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Ronni Sanlo’s This Day in Lesbian Herstory (June 3 – 9)
Ronni Sanlo’s This Day in Lesbian Herstory makes the past ever-present with daily rundowns of historic events and people.
Ronni Sanlo
THIS DAY in LESBIAN HERSTORY -
Kapok Aging and Caregiver Resources: Sleep Medication Risks and Alternatives for Seniors
By Angelica Herrera Venson, DrPH, MPH
The following excerpt is reprinted with permission from Kapok Aging and Caregiver Resources.
Many people struggle with sleeping, for a wide range of different reasons. These issues often get worse with age and with any chronic health problems.
In some cases, the solution may be as simple, such as following healthy sleep practices, ensuring that bedtime is roughly the same each night and avoiding bright light in the evening.
However, many seniors find that sleeping problems persist, even if they had no such issues in their younger years. This pattern often leads to sleeping medication. Such medication can be effective in the short-term. But, only be considered when no other options are available, as there are multiple risks and side effects.
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Savvy Senior: Adaptive Clothing Takes the Stress Out of Dressing
By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior,
What kinds of clothing options are available to mobility challenged seniors who have a difficult time dressing?
Looking for Mom
Dear Looking,
The chore of dressing and undressing in traditional clothing can be difficult, time-consuming and even painful for millions of people with certain health and mobility problems. Fortunately, there’s a wide variety special clothing, known as “adaptive clothing,” that can help with most dressing challenges. Here’s what you should know.
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On Dreamshaping: Enough Is Enough
Mark McNease
It’s not hard to observe the world around us and see how easy it is to live in a state of lack and fear: lack because we think that what we have is not enough, and fear of losing what we already possess! I’ve done it myself for an entire lifetime, starting as a child who needed validation and wanted more of whatever it was I had, on into adulthood where satisfaction and contentment have been fleeting and conditioned on believing, just for a few moments, that I was fulfilled. It’s the kind of completion I’ve felt after writing the last few lines of a novel, or winning some accolade that proved to me I was accepted. Those feelings of wholeness never last long, because they are not about who I truly am and want to be, but about markers of success, reassurances that I am not the failure I suspected I was.
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Back to Real Life … An Update
Our 10-night cruise was wonderful. I highly recommend Newport, Rhode Island. Then we sailed to Bermuda – been there, done that – and finally to Charleston on the way home. And now it’s back to the grind of retirement, or semi-retirement, or “I just need to make some money and get out of the house” retirement.
My husband Frank and I are as active as ever. He has been job-free for a number of years now and stays amazingly busy all the time. Me? Not so much. I write murder mysteries, publish websites, and do podcasts in the mornings, and then I often find myself with empty afternoons. SO … I will be returning to my old job, but only part-time. Three days a week, six hours a day. It will help pay for my COBRA insurance for the next year-and-a-half until I’m on Medicare. And it’s great insurance! It wasn’t as expensive as I’d worried it would be, and it’s very good coverage.
I enjoy the people I worked with in the Giant deli, and they’re excited to have me coming back. That was always the plan.
I’ll be back with the weekly LGBTSr.com emails starting next Saturday: The Weekly Readlines, Savvy Senior, columns, reviews, DIY suggestions, and more new things as the year progresses.
I have also finally (finally!) finished the second book in the Maggie Dahl Mystery series. The first was Black Cat White Paws, and now, coming soon … Open Secrets. A local writer who is mentioned in the first book takes center stage in book #2, as someone decides they don’t want her finishing the follow up to her successful collection of essays. Maggie finds herself involved and unable to stop searching for another killer in Lambertville, New Jersey, that never seemed to have much in the way of murder until she moved to town. Arriving this summer!
All subscribers will receive a complimentary 6 chapter excerpt!
See you soon.
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Savvy Senior: How to Start a Walking Program and Stay Motivated
By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior,
My doctor recently suggested I start a walking program to help get my weight and blood pressure under control, but I’ve never exercised much and am 66. Can you recommend some tips?
Hate to Exercise
Dear Hate,
You should follow your doctor’s orders. Years of research have shown that walking may be the single best exercise you can do to improve your health as you age. It burns calories, which will help you lose weight, builds endurance, enhances muscle tone and it doesn’t pound your joints.
It also helps improve or prevent many age-related health problems including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, dementia and even depression.
But walking is not only good for what ails you. It’s also one of the easiest and most convenient exercises you can do and is completely free. All you need is a good pair of walking shoes that fit well and a little desire. Here are some things you should know to help get you started and stay motivated.
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Ask Your Uncle: Are Bats in the House Dangerous?
Welcome to Ask Your Uncle, a regular feature at LGBTSr.com answering questions big and small. Have something to ask your uncle? Email us at Uncle@LGBTSr.com.
Q: We live in a house and every summer we get at least one bat flying around inside. Are they dangerous? And how can we safely remove a bat?
A: Uncle lives in a house, too, and ours is in the woods. We have the same issue. It can be especially alarming to see a bat flying around the bedroom ceiling. But let’s examine this a little and find some answers. Harming the bat is never one of them.
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The Weekly Readlines May 20
The Weekly Readlines (rhymes with headlines!) offers news you can use every week. You can view the archives here.
Quote for the Week: “Attempting to overcome our imperfections can leave us in a worse state than when we began. Accept your limitations and cultivate your talents.” – Seen on an art installation 
BIG CUP: THE WEEK’S TOP STORIES First the good news: I’m going on a 10-night cruise! Starting Monday the 23rd, husband Frank and I will be sailing away to Bermuda and Charleston. See you in June.
Also in good news: Cats know the names of other cats and humans. Peanut and Wilma know who we are!
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Ronni Sanlo’s This Day in Lesbian Herstory (May 14 – 20)
Ronni Sanlo’s This Day in Lesbian Herstory makes the past ever-present with daily rundowns of historic events and people.
Ronni Sanlo
THIS DAY in LESBIAN HERSTORY -
The Twist Podcast #193: Inflation Nation, Right Wing Wrongs, Philly Taste Treats, and the Week in Headlines
Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose as we take a look at spiraling inflation, spiraling right wing violence, spiraling pretzels with yellow mustard, and the week in headlines. Plus our Twist Top picks and listicles!
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On the Map: Philadelphia’s Murals and The Magic Gardens
By Mark McNease
On the Map is a travelogue of places, restaurants and landscapes for your travel considerations. Sometimes near, sometimes far, always interesting.
I’ve recently been able to join my husband Frank and his hiking club for their regular Thursday hikes. Every now and then, one of the members, Doris, leads a group to Philadelphia for a walking tour to view their amazing murals, followed by a trip to the Magic Gardens. We drove to a park-and-ride in Yardley, PA, and took a train from there. If you’re 65 or older you ride for free (providing you’re from PA, NJ, or DE – New Yorkers have to pay, as we discovered when two visiting friends went with us).
The walking tour is delightful, especially if you’re already a fan of Philly, as we are. The murals are a community effort providing cohesion for the city’s residents as well as the immersive experience of art created by and for the people – whether you’re a city dweller or a tourist. There are lots of walking tours in every major city, and this one should be at the top of your list.
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Savvy Senior: Best Senior Travel Discounts in 2022
By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior,
What are some of the best travel discounts available to seniors? My husband and are about to retire and are interested in traveling more but live on a tight budget.
Frugal Travelers
Dear Frugal,
There are literally hundreds of different travel-related discounts available to older travelers that can add up to save you hundreds of dollars on your next trip. To qualify, you’ll need to meet the age requirement, which varies by business. Some discounts may be available as soon as you turn 50, but most don’t kick in until you turn 55, 60, 62 or 65. Here’s a rundown of top travel discounts, along with some extra tips to help you save.