Centenarian Paul Marcus shared his secret to living past 100 years.

Others expressed belief in the power of stress relief, acceptance, rising above inevitable difficulties, comprehending change, satisfying pursuits and simply being kind.  None of these centenarians mentioned anything about inheriting or amassing vast amounts of wealth.   
They must be goofy!

Out of these choices I guess I’d go with ice cream.  But what of those less fortunate than us, the lactose intolerant?  

Life can be cruel!

​“I think, for the ordinary person, it’s more helpful to think about being happier,” explains Gretchen Rubin, host of the podcast Happier with Gretchen Rubin. “If you do this — this week, this month, this year — are you likely to be happier.

The Yale graduate published the New York Times bestselling book The Happiness Project, in 2018.  Her answer is The Think System first introduced to us as a way to learn an instrument by Professor Harold Hill, The Music Man, as he formed a marching band in River City, Iowa, circa 1912.

I’ll give it a try but I have serious doubts.  I’ve been thinking about that million bucks for close to 70 years and to date doodley squat!!

On January 9, 1493, explorer Christopher Columbus, sailing near what is now the Dominican Republic, recorded in his ship’s journal that, on the previous day, he saw three “mermaids.”  It turns out they were Manatees, the herbivorous sea mammal sometimes called a “Sea Cow.”

Can you imagine what Mrs. Columbus must have looked like if Chris was checking out floating gray blobs?
I guess we should cut him some slack.  He had been at sea for quite a long time!  And he did “Discover America!”  Hmmm, more about that bologna another time!

“And if you can’t do that then please, please, please STFU! 
         Fred of betterfredthandead.com.

Barbie is waiting to help you figure out life.  Are you prepared to accept her keen insights and brilliant suggestions?  Her resume reads like a Who’s Who of cognition experts.  Look at how far she has come:

• Showing up and taking care of myself is a non-negotiable.
• I’ve nearly nailed distinguishing between genuine “yes’s” and guilt-free “no’s.”
• Being a boy mom is the greatest gift I’ve been given.
• My body is no longer a silent partner.

The vibe Barbie is going for is…

• Inspiring like a TED Talk.
• Uplifting like brunch with your besties.
• Empowering like mastering a new skill.
• Energizing like a personal best workout.

All for the cost of one fancy coffee drink per week.

I was just about to sign on but had overlooked one descriptive sentence: “Community support from like-minded women.”
Rats!  Once again gender discrimination rears its ugly head!

Our friends at the AARP published this on-line but will only share it with members.  For those of you that are not dues paying members I have chosen to strike a blow for freedom and let you in on the secret for free; possibly risking banishment from the secret society for breach of confidentiality.  I think you are worth it.

The article turned out to be some chin-music about abdominal exercises to LOSE belly fat; not FOR belly fat. After much research I feel confident in suggesting to those of you that wish to take the much easier road to gaining belly fat two simple and easy to follow suggestions: Sit more and adopt a diet rich in white flour and processed sugar.

At least I don’t try and charge for the information! Shame on you AARP!

Lentil Sweet Potato Stew Recipe is a hearty, filling vegan soup that will warm you up this fall and winter.
Pair it with a sandwich filled with mashed chickpeas, avocado, Greek yogurt, fresh cilantro and green onion. 

Instead of whining about the death of democracy about to take place in our country I thought I’d share some yummy suggestions for a hearty winter lunch from acedarspoon.com. 

Up Next:  Instead of lamenting the heartbreaking treatment of peaceful immigrants: Mediterranean Tuna Patties!   Albacore tuna is combined with breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, red onion, garlic, fresh parsley, za’atar and feta cheese.  Oh Marge the sauce, the Tzatziki sauce!

A quick lesson for you Einsteins that think one man’s policies control the cost of goods in our country and that one man can magically change that even if he lied while campaigning and said he could cut costs.

Inflation is an economic phenomenon that reflects the general increase in prices of goods and services over time.  But we can’t just close our borders and keep our prices low.  We get and give goods and services around the world and we already have one of the lowest costs of food in the entire civilized world.

When growing up I watched commercials that sang “Look for the union label when you are buying that coat, dress or blouse.”  But we chose not to look for that label but to buy from factories filled with children to get lower prices.  But the bill is now coming due and we owe China about $800 Billion; Japan $1.1 Trillion; UK $750 Billion.   So you continue to pretend electing a mad billionaire who lies about what he can accomplish will help.  You may fool yourself into thinking we are economically healthy, but as inflation inevitably rises your children and grandchildren will suffer and if you live long enough YOU will realize you will have selfishly contributed to their misery.

But I could be wrong…Have a nice day!

The holidays are over.  Stop and take a breath; smell the roses or the coffee depending on if you are in the garden or at a Starbucks overpaying for mediocre coffee.

Gird your loins for battle. 2025 promises to be an interesting year filled with surprises and indifference; surprise tax benefits for the rich and the usual indifference towards those of us who’s needs surpass our ability to pay.

As you can tell I am not into this today.  So once again, Happy New Year!  See you tomorrow…maybe.

Every year I resolve to lose weight and every year I am fatter than the last.  So this year NO RESOLUTIONS!  By doing away with the pressure of a New Year’s res, I fully expect to drop 50 lbs. with diet and exercise.  I’ll circle back around to you diehard resolution fans who are going to try this year and hopefully catch you when you fall.  In the wise words of my Doctor, “Don’t focus on a number.  Eat heart healthy and walk.  He, of course, is skinny as a beanpole).

Now if you still insist on making a New Year’s Resolution, try making about something easier failure proof like making a positive impact on the world by doing something nice for someone else without any expectations of reward.

It’s called being a human being Jerkwad!  
(I’m back baby!)