“Lasagna” Gardening
Posted on October 31, 2016 by bob in Yard 'N Garden
My father, Papa John, as he was fondly called by his family, took great pride in his vegetable garden during the later years of his life. My grandmother was an avid gardener too, working mostly with flowers. I’m not sure which of the family lines my gardening-genes came from, but I began to really enjoy my […]
Technology for Seniors: Alzheimer’s App
Posted on October 31, 2016 by bob in Health
In recent years I’ve come across a number of instances in which students have developed devices and apps to help seniors and the disabled, but I was genuinely impressed by the creation of twelve-year-old Emma Yang, one of the recipients of the “Ten Under Twenty” innovation awards announced at this year’s Consumer Electronics conference. Her […]
Social Security: Our Wounded Warriors
Posted on October 31, 2016 by bob in Social Security
Every Veterans Day, the nation honors the brave men and women who risk their lives to protect our country and the freedoms we cherish. Social Security honors veterans and active duty members of the military every day by giving them the support they deserve. A vital part of that is administering the Social Security disability […]
Medicare: Open Enrollment for 2017
Posted on October 31, 2016 by bob in Medicare
Now’s the time for Alabama residents with Medicare to check their health and drug coverage for 2017. Medicare’s open enrollment period runs from Oct. 15 until Dec. 7. Open enrollment is the best time to make sure your health and drug plans still meet your individual needs, especially if you’ve had any changes in your health. […]
Look again…
Posted on October 31, 2016 by bob in April 2010
Look Again… She looks in the mirror. Looking back are watery eyes rimmed with wrinkles. She turns away. Look again! Watery eyes rimmed with wrinkles? Or a sea of tears salvaged in the sands of time. Tears of love, tears of joy, tears of anger, tears of sadness and hope and fear and worry and […]
The Real “Seven Bridges Road”
Posted on October 2, 2016 by bob in Features
The road, the song, and the man who wrote it.
African Violets & My Mom
Posted on October 2, 2016 by bob in Yard 'N Garden
When I was growing up, my Mom had African Violets (Saintpaulia) all over our house. My worst nightmare was being told to water the violets. “Aarrgh!” I’d think. (At least I was smart enough not to voice that consideration aloud.) There were so many rules, like don’t get water on the leaves, don’t overfill the […]
Social Security Questions Part 3/3
Posted on October 2, 2016 by bob in Social Security
Question: What is a Social Security “credit?” Answer: During your working years, earnings covered by Social Security are posted to your record. You earn Social Security credits based on those earnings. The amount of earnings needed for one credit rises as average earnings levels rise. To learn how much you need to earn for a […]
Medicare & Long-term Care
Posted on October 2, 2016 by bob in Medicare
If you’re 65, you have just about a 50-50 chance of entering a nursing home at some point. The average cost of a private room now exceeds $75,000 per year, and the average length of stay is almost 2½ years. That adds up to more than $185,000. One reason people don’t give much thought to […]
