPERTS’ HELP Millicent Martin Emery Want to take a trip and just need some inspiration as to where to go?

Or do you have a destination already in mind, but want to learn more about what you can do while you’re there?

Either way, local travel agents can help provide travelers information and help them save money.

Even as more shoppers have access to the Internet to make their own reservations, it can also be harder to know where to start and which companies to trust.

Jill Parker, senior travel consultant for AAA Hoosier Motor Club in Richmond, urges travelers to plan ahead for their vacations, especially international ones, because they never know when passports or other paperwork could be delayed.

She says travel agents can help walk customers

through all the details they might not know they need to handle so they don’t miss out on their big investment.

Travel insurance won’t reimburse you for canceling a trip because you didn’t receive your passport in time, Parker said.

Experts also can be helpful in navigating airline tickets because if a mistake is made by someone booking their own ticket, the ticket is non-refundable and the customer pays a penalty to make changes.

Holiday and winter travel plans are now being made, so Parker advises those interested to act quickly. “We’re already seeing things fill up,” she said.

Parker said some couples and families are taking cruises or going on trips to Disney around the holidays.

Some plan a big trip for the whole family to celebrate See EXPERTS, Page 6 November/DECEMBER 2015 | Maximum Living | 5

Experts Continued from Page 5

a 50th anniversary or the group gets together for Christmas in a fun location as their present.

In the new year, Caribbean cruises are popular with local residents, she said.

Mexico’s Cancun and the Dominican Republic’s Punta Cana are among favorite destinations during the winter months for those fleeing the cold, Parker said.

Closer to home, Tampa, Miami and Port Canaveral are also a draw for local residents, who often drive to those Florida destinations in the winter. Many area travelers drive to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in the summer.

Parker helps book trips for Indiana and Ohio residents who spend the winter in Florida and then plan to take a cruise.

River cruises are quite popular with local residents as well, whether that’s cruising the Ohio River, the mighty Mississippi or even touring Europe.

“People love that because it’s very relaxed and not hurried,” Parker said.

AAA Hoosier Motor Club travel agents will help both the public and members plan trips at no charge.

However, AAA members get exclusive savings opportunities and preferred benefits with cruise and tour companies as well as hotels, car rentals and attractions. They can get discounts on passport photos and airline ticket service fees.

Some local businesses even offer discounts to AAA members, such as Warm Glow Candle Company.

The AAA office at 3639 E. Main St. in Richmond also has a travel store that offers everything from converters to luggage to travel pillows and purses designed by a

Plan Continued from Page 4

flight on another airline or even a flight 20 minutes later on the same airline can get you free entertainment or free WiFi.” If your flight charges for WiFi, buying before you fly is almost always cheaper than buying on the plane — it might be $16 instead of $45, Rabinowitz said. » Other tools: Airline mobile apps keep you updated on schedule changes for your flight.

Some have maps to help navigate busy airports and even find a

MIKE EMERY / PALLADIUM-ITEM

Hawaii is a dream destination for many Midwesterners during the winter months.

flight attendant. Members pay a lower price, Parker said.

Travelers can also get foreign currency at the local office and purchase international pre-paid cards that aren’t connected to a traveler’s bank account. Parker advises carrying a mix of cash, credit cards and travel cards.

If members request help far enough in advance, AAA also offers customized travel planners called TripTiks (maps and directions you don’t have to print yourself).

They can help show where road construction might slow traffic.

Members also get free travel brochures, maps and guides that are helpful as a backup even in the age of smartphones and GPS devices.

AAA memberships are now $69.50 for the first year.

decent meal, as do other apps such as GateGuru.

Winter weather can cause flight delays.

The Federal Aviation Administration website has a nationwide map showing where delays are occurring: http://www.fly.faa.gov. » Start airfare-shopping now: People have debated the best time to buy airline tickets since flight attendants were called stewardesses. There is no single right answer — it varies by route and other factors.

“We’ve actually seen Christmas and New Year’s fares come down quite a bit in the last month, which is a little bit surprising,” said Klee,

6 | Maximum Living | November/DECEMBER 2015

the CheapAir CEO. He said prices are likely to start rising soon and you’ll have fewer choices of available flights. Avoid flying the Saturday and Sunday after Christmas.

Ideally, Thanksgiving travelers should have bought a ticket by now.

According to Hipmunk, the best deals were back in August. In midNovember, fares will be up nearly 30 percent from the lowest levels.

You might find a bargain by flying on Thanksgiving Day. It’s less busy than the day before and you can still arrive in time for turkey dinner.

Just don’t spoil your pumpkin pie by thinking about your return trip.

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November/DECEMBER 2015 | Maximum Living | 7

KIDS CAN’T TAKE GRANDPARENTS

ANYWHERE One of the most treasured moments of parenting is taking your children out to eat and having a stranger comment on how well behaved they are.

We know because it happened to us.

Twice. OK, maybe it was only once.

As a realist, I am always sympathetic to the embarrassed mother with the wailing infant in her arms or screaming toddler plastered to her legs. Having been there and done that, I often smile and offer support by whispering, “Hang in there. Tomorrow will be better. Or worse. You nevLORI er know.”

BORGMAN Naturally, as grandparents, we wish for our grandchildren to be well behaved in public places and not create the sort of spectacles that wind up in YouTube videos.

When we took four of the grands to Steak ‘n Shake, we went over the expectations for behavior. They all listened attentively and the 1-year-old responded, “Baa, baa, ack!”

Our server showed us to a somewhat isolated table at the back, near the restrooms. Every time she passed by, she left another stack of napkins.

The kids were coloring, folding cardboard cutouts, patiently waiting for their food. When the server brought water (with lids) they all placed them near the center of the table to avoid spills. Milkshakes arrived and they carefully put those, too, near the center of the table.

I nearly expected a stranger to stop by and compliment the children on their behavior.

A few moments later, the child to my right pointed out she had dribbled milkshake on her shirt. Reaching for a couple of napkins, I elbowed her milkshake and knocked it flat.

Milkshake instantly flooded our side of the table, rolled over the edge and began cascading in waves into my lap. I was catching milkshake by the handful, throwing it back into the glass and onto my plate. The children were stunned and wide-eyed, probably because they’d never seen Grandma throwing milkshake overhand.

The husband hurled napkins across the table. We frantically smeared milkshake from east to west. My clothes were sticking to my body and my shoes were suctioned to puddles of milkshake on the floor.

8 | Maximum Living | November/DECEMBER 2015

GETTY IMAGES/POLKA DOT RF

Wordlessly, our server dropped off another round of napkins.

We hastened the eating along and the husband, being of the waste-not, want-not mindset, offered a glass of milk still half-full to the little one in the high chair. Never hesitant to express her disinterest, she batted the glass out of his hand, sending milk arcing like the beautiful St. Louis Gateway Arch, all of it showering the husband.

The server stopped by with more napkins. The kids were cowering under the table and the baby was inconsolable.

As we stood to leave, the husband noticed that our pants were so soaked that we both looked woefully incontinent. I considered that we might be stopped at the door and asked if we were responsible enough to manage small children.

We delivered the children back to their parents. Our own kids looked us up and down with our splattered shirts and wet pants, and chorused, “What happened to you two?”

“All you really need to know is that we tipped 50 percent of the bill,” I said. “Oh, and don’t be surprised if next time the kids want to go without us.”

Lori Borgman is a columnist, author and speaker.

Contact her at lori@loriborgman.com

CARRY-ON BAGGAGE TIPS Federal Aviation Administration

Planning a trip?

Thinking about carrying on your luggage?

If so, here are a few tips for you:

Think small…

The maximum size carry-on bag for most airlines is 45 linear inches (the total of the height, width, and depth of the bag). Anything larger should be checked.

No oversize packages or luggage can be stowed onboard.

Think smart…

Plan to check more of your baggage and carry on less.

Check with your airline before packing to determine its carry-on guidelines regarding the number of items you may carry on and the maximum size of those items.

In certain situations the airline may require most or even all of your bags to be checked, so be prepared to do so.

Think safe…

Carry-on items, which may fall from overhead bins, can injure you or other passengers during flight or in the event of an emergency evacuation.

Stow heavy items under the seat in front of you, not overhead.

Don't stack items in the overhead storage bin.

If an emergency evacuation is necessary, leave your carry-on items on the

plane. Retrieving personal items may impede the safe evacuation of passengers.

Remember, be safety conscious when stowing your carry-on items.

Have a question?

Call your airline or visit its website.

Check with your travel agent.

Visit the Air Travel section of the Transportation Security Administration website.

What about batteries?

What kinds of batteries does the FAA allow in carry-on baggage (in the aircraft cabin)?

Passengers can carry most consumer-type batteries and portable battery-powered electronic devices for their own personal use. Spare batteries must be protected from damage and short circuit.

Battery-powered devices must be protected from accidental activation and heat generation. Batteries allowed in carry-on baggage include: Dry cell alkaline batteries: typical AA, AAA, C, D, 9-volt, button-sized cells, etc.

Dry cell rechargeable batteries such as Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) and Nickel Cadmium (NiCad). For rechargeable lithium ion batteries; see next paragraph.

See BAGGAGE, Page 13

It’s better than Mom used to make.

Not that she’ll ever admit it.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe Ingredients: 2 cups gingersnap cookie crumbs 6 tablespoons butter, melted 2 tbsp granulated sugar 16 oz cream cheese, softened 3/4 cup light brown sugar 3 eggs

15 oz pumpkin 1 tbsp flour 2 tsp pure vanilla extract 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp ginger & cloves 1/4 tsp nutmeg

Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. 2. For crust, mix cookies, butter and sugar in medium bowl.

Press evenly into bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.

3. For filling, beat cream cheese and brown sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating on low speed after each addition just until blended. Add pumpkin, flour, vanilla and spices; beat until smooth. Pour into crust 4. Bake 50 minutes or until top is lightly browned and center is almost set. Turn off oven; let cheesecake stand in oven for 1 hour. Remove from oven. Run small knife or metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cheesecake. Cool in pan on wire rack.

5. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.

6. Serve with whipped cream, if desired.

7. Store leftover cheesecake in refrigerator.

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November/DECEMBER 2015 | Maximum Living | 9

DO YOU KNOW THE WAY TO SAN JOSE FROM ORLANDO — BY TRAIN? MARCIA DUNN Associated Press

ABOARD THE CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR — The train conductor gave a surprised start as he checked our tickets.

“What possessed you to do that?” he asked, staring at us.

It wasn’t the first time my 9-year-old son and I had gotten double-takes on our coast-to-coast rail trip. But it was the most amusing, coming from an Amtrak employee no less, and a fitting conclusion as we approached our final destination in the San Francisco Bay area, after five days of train travel that began in Orlando, Florida. All told, we’d covered 4,124 miles of railroad track.

“Better you than me,” the conductor said as he headed down the aisle.

Our eTicket told the basic story. We’d boarded Amtrak’s Silver Meteor in Orlando in time for a late lunch; chugged up to Washington, D.C.; enjoyed several hours at a National Building Museum exhibit the next day, spending a long layover in a sea of plastic balls; hopped on the Capitol Limited to Chicago; strolled around the gloriously sunny but not so windy city a day later; then climbed onto the California Zephyr for the part of the journey my train-loving son anticipated most — back-to-back nights on the same train.

I’d read about the Zephyr’s stunning ride through the Rockies and Sierra Nevadas. Frankly, I was drawn to the retro, low-pressure side of the journey as well — nearly a week with nowhere to be, except on a train. So armed with nothing more for entertainment than a few books, sketch pads and chess set, we set off.

Packed with vacationers, the Zephyr pulled out of Chicago, crossed the prairies to Denver, pushed past the Rockies and the alien-looking geologic formations of Utah and Nevada, then rambled through the Sierra Nevadas and past Donner Pass.

The longest stop was in Denver — well under an hour — where workers hustled to wash the double-decker train’s windows using squeegees atop long poles. This was especially important for the observation car with its picture windows. As we left Denver for the mountains, every seat in the observation car was filled.

Reno, Nevada, also afforded a chance to stretch on the platform. Most other stops lasted only long enough to pick up and drop off passengers.

We arrived in Emeryville, California, outside Oakland — end of the line for the Zephyr — on day five of our grand adventure. All that remained was the 11⁄2-hour Capitol Corridor run from Emeryville to San Jose. It was early evening by the time we pulled into San Jose, 104 hours after we’d boarded our first train in Orlando.

10 | Maximum Living | November/DECEMBER 2015

MARCIA DUNN/AP PHOTO

Nicolas Coledan, 9, in Orlando, Fla., before he and his mother embark on a cross-country train trip from Florida to California via Chicago. The trip included five days of train travel and 4,124 miles of railroad track. It was an old-fashioned, slow-paced type of journey with little more for entertainment than looking out the window, reading books and playing chess.

IF YOU GO...

AMTRAK: www.amtrak.com. First-class riders (including those with sleeping compartments) can check luggage for free at Washington and Chicago’s Union stations. That way, you can scamper around town, unencumbered, during long layovers. Pack a sweater. It’s chilly on board and difficult if not impossible to control the air conditioning in the sleepers.

Now for the nitty-gritty: We had a two-person sleeping compartment the whole way, which made all the difference. The changing time zones — loudspeakers kept us abreast — made for a little confusion.

Yes, we used the communal on-board showers. (It wasn’t nearly as icky or tricky as I’d imagined; the water was warm and the facility tidy.) Granted, my son washed only once and wore the same red Minions T-shirt four of our five days on the tracks. But we weren’t too grungy as we arrived in San Jose.

And we were hardly starving. Meals are included — breakfast, lunch and dinner — when you book a sleeping compartment, served by waiters in the dining car. The food — especially the French toast — is actually quite See TRAIN, Page 13

TRAVEL BRIEFS Fall in national parks National parks aren’t just summer destinations. Many parks see significant visitation well into the fall, offering everything from wildlife to fall foliage to cooler temperatures.

The most popular national park destinations for fall include the Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the Southeast U.S. The Blue Ridge Parkway got 1.8 million visitors last month, in September of this year, and 1.9 million visitors last October in 2014, while the Smokies saw 1.3 million visitors last October and a million last month.

But a number of parks in the Western United States typically receive hundreds of thousands of visitors in the fall as well.

Grand Canyon saw nearly 411,000 visitors last October and more than 480,000 this past September.

Other Western parks that registered big numbers were Yellowstone, with 680,000 visitors last month and 195,000 in October 2014; Yosemite, with 471,000 visitors in September and nearly 355,000 last October; and Zion with 394,000 in September and 304,000 last October.

All statistics are from the National Park Service online database atirma.nps.gov/Stats/Reports/National.

Thousand-bloom chrysanthemum Longwood Gardens’ annual chrysanthemum festival runs Oct. 24-Nov. 22 and includes what the garden calls “the largest chrysanthemum in the Western world.”

It’s Longwood’s “thousand-bloom chrysanthemum,” which the garden says is the largest mum grown outside out of Asia, with more than 1,500 flowers on one plant.

The festival overall features more than 16,000 chrysanthemums groomed and trained into a variety of shapes and forms, from balls and spirals to cascades.

The garden is located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Details at longwoodgardens.org.

Grace Farms in Connecticut Grace Farms, a new center for nature, arts and faith has opened on 80 acres of woodlands in New Canaan, Connecticut.

Its centerpiece is a long, narrow building known as the River because of its resemblance to water coursing through the one-time farmland. The serpentine building designed by the Japanese studio SANAA fits in with New Canaan’s reputation as the site of noted buildings designed by architects such as Philip Johnson, Marcel Breuer and Edward Durell Stone.

But Grace Farms, which required nearly $42 million to buy the land and $67 million for the building and related work, is more than an architectural attraction.

The project began as a way to preserve farmland and most of the property will remain undeveloped with meadows, woods, wetlands and ponds.

Visitors can explore and enjoy these outdoor spaces.

But Grace Farms is also dedicated to the arts and social justice. The site will be collaborating with visiting artists and non-profits that need program space, with a particular emphasis on fighting human trafficking.

Details at gracefarms.org.

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November/DECEMBER 2015 | Maximum Living | 11

AVOID FAMILY FEUDS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON Centerstone The holiday season is upon us. Before we know it, we’ll be gathered around the dinner table with loved ones to enjoy the food, fun and festivities. For many, this is a wonderful time of year to reconnect and celebrate.

But for some families, the holiday togetherness can lead to stress and friction.

Here are four suggestions to help you avoid family feuds this holiday season and make the most of your time together.

Disconnect from the drama If your family is prone to family feuds, consider limiting the time you spend with them this holiday season. If you know a certain conflict is bound to come up, plan ahead. Think about how you will handle it. What will you say or do, if anything?

You might need to intentionally disconnect from the emotional commotion to make this year's family interaction as pleasant as possible. Don’t unleash your resentments for past wrongdoings and don’t allow relatives to do the same to you. If some family visits are not enjoyable, consider limiting the time you commit to them, and make other plans with family (or friends) you do enjoy.

Stay out of in-law arguments Be careful not to get involved in in-law disputes. The holiday gathering is not the time or place to divulge your disdain for your spouse’s mother or your brother’s wife.

If you’re asked for advice about an in-law, try to be

supportive. And beware that if you do get involved, no matter how good your intentions, you’ll most likely end up being the “bad guy.”

And resist the urge to become defensive if you become the focus of an in-law driven feud. Taking the high road will be worth it in the long run.

Keep the kids out of the conflict After a separation, divorce or remarriage, many things change, including holiday celebrations with children.

There could still be unsettled agreements or lingering resentments involving the kids.

Sadly, children are often used as pawns between bickering parents. This damages the spirit of the child and only adds more turmoil to all families involved. Don’t use kids as pawns or players in adult conflicts.

Try to keep adult issues between the adults involved and honor this time of year for the children’s sake.

Make realistic expectations Many times we look back on the holidays of our youth and yearn for the sense of wonder and joy we felt. Perhaps that sense of wonder is gone from your adult holidays, but that doesn't mean you can't make the most of the experience.

Be realistic when you plan for the holidays, and don't let lofty expectations or memories of the good ol’ days ruin your spirit.

Don’t let the challenges of family friction or feuds turn into crisis this holiday season. If disagreements aren’t resolved by the New Year, that doesn't mean resolution isn't possible. You and your family might need to live GETTY IMAGES/I STOCKPHOTO with how things are, for now.

When tempers cool, reconnect with family members involved in the conflict, and let them know you are willing to come together and resolve the issue.

Sometimes professional help, such as counseling, can facilitate family healing.

If you or someone you love needs immediate assistance, contact Centerstone of Indiana at (800) 832-5442.

For more information or to make an appointment, please call (800) 344-8802.

12 | Maximum Living | November/DECEMBER 2015

CHRISTMAS SONG Baggage

BY THE NUMBERS

As I have noted before, we are all about numbers, dates and anniversaries at this house. Well, technically not “we,” more like “he.”

My beloved numbers guy recently mentioned that this is the 75th anniversary of Irving Berlin writing “White Christmas” and proceeded to clip an article to that effect from a USA Today.

If you are married to a numbers person, or are a numbers person yourself, you know that any number, date or anniversary is never the end of something but merely the beginning, because all numbers, dates and anniversaries lead to more numbers, dates and anniversaries and subsequent rabbit trails that are beyond number.

Irving Berlin wrote “White Christmas” in 1940. But because Bing Crosby recorded the song (in 18 minutes!) on May 29, 1942, the husband proceeded to tuck the clipping into the May 29th page of his 1992 journal, thereby commemorating the 50th anniversary of the LORI recording.

BORGMAN As he did so, he read one of the notations in his journal from May 29, 1992, that our daughters had dinner at a friend’s house. When they came home, the youngest, then 6, claimed the mother had tried to poison her by serving something called wilted lettuce.

I am assuming USA Today will update their historical archives to note the Wilted Lettuce event in addition to the writing and recording of “White Christmas.”

Because numbers people tend to aggregate with other numbers people (why yes, that was a numbers pun), my brother-in-law (a total numbers/dates/anniversaries guy) emailed to remind me that it was 10 years ago that Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet.

I emailed back to let him know Pluto’s reclassification was nothing compared to this also being the 75th anniversary of Berlin writing “White Christmas” and the 23rd anniversary of the Wilted Lettuce event.

And now you, the reader, are probably wondering why in the world I am writing about things that happened 75, 50, 23 and 10 years ago. Because this is a warning – a warning about what eventually happens to every people person who marries into a numbers-person family. We, too, become consumed by numbers, dates and anniversaries.

Stay tuned. Next week I plan on noting the 500th anniversary of the Reformation and will hopefully be able to link it to a specific date and fascinating family event, such as when one of us purchased our 500th pair of socks.

Oh, one more thing. Bing Crosby’s recording of “White Christmas” remains the best-selling single worldwide, having sold an estimated 50 million copies. There. My numbers guy was concerned I’d left a number out.

Lori Borgman is an Indiana columnist, author and speaker.

Contact her at lori@loriborgman.com

Continued from Page 9

Lithium ion batteries (a.k.a.: rechargeable lithium, lithium polymer, LIPO, secondary lithium).

Passengers may carry all consumer-sized lithium ion batteries (up to 100 watt hours per battery). This size covers AA, AAA, cell phone, PDA, camera, camcorder, handheld game, tablet, portable drill, and standard laptop computer batteries. The watt hours (Wh) rating is marked on newer lithium ion batteries. External chargers are also considered to be a battery.

Passengers can also bring two (2) larger lithium ion batteries (100-160 watt hours per

Train Continued from Page 10

good. Seating is communal; no booth seats go empty. But that’s the beauty of train travel: Imagine great meal conversation with travelers from around the world, eager to share not only a table but vacation and life stories.

The not-so-good news: It was the same menu, regardless of the route.

So after five days of salmon, steak and cheeseburgers, I hungered for something else. This wasn’t a problem for my son, however, who ordered macaroniand-cheese at every

battery) in their carryon. This size covers the largest aftermarket extended-life laptop batteries and most lithium ion batteries for professional-grade audio/visual equipment.

Most lithium ion batteries for consumer electronics are below this size.

Learn more at http:// www.faa.gov/about/ office_org/headquarters_offices/ash/ash_programs/hazmat/passenger_info/media/faa_airline_passengers_and_ batteries.pdf

Wondering what items are prohibited?

Go to this website for a list of what can be permitted in a carry-on and in a checked bag. http://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/ prohibited-items opportunity.

As for hand luggage, we had a single small carry-on. Large suitcases could be stashed in a common area. Had I known that in advance, I wouldn’t have checked our big bag.

As we celebrated our arrival in San Jose, I turned to my son. Would he do it again? You bet, he answered. So would I. Next time, we’ll take the even more popular Empire Builder from Chicago through Minnesota, North Dakota and Montana, winding up in Portland, Oregon, or Seattle.

In case you’re wondering, we flew back : a mere seven hours, including the layover.

November/DECEMBER 2015 | Maximum Living | 13

VEGGIE OVEN HASH Start to finish: 40 minutes Servings: 8

MATTHEW MEAD/AP

The recipe for veggie oven hash relies on a mix of roasted vegetables for a caramelized sweetness that feels roasty and homey.

YOU WON’T MISS THE MEAT OR BREAD IN THIS VEG-RICH OVEN HASH Melissa d’Arabian Associated Press

Heading into crisper weather, I start to crave the holiday classics that beg to be made this time of year. One of my favorites is stuffing (technically “dressing” since I haven’t stuffed it in the turkey ever since Alton Brown talked me out of it over a decade ago when I read his recipe for roasted turkey). Seasoned cubes of dried bread sauteed with celery, onion, herbs and butter, then baked up to crispyoutside-soft-inside perfection?

Yes, please!

Except … my extended family has three vegetarians and my daughter is glutenfree. So my challenge was how to make a dish that scratches the stuffing itch for them without making it seem like the ugly duckling of the Thanksgiving table. The solution ended up being a roasted vegetable medley that I prom-

ise will be the most-requested recipe of your holiday. It is that good, and full of nutrients too.

To make that happen, I rely on a mix of roasted vegetables for a caramelized sweetness that feels roasty and homey.

And I add meaty mushrooms sauteed in garlic and the trifecta of holiday cooking herbs: rosemary, sage and thyme. A Granny Smith apple cut into tiny cubes brings just enough acid for depth, while a surprise little hero tucked into the recipe — toasted walnuts — adds texture, along with some nice healthy fats to fill up vegetarians who will be skipping the turkey.

Easy, healthy and satisfying. Your healthy or vegan or gluten-free guests will feel satisfied, not sidelined.

Food Network star Melissa d’Arabian is an expert on healthy eating on a budget. She is the author of the cookbook, “Supermarket Healthy.” www.melissadarabian.net.

14 | Maximum Living | November/DECEMBER 2015

2 1⁄2 cups (3⁄4 pound) cubed butternut squash (1-inch cubes) Olive oil Kosher salt and ground black pepper 2 cups (1⁄3 pound) small cauliflower florets 2 cups (1⁄3 pound) small broccoli florets 1 medium yellow onion, chopped 2 stalks celery, chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced (cut in half if slices are larger than bite-sized) 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and diced 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary 1 tablespoon minced fresh sage 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1/2 cup toasted walnuts, roughly chopped

Heat the oven to 400 F. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with kitchen parchment or foil.

Mound the squash on one of the prepared baking sheets then drizzle with about 1 teaspoon of oil. Toss to coat, then season with salt and pepper. Arrange in an even layer, then roast until tender, 30 to 35 minutes, turning once or twice.

While the squash is roasting, mound the cauliflower and broccoli on the second sheet. Drizzle them with 2 teaspoons of oil, season with salt and pepper, then arrange in an even layer and roast for 25 minutes, turning halfway through, or until the cauliflower is golden. All of the vegetables should finish roasting around the same time. Set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, in a large saute pan over medium, heat 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the onion and celery and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and mushrooms, then saute until the mushrooms are starting to get tender, about 7 minutes. Add the apple, thyme, rosemary and sage, then cook another 5 minutes, or until the mushrooms are tender (but not floppy). Stir in the lemon juice, remove from the heat and transfer to a large bowl.

Add the slightly cooled roasted vegetables and the toasted walnuts. Stir and adjust seasoning if needed.

Nutrition information per serving: 140 calories; 80 calories from fat (57 percent of total calories); 8 grams fat (1 grams saturated; 0 gram trans fats); 0 milligram cholesterol; 150 milligrams sodium; 16 grams carbohydrate; 4 grams fiber; 6 grams sugar; 4 grams protein.

COMPELLED TO SER VE

GREEN BEANS?

AT LEAST MAKE THEM

MATTHEW MEAD/AP

Cranberry nut green beans.

GREEN BEANS FIVE WAYS Start to finish: 10 minutes Servings: 6 2 pounds green beans, ends trimmed ⁄2 cup water 2 tablespoons unsalted butter Kosher salt and ground black pepper

1

In a large skillet over medium-high, combine the green beans and water. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes, or until just tender and bright green. Drain any water that has not evaporated and stir in the butter.

Season with salt and pepper. Continue the recipe using one of the following variations: Nutrition information per serving: 80 calories; 35 calories from fat (44 percent of total calories); 4 grams fat (2.5 grams saturated; 0 gram trans fats); 10 milligrams cholesterol; 170 milligrams sodium; 11 grams carbohydrate; 4 grams fiber; 5 grams sugar; 3 grams protein.

HERBED Stir in 2 tablespoons each of chopped fresh thyme, chives and parsley.

TOASTED CRUMBS In a small skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Add 1 cup panko breadcrumbs, a pinch of salt and 1⁄4 teaspoon smoked paprika. Cook until toasted and fragrant, stirring constantly, 4 to 5 minutes. Sprinkle over the cooked and seasoned green beans.

SPICY GARLIC HONEY Stir in a hefty pinch of red pepper flakes, 1 to 2 finely minced cloves of garlic and a drizzle of honey.

CRANBERRY NUT Finely chop 1⁄2 cup dried cranberries and 1⁄2 cup toasted sliced almonds. Sprinkle over the top of the cooked and seasoned green beans.

DELICIOUS

We apologize if you are a huge fan of green beans.

We apologize if you are the sort of person who longs for the green beans at Thanksgiving. We think it’s a little strange, but we still apologize.

It’s not that green beans aren’t perfectly delightful.

It’s just that with so many far more exciting sides on offer at the typical Thanksgiving feast, it’s really hard to get excited about green beans. Usually, we don’t even bother to put them on our plates.

Would it be easier to just leave them off this year’s menu? Yup. Will you? Probably not.

So we decided that if you really must clutter up the table with green beans, at least make them truly delicious. Not that you need to work hard to make that happen. In fact, we came up with five delicious and easy ways to dress your green beans. They’re so good we might even eat less mashed potatoes to leave room for them. Or not.

3CGB )MJGB?W (GDR '?GP DAYONE ONLY!

$&*,/ %&+, ' " () .,!, - # 0,!, Main Concourse - Reid Health Look for specials from these Reid Health departments:

Massage Therapy Ginkgo Boutique Espresso Bar Reid Café at Twelve Hundred Reid Peek-a-Baby Reid Auxiliary Celebration of Love & Life Tree Reid Health Medical Equipment & Uniforms Reid Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

MAPLE SOY Leave off the salt and instead drizzle with a little soy sauce and maple syrup.

PI-0000179964

1100 Reid Parkway Richmond (765) 983-3000 ReidHealth.org

November/DECEMBER 2015 | Maximum Living | 15

GO 40°F OR BELOW: A COLD FRIDGE WILL HELP YOU REDUCE YOUR RISK OF FOODBORNE ILLNESS Partnership for Food Safety Education With age comes wisdom. This we can appreciate.

Unfortunately, with age also comes a change in our immune response.

As we get older, our immune system becomes a bit sluggish in recognizing and ridding the body of harmful bacteria and other pathogens that can cause foodborne illness.

The body doesn’t react like it used to – older adults who contract a foodborne illness are more likely to have a lengthier illness and to be hospitalized. Listeria can spread through the bloodstream to cause meningitis and can often be fatal. The older you are, the greater the risk.

An adult older than 65 is four times more likely to contract Listeriosis than is another healthy adult.

DON’T WORRY! THERE’S GOOD NEWS! Simple solutions like making sure the refrigerator is set at the right temperature could make all the difference. According to a risk assessment produced by the US Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, refrigeration at 40 °F or below is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.

The assessment found that the predicted number of cases of Listeriosis would be reduced by more than 70

16 | Maximum Living | November/DECEMBER 2015

percent if all home refrigerator temperatures did not exceed 41 °F. The only way to be sure the home refrigerator is at or below the recommended temperature of 40 °F or below is to measure the temperature with a refrigerator thermometer.

This type of thermometer is usually a separate tool that stays in the refrigerator and displays the actual temperature.

As you get older, you need to be especially vigilant when handling, preparing, and consuming foods because you are more susceptible to contracting a foodborne illness. When you understand the cause of foodborne illness and how to prevent it, you can arm yourself with the right tools to protect yourself.

The Partnership for Food Safety Education’s new GO 40 °F OR BELOW campaign was launched to educate consumers, like you, about the importance of home refrigeration reducing the risk of foodborne illnesses. To learn more about how you can protect your family and friends from foodborne illness, and to download a GO 40 °F OR BELOW brochure, visit www.fightbac.org.

The non-profit Partnership for Food Safety Education delivers trusted, science-based behavioral health messaging and a network of resources that support consumer in their efforts to reduce risk of foodborne infection. #Go40orBelow to keep food out of the “danger zone” and follow us @Fight_BAC for more food safety tips.

LET YOUR HOME TELL YOUR STORY Melissa Rayworth Associated Press

Every home tells a story. Some only whisper it through a handful of clues: a wedding photo on a fireplace mantel, perhaps, and maybe a few other framed photos scattered around a living room.

Crafter Lisa Hathaway has come up with one way to seed a living space with the story of where you’ve come from and who you are. Her “What a Difference a Day Makes” prints begin with a simple sheet of burlap — a fabric as textured as the lives her clients seek to commemorate. By printing their names and meaningful dates (births, marriages, etc.) in stark black on the pale brown burlap, she creates a frame-able wall hanging that invites conversation.

Beyond celebrating names and dates, there are many ways to combine decorating and personal storytelling.

Here are four creative approaches to celebrating your personal story through your home:

Repurpose clothing Somewhere in the back of a closet there may be an old sweatshirt from college or a T-shirt that you loved for years but never wear anymore. Why not bring that memory-infused old clothing into your living space? A tutorial on diynetwork.com offers simple steps for creating a pillow cover out of a treasured old T-shirt. Don’t have one that speaks to your history? Hunt at a vintage shop or online for clothing that captures a moment from your childhood or a decade of your history.

Several Etsy vendors will make quilts from old Tshirts, sports jerseys or baby clothes you’ve saved. You can also ask around town to find a quilter who will create the perfect throw blanket for your family room sofa.

Photos without frames Framed photos are great. But to share your history in a compelling way, consider going really big. Choose a black-and-white image from your childhood or a photo of your ancestors and have it printed on a huge scale.

You can have it mounted on a canvas with no frame for a modern look, or visit one of many custom wallpaper websites to have it printed as a mural that partially or entirely fills a wall. Eazywallz.com will print a large wall mural from your uploaded photo (they suggest using a photo that’s 8 megapixels or larger), which arrives as a

AP

A collection of business cards from restaurants around the world adds graphic elements and pops of color to an otherwise bland built-in sideboard in a dining room. The cards also serve as a conversation piece, sparking memories of great meals from past travels.

peel-and-stick decal. A 5-foot-square mural costs about $150 with shipping costs included.

At designyourwall.com, you can order custom wallpaper printed from personal photos. They have an in-house designer who can help you plan the project, and they offer samples of your custom order ($9.99 each) so you can be sure you like it.

Another option: Search for photo collage ideas on Pinterest, then create a collage that combines vacation pictures and luggage stickers from your last trip. You can make a new collage or add to an existing one each time someone in your family travels to a new location.

Mark your words It’s popular to decorate with inspiring phrases or well-known quotes. But what about the most meaningful words from your own history? Choose a saying that your parent or grandparent often repeated, or a quote from a relative that is meaningful to you. Then use stencils to paint it onto a wall in your home, or use decals. At the Etsy.com shop Dana Decal, you can have a personal quote printed as a wall decal for prices ranging from $24 to $71, depending on the size.

Or create a memory wall: Paint one kitchen wall with chalkboard paint, and then let family members fill it with short notes about their favorite old and new memories.

Don’t forget to photograph the wall before erasing a section to make room for new writing.

Celebrate places Many crafters use local or global maps, marking special places with hearts or stars. Sketch an outline of your state, for instance, on a piece of heavy paper, then use a hole-punch (craft stores sell ones with holes shaped like stars or hearts) to mark the spot in the state where you live now or have lived previously.

November/DECEMBER 2015 | Maximum Living | 17

CALENDAR Arts and crafts » Old Mill Christmas, Nov. 19-Dec. 23, 1140 N. 12th St., Richmond. Featuring primitives, homemade and one-of-a-kind crafts. Hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays. Open house from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 5. (765) 935-3434. » Olive Hill Farm Christmas Craft Show, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Nov. 20-21, 3331 N. Centerville Road, Centerville, Ind. Free admission. Indoors. (765) 886-5216 » Holiday Bazaar, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 21, Union County Middle School, 488 Eaton St., Liberty, Ind. (765) 732-3794. » Sleep Mats Project for the Homeless, 9 a.m.-11 a.m., Nov. 21 and third Saturday each month, St. John Lutheran Church, Ingomar, 2139 Enterprise Road, West Alexandria. This is an ongoing outreach project that benefits the homeless. Plastic bags are flattened, cut into strips, and crocheted into sleep mats.Crocheters have made more than 50 mats using the plastic yarn (plarn) assembled by other volunteers. Check out photos on the St. John web site www.stjohningomar.org. Mats have been distributed to Jeremiah’s Letter, CAP, Original Church of God, and Homefull. We will continue to pass the mats along as they are completed. Even if you can’t attend the work days and don’t want to learn to crochet, there are many ways you can participate in this project. Email Linda Kottke at lkottke@woh.rr.com for more information. » Richmond’s Own Society of Embroiderers, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Nov. 24, Richmond Senior Community Center, 1600 S. Second St., Richmond. Projects and lessons on various types of needlework are given. Needleworkers of all skill levels are welcome. Bring a sack lunch. Also, on the second Monday of the month, a stitch-in takes place at a ROSE member’s home or the senior center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring a sack lunch. » 3D Seasonal Greeting Cards adult craft, 4-5 p.m., Nov. 24, Preble County District Library: Eldorado Branch, 150 N. Main St., Eldorado, Ohio. Free. » Third annual Small Business Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 28, Richmond Municipal Building, 50 N. Fifth St., Richmond. Featuring local small businesses, service providers, artisans and crafters, jewelry makers, Internet merchants and not-forprofits. Vendors interested in displaying their products can contact Jessica Clark at (765) 962-3220 or Jessica@PorterAdvertising.com. » Christmas Bazaar and Bake Sale, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 5, Pentecostal Tabernacle, 480 W. Eaton Pike, Richmond. Handcrafted items, including Christmas items and baked goods. Lunch includes soup, sandwiches and baked goods. Fresh pecans from Georgia. » Cookie Walk, 9 a.m.-noon Dec. 12, Edwards Memorial United Methodist Church, 4 W. Seminary St., Liberty, Ind. (765) 458-7489. » Craft shop, open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, Senior Opportunities Services, 401 S. Fourth St., Richmond. Handmade stuffed animals, wooden toys, doll clothes, baby gifts, holiday decorations, practical items and others made by local seniors.

(765) 962-1010. » Holiday Art Mart, Now through Jan. 16, Richmond Art Museum, 350 Hub Etchison Parkway, Richmond. Artists showcase

18 | Maximum Living | November/DECEMBER 2015

original works no larger than 5 inches by 7 inches as well as sculpture, ceramics and jewelry. Designed for unique gift giving and to inspire new collectors to buy original art. All $250 or less. » Winter Farmers Market, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. every first and third Saturday through April at Starr Elementary School, 301 N. 19th St., Richmond. Locally produced arts and crafts, veggies, meat, eggs, honey and bread. » Paint @ the Garden Wine & Canvas, Olive Garden, 4111 National Road E., Richmond. Step-by-step instruction by Ron Deane on the second and fourth Monday each month. $35.

Discount available for entrees if reservations made early enough.

Reservation: (765) 977-9944 » Taste of the Arts Tuesdays, Noon-1 p.m., usually on the second and fourth Tuesdays each month at Room 912, 912 E. Main St., Richmond. Open to all. $20 per person, including catered lunch. Featuring instruction or discussions led by various arts professionals. Offered by Richmond Art Museum for the casual art enthusiast or the engaged art lover. Reservations: (765) 966-0256 or lance@richmondartmuseum.org » Cork and Canvas, 6-9 p.m., usually on last Friday of the month, Room 912, 912 E. Main St., Richmond. Create a painting with instruction. Offered by Richmond Art Museum. $35. Reservations: (765) 966-0256 » 117th Annual Exhibition of Richmond and Area Artists, Richmond Art Museum, 350 Hub Etchison Parkway, Richmond. Free. Ends Jan. 16.

Christmas events » THE POLAR EXPRESS, Nov. 20-Dec. 20, Whitewater Valley Railroad, 455 Market St., Connersville. Includes a special stop at the “North Pole.” Guests on board will enjoy hot chocolate and a

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

CALENDAR cookie while listening and reading along with the magical story.

Departs at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. $32.50 for ages 2 and older for evenings and $29 per person for matinees. (765) 825-2054 or or www.whitewatervalleyrr.org » White Christmas Celebration, 6 p.m. Nov. 27, downtown Eaton, Ohio. Parade, courthouse lawn lighting, live music and more. » Santa Claus Limited, 9:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Nov. 28, Whitewater Valley Railroad, 455 Market St., Connersville.

Santa Claus will visit with each child on the train. $10 for ages 2 and older. Reservations: (765) 825-2054 or www.whitewatervalleyrr.org » Christmas Festival, 5-9 p.m. Dec. 1, 8 and 15, Historic Depot District, Fort Wayne Avenue and North E Street, Richmond.

Free. » Salvation Army Radio Show, 6-10 p.m. Dec. 3. A fundraiser featuring local talent. (765) 966-7791 » Alternative Gift Fair, noon–3 p.m. Dec. 5, MorrissonReeves Library, 80 N. Sixth St., Richmond. Instead of browsing shelves, shoppers will browse through tables of charities. Each table will be staffed with a knowledgeable volunteer or staff member waiting to answer questions about missions, programs, or participants. Gifts start at $10. Purchase outdoor experiences for area classrooms, art supplies for after-school programs or food for needy animals. Free admission. Pre-sale offered from 5-7 p.m.

Dec. 3 at the library for those who can’t attend Saturday’s event. » The Night Before Christmas and Toy Display, December dates and times to be announced, Wayne County Historical Museum, 1150 N. A St., Richmond.

SUDOKU SOLUTION

Kids and family » Train Rides and Model Train Display, Noon-5 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, Richmond Furniture Gallery, 180 Fort Wayne Ave, Richmond. Free kiddie train rides. (765) 939-3325

Dancing » New Year’s Eve party, Dec. 31, 4th Floor Blues Club, 923 N. E St., Richmond. A fundraiser for 13 local charities through the InCONCERT series. All of the ticket price goes to local charities.

Learn more at (765) 966-5654 or inconcertrichmond.com » Interaction Singles Dance, 8-11 p.m., Fridays, Eagles Lodge, 75 S. 12th St., Richmond. Must be 21 or older and single.

Social hour from 6-7 p.m., discussion from 7-8 p.m. and dance from 8-11 p.m. $6. Eagles membership not required. (765) 9668893 » Whitewater Valley Ballroom Dance Club, 7-9:30 p.m. third Saturday each month, Richmond Senior Community Center, 1600 S. Second St., Richmond. $5 per person. For teens and adults of all ages. Casual dressy attire. (765) 962-8649

Networking » Preble County Koffee Talk, 8-9:30 a.m., Preble Memory Gardens Community Center, 3377 U.S. 35, West Alexandria, Ohio. Leadership discussions and networking for women. Dec. 4, “Ban Bossy” by Darlene Langhout, Girl Scouts of Western Ohio.

Music and theater » Richmond Symphony Orchestra - The Music of John Williams, 3 p.m., Dec. 6, Civic Hall Performing Arts Center, 380 Hub Etchison Parkway, Richmond. Free youth admission for grades K-12. Adults, $15. (765) 966-5181 » “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” Dec. 11-13 and 18-20, Richmond Civic Theatre, 1003 E. Main St., Richmond.

Shows at 7:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Beware the horrible Herdman kids, who show up at church for free refreshments but end up taking over the annual Christmas Pageant.

When these scallywags clash with the time-honored story, mayhem is the result. Enjoy this fun-filled twist on the annual Christmas pageant. Adults, $18; seniors 65 and older and students, $15.

(765) 962-1816 or gorct.org » Hits and holiday favorites by MERCYME, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 11, Emens Auditorium, 1800 West Riverside Ave., Ball State University, Muncie, Ind. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com. » Swing’n The Holidays, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12, Civic Hall Performing Arts Center, 380 Hub Etchison Parkway, Richmond.

Featuring The Jive Aces and The Satin Dollz from United Kingdom.

Jive Aces reached the semifinals of “Britain’s Got Talent.” A mixture of swing/jive/R&B classics with a selection of swinging originals. $28 adults, $20 students. (765) 973-3350 or civichall.com » Concert featuring The Jordan Family Band, 4 p.m.

Dec. 19, First Assembly of God, 315 National Road W. Richmond.

(765) 960-0756 or (765) 914-6151 Find more upcoming events in the Palladium-Item’s daily calendar and on the Life page at www.pal-item.com. Send details to mmartin@pal-item.com. Listings are free and run as space permits.

November/DECEMBER 2015 | Maximum Living | 19

WHY THERE’S A CHIP ON YOUR CREDIT CARD Q: My bank just reissued all my credit and debit cards, and the new ones have a chip in them. What’s that about?

A: That chip is a security measure that’s been in credit and debit cards around the world for a while now. It has finally arrived in the U.S. in response to the major data breaches that happened at retailers last year. The chip, working with newer-model payment systems, creates a unique ID for that transaction. So even if hackers broke into the retailer’s systems, they wouldn’t be able to use the information to drain your bank account.

Q: I’m buying an airline ticket for Thanksgiving, and I’m worried the price is going to drop after I buy. Should I buy now or wait?

COLUMN BY A: First, head over to Kayak and look KIM up your ticket. Then look at the Price KOMANDO Trend box on the left to see what prices have done historically and what price changes it thinks are coming up. You’ll probably see that you should buy now. However, just in case the price does drop after you buy, head over to Yapta. It will keep an eye on ticket prices and alert you if there’s enough of a drop to get you a partial refund.

Q: I clicked on a link in an email saying I had won an iPad, but the site I went to wanted too much information, so I left. Did I make the right decision?

A: Yes, you were on a malicious site. This is a site hackers set up to trick you into giving away personal information or to slip viruses onto your system. One key way you can tell is if it asks for information and there’s no “https://” at the beginning of the Web address. That means the site isn’t encrypted, and anyone can see the information you’re sending.

Q: I have an iPhone 6, and I’m wondering if I should take the free upgrade from iOS 8 to iOS 9.

A: IOS 9 has several features that are worth the upgrade. It uses your hardware more efficiently, so you should see better battery life. Plus it has a Low Power Mode for those times when your battery is running on fumes and you aren’t near an outlet. You also get a Siri upgrade that makes it easier to use and lets you change your phone settings with voice commands.

Q: I got a webcam so I could chat with my grandson, but now I’m worried about someone using it to snoop on me. Am I just being paranoid?

20 | Maximum Living | November/DECEMBER 2015

GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO

A: Creeps do have ways to snoop on webcams in people’s houses. In fact, there have been several arrests and court proceedings based on this kind of snooping. One precaution a lot of people take is to unplug or cover the webcam when it isn’t in use. You can also avoid the programs that snoopers use, such as RATs, or remote access tools. They generally get these on your system by posing as tech support calling about a problem with your computer. If you don’t let them in, then they can’t do anything.

Q: I got an email from someone I don’t know, and there’s a picture attached. I’m curious what it is but don’t want a virus. Pictures can’t have viruses, right?

A: They can if it’s a disguised malicious file. Files are identified by their extension, which is the three letter “.xyz” at the end of the file name. Most viruses are likely to be “.exe” files. However, thanks to a quirk of Windows, hackers can make it look like an image (.jpg), music file (.mp3) or something else. As a rule, you should never download or view unsolicited attachments.

For daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit Komando.com. Email techcomments@usatoday.com.

MASS CONFUSION

ONLY A TEXT AWAY

I’m not saying the lightning speed of communication is dangerous, but I was recently caught in a text thread moving so quickly that I nearly found myself committing to taking a hot dish to the home of a woman who lives 500 miles away and converting to Catholicism.

My sister-in-law sent a group text with a picture of the sun setting in a fury of orange and red in the pasture behind their house.

Most in the text thread were identified to me only by phone number, but based on the area codes I had a hunch her seven siblings were among them.

Someone immediately shot back: “This is my idea of a beautiful sunset” with a LORI picture of a pink flamingo in front of a BORGMAN pink sun on a beverage glass from a bar somewhere in Florida.

Being that all of us have been conditioned to immediately respond to every ding and chime, my cell began lighting up with unfamiliar phone numbers weighing in on who preferred a sunset on a bar glass to a sunset in the great outdoors.

I cast my vote for a sunset outdoors. At last tally, the two were running neck and neck with a 90 percent margin for error due to the bar glass in Florida voting multiple times.

The thread abruptly changed to “Why don’t we get together at Mom’s?” Clearly, they meant my sister-inlaw’s mom, but if I attempted to pull myself out of the thread with a “Don’t count on me,” it could trigger a flurry of texts demanding to know what I had against Mom. I sent a “Sounds good.”

“How about Sunday?”

I liked the way this was taking shape. And so quickly.

“How about ham?”

The only thing better than a get together on a Sunday is a get-together that involves ham.

“What are the rest of you bringing?”

I started to text, “Cheesy potato casserole” when I realized it would mean an 8-hour, 500-mile drive. The casserole would be cold and congealed and I wouldn’t have time to drive home by Monday morning. I didn’t commit. I waited nervously for a text flashing, “Everybody needs to bring something!”

Instead there came a “See you all after mass.”

I couldn’t pull out now by texting that I wasn’t coming to mass, as others would ask what I had against mass. I have nothing against mass. I speak to a lot of Catholic groups and nobody gives a warmer welcome and makes

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you feel more at home, but I am not Catholic.

So there I was, the dangling thread who had voted against the pink flamingo on the bar glass, was miffed at Mom, refused to bring a hot dish on Sunday and had issues with the Pope. All in a matter of minutes.

I talked to one of my nephews a few days later and asked how the Sunday get together after mass was at his grandma’s. He was puzzled and asked how I knew about it.

I said a pink flamingo told me.

Lori Borgman is an Indiana columnist, author and speaker. Contact her at lori@loriborgman.com

November/DECEMBER 2015 | Maximum Living | 21

MAKE YOUR FUTURE A GOOD ONE WITH THE RETIREMENT ESTIMATOR In 1985, after making it back to the future from 1955, Marty joined Doc for a drive 30 years into the future.

That future is now.

If the alternate 2015 of the Back to the Future film series were accurate, we’d be easing along on hover boards, navigating skyways in flying cars, and enjoying the luxuries of self-lacing sneakers and selffitting jackets.

In that imagined 2015, we conduct TERESA business by fax and watch multiple chanBRACK nels of entertainment on the wall.

In some ways, the real 2015 is far more advanced than the imagined one of the movies. You don’t see any computers or online services in the movie — let alone the computers most of us carry around with us in the form of smart phones and tablets.

In the real 2015, you can do a far better job of predicting your own future. Just visit the Retirement Estimator at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.

With the Retirement Estimator, you can plug in some basic information to get an instant, personalized estimate of your future benefits.

Different choices in life can alter the course of your future, so try out different scenarios such as higher and lower future earnings amounts and various retirement dates to get a good prediction of how such things can change your future benefit amounts.

As Doc said in the final moments of the film series, no one’s future has been written yet. “Your future is what you make it. So make it a good one.”

With the information you get from the Retirement Estimator, you’ll have a better idea of what types of savings and pensions you may need, and at what age you should consider retiring — to make your future the best it can be.

You don’t need a converted DeLorean or flux capacitor or even a team of creative filmmakers to predict your future. Just visit the Retirement Estimator at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.

And when you’re ready to put that future in motion, apply for benefits online at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline.

Teresa Brack is manager of the Social Security office at 500 N. A St. in Richmond. Call (866) 446-6560, ext.

19147 with questions.

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Call Pam at 765-962-6546

www.ffcinc.org

A Community for Carefree Living

22 | Maximum Living | November/DECEMBER 2015

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765.478.4541 • 415 East Main Street, Cambridge City, IN • MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 490, New Castle, IN 47362 • yourfamilyhealthpartners.org

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November/DECEMBER 2015 | Maximum Living | 23

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