This is such an exciting day -- after a lot of work, many late nights and thousands of cups of coffee ... Growing Bolder is online and ready to rock. I hope you all have a lot of fun navigating the website, and remember -- we *need you to share your...

Well, here I am doing something I never dreamed I'd do. I'm joining a social network site on the internet. I'm still having a hard time understanding just what the internet is. In my day, if you couldn't feel it, touch it, or build it, it didn't exist!...

IrongeezelleSays™: “Ablution confessional” By Tatjana Eggink   Remember the movie, As Good As It Gets? Remember the obsessive-compulsive (OCD, in psychology speak) character, portrayed by Jack Nicholson, who washes his...

I've read that one of biggest pitfalls to having kids is that couples tend to forget who they were prior to breeding (though I personally think the the loss of perky breasts is high on the list). As a Gypsy Nester, one who is looking forward to life after...

When Veronica and I came up with the idea to write about life after raising kids, and actually looking forward to it, one of the first things I did was Google "empty nesters." I wanted to see if anyone was looking at this the same way we are. You know,...

Hello and good to 'see' you.  I wanted to introduce myself, give you a chance to see who I am and figure out if you really care what I have to say.  It's my first blog online but I do keep a journal (started book 2) of things that happen to me...

Just a quick note to all the team and new members at Growing Bolder...and special thanks to Jackie, Marc and Bill for letting me a part of the team... At our Food and Wine Insider website and blog, get ready for some great info on new wines, healthy...

In 1937, Ruth Hamilton traveled to Europe to visit family in Denmark and to embark on a fact-finding mission for her radio program in the States. Decades later, she wrote about her life-changing trip in her autobiography, "The Hamilton Saga."...

As young people prepare for high school graduations around the country (my own daughter included) I thought it would be cool (do they say that word anymore?) to come up with a Top Ten List of Baby Boomer Graduation Songs.  These are the songs my...

I want to share with you a little something that may be of interest to anyone who is into weather, such as storm chasing and the like. On my most recent trip back home to Illinois (my home state), I stopped in Belvidere, which is about 65...

The look on Christina's face is priceless. Monkey boy knows no fear. He has even taken to scaling the jungle gym at the playground down the street from the house. He'll find some fear and caution after that first good but minor tumble. At least that is...

Because I have type 2 diabetes, I carry a blood glucose test kit with me, usually in the front left pocket of my pants. It has an outside pouch with a zipper that I can put a few things in, like lancets. That way, I can easily replace dull ones with new...

I was asked today to share some if the relationship tips I share in seminars regarding marriages and having a successful happy one.  Here are some of the tips I posted: Here's a couple for you...#1 - this applies to all relationships - marriages,...

Facebook = Business Growth = Law of Attraction I have had so many comments about my last blog post on Facebook and my interviews, that I thought I would share some of my own ‘quantum leaps’ with regard to my business. I was sharing some of...

I bought a new motorcycle this week and I just had to take it out for a breakin ride, and what a georgous day to do it.  I headed south from Clermont to Lake Louisa Road, which is one of my favorite roads.  The lake was beautiful as usual and...

So, when I lived with my last sweetheart a few years ago, we moved into a lovely home in a quaint, quiet neighborhood...or that’s the way we perceived it would be.  We thought it a skosh odd that our next-door neighbor’s house...

World Energy Crisis The Equation     Energy   Freedom ------------------------------ *equals* ------------------------------ Conservation   Politics  (Note: the above...

 “Obesity, be not proud” From the IrongeezerSays™ Series.By Tatjana and Cliff Eggink   Two thirds of the American public is either overweight or obese. Adults and kids alike are gaining pounds and suffering dire, life...

The other day I came across an interesting article about parenting and college students. Since I am now the baby boomer mom of a college freshman, I took note of what it had to say.The Professor from Emory University offered some tips on Parenting Your...

As a 45 yr old guy trying to compete with kids 20 years my junior, I thought the decision that my league made (Lehigh Valley Men's Senior Baseball League) to switch to wood bats would quickly end my baseball career. I thought that I needed all the help I...

Each year I go on a motorcycle adventure to somewhere on the North American Continent. I don't travel the main roads, but opt for the back roads and even dirt roads that criss-cross throughout our great country. This year my destination was Eastern...

Someone on another site asked me how I found Terry.  It's harder, it seems, when we're older, and she was unsure of how to start. Terry and I met online.  I know, a lot of people still think online dating is dangerous, desperate, and maybe even...

Lots of friends ask me where or how to buy wine. Where is easy. It's how that's a little tricky out there. There are tons of groceries ( Publix in FL is top), Big Box Clubs ( Costco has the best variety there), Big Retailers ( in FL there is ABC, Wine...

when I was much younger, an older woman, the mother of a friend, said, "John, there is a 45 year old woman trapped in this 75 year old body." I gave the polite and perfunctory nod and agreed that was true although privately I dismissed it... after all,...

My mother-in-law has Alzheimer’s.  Alzheimer's is a disease that destroys brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life. Alzheimer’s...

This week's "Reality Bytes: A Message that Resonates" video is Perfect!   To paraphrase your video "blurb":   Every caregiver out there knows it's not easy. But I didn't even know about the Community Education & Resource Affiliation of...

I asked the group in the last blog if anyone knew what the fifth flavor was....As you may remember, the first four are sour, sweet, salty and bitter. The Fifth taste ( not to be confused with the Fifth Element, a movie with Bruce Willis) is called...

We talk a lot about the rapidly changing culture of aging and how anything is now possible. That’s a good thing, right?For many American’s, the surprising answer is “no!”  One woman recently told me, “I don’t...

Do you know how every once in a while you meet someone who's life force shines so bright you just want to be around them?  You MUST meet Shelly Burch.  Oh, sure... You might...

I have never met a sea turtle that I didn’t like – I did, however, meet one once who didn’t particularly like me; in fact, I think she thought that I was trying to kill her babies, but I wasn’t. Here’s what happened: sea...

In our last chat we discussed a variety of issues related to disease disposition.  While the environment plays a big role and one that we will want to dwell on at some length we have to recognize up front our own internal risk.  Where does...

You know how a smell can trigger a memory? For me … Earl Grey tea is one of the most powerful smells around. Not because of the delicate herbs and spices -- but because Earl Grey smells like summer afternoons with my grandmother. Grandma Kathy was...

Ciji Ware didn't exactly have a normal upbringing, but she hasn't complained one bit. Her father, Harlan Ware was one of two main writers for the longest running non-interrupted serial drama in radio history, "One Man's Family." Harlan died exactly 40...

Remember when there used to be gas stations at every intersection? Today, they’ve been replaced by pharmacies.  A government study showed more than 40 percent of Americans are on at least one prescription drug and the number continues to...

Ever since his early death, the legend of Florida’s Cosmic Cowboy, country rock pioneer Gram Parsons, has overshadowed his considerable talent and musical legacy. Parsons left his mark across the Sunshine State, from his boyhood home in Winter Haven...

In this corner … we have the men and women in the 55+ age category, representing the Villages Aquatic Swim Team. Wearing dark swim suits and yellow swim caps, the swimmers weigh in between 100 and 300 pounds, and come ready to rock. They cheer: "this...

Ever since his early death, the legend of Florida’s Cosmic Cowboy, country rock pioneer Gram Parsons, has overshadowed his considerable talent and musical legacy. Parsons left his mark across the Sunshine State, from his boyhood home in Winter Haven...

It's the regular suspects at the Thursday Tasting Group, and we're tasting Merlots. We know the rap...Merlot has become a bad word in the wine business. A novice entry level wine. Over-produced. Wimpy. Red Wine for girls. The Apple-tini of the Napa...

Growing up in a very small town of about 800 people, your religion was part of your profile.  Mine happened to be Catholic – and still is.  However, a few years ago, I began to ask a lot of questions.  Being a catechist since the age...

    What can I say? I am exhausted but in a good way after experiencing the marvelous Diva Retreat. I know Beverly must have been exhausted as well as Carol, her assistant who recently lost her father and aunt. I tried to comfort her as...

Whenever I make a marinade, I take many things into consideration. Quality and freshness come first – the quality and freshness of the product I am about to marinate and the ingredients I use to create my marinade. The recipe ingredients and the...