Vacations

Vacations cause as much stress as work. Planning for transportation, accommodations, food, weather and money, often makes me relax more after the holiday.

Even more stressful is a vacation with family. Some one is not happy with something. Even the choice of dinner meals can cause havoc.

The joy of seeing the family in the end wins out over no family vacation!

Here was a nightmare vacation for me.
How to prevent a FREE vacation nightmare!

While working for a company that was owned by a conglomerate, special deals were offered to the employees of all the jointly held companies. That was how a lowly production manager of a plastic plant was offered among other things, 50% off rooms at Motel 6, a buy one get one free meal at Fishes' Big Boy all of the time and land in Florida with nothing down and full ownership of the land in 10 years. What a deal!

Every executive in the company had one or two lots. How could you pass it up? Some were even building houses. Such a deal. Pay on the land for only two years and you could trade for a house on developed land.

So of course when the salesman came to our humble abode to excite us about land ownership, how could we refuse? The deal included a FREE Vacation!

The sales pitch said buy this land now site unseen and you will get a Free vacation of five days and four nights, two rounds of golf, 2 meals a day and a travel allowance of $200.00. Now, if you want to see the land first, you get only 3 days and 2 nights FREE, no golf or meals and no travel allowance. He had a map of the lots that had 10year options. We found the neatest lot with green space behind (swamp) and a golf club near the addition.

Such a deal! We were poor. Only married a year and living in New Jersey with our collective 6 children. How could we go wrong? FREE! If we planned correctly, arranged for the children to be with their mother (his two) and their father (my four), got work time off we could be alone for a FREE vacation.

So one day in July, we drop children off and head south from northern New Jersey. With our discount at Motel 6, we would only need one night in a motel. Ok, not quite FREE. So we drove on Saturday until 10 pm. We were in Georgia and only had to get to South of Tampa on Sunday.

Tampa is far from Georgia. We arrived just in time to get our vouchers for the room, food, golf and travel. Ok, FREE. The builder owned the motel. The meals were at the motel. The golf was at their club. But we were in Florida on a FREE vacation!

One little requirement, we had to attend one little hour speech about building a house in paradise and take a tour of our land and some sites avaible for trade in now.

They loved folks living in the northeast area where houses cost 3,4 and even 5 times what they had to offer-big fish on a little hook. What dream homes we saw! What bargains! New ones, on golfcourses, swimming pools and club house a dream we could have by signing on the dotted line.
Oh wow!

What these folks did not know and we did not say was that we had no more money, so we were real lookie-lous. I'm sure they figured it out and left us alone after the trip down Park Place Lane.

We drove down streets with scrub palms and sand and few houses until the road ended. The salesman consulted his map, pointed to the swamp and said that Park Place Estates would be ready in 8 years before our land was paid. Of course, we could trade it in now for a build ready lot over at Marvin Gardens.

So that was mostly all we could do on Monday. Tuesday was golf day. Wednesday the ocean called. Thursday we checked out of the room and got in another FREE round of golf. So, we left for home at 3:00 pm.

So you ask yourself what vacation nightmare is this?

We had planned most the trip together, the childcare, the days off, the time in Florida but we did not plan the trip home. I felt we could get home on Sunday at 9:00 pm the last possible moment. In my mind I saw Charleston S.C., Williamsburg, Virginia, and any town along the way. I had maps and sights to see all lined up on my lap.

He felt we could be home Friday by 10:00 pm or so by driving straight through the night and all day Friday.

Now we are in the car driving, and I say here's the road to Jacksonville. As we sail by, I said the next good place is Hilton Head. No comment. We speed past that exit. Now it is really dark and 10:00 pm. He looks at me and says what's the matter? I inquired when are we stopping? It was then that I learned we were driving through.

The steam was pouring out of my head. Had I mentioned that I do not play golf? He had a perfect time and I sat around the pool. Did I mention July in Florida? We were all the way past the Myrtle Beach exit when he realized that I was steaming.

So this dense but not stupid man says hey we'll stop at South of the Border. Up and down I-95 you see signs for South of the Border just 200, 150, 75, 25, 15, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, miles to Pedro's South of the Border. As you pass by, signs say you just missed South of the Border. It is the largest tourist trap that I have ever seen. It is just south of the North Carolina State Line. For some unknown reason, there is no north of the border.

But there was a Motel 6 with a room for special guests like us with our discount. We had breakfast at the restaurant witha huge sombrero on top. I was only mumbling an occasional ok.
We were in the car with the radio on not speaking, when a miracle occurred. The station was offering vacation advice. Are you still speaking after your vacation? What went wrong? Let us give you some tips. At that we broke up giggling then laughing then kissing.

He says we'll go to Williamsburg. I say let's get home. Now we disagree about what to do in reverse. At this point I was tired and said that I just wanted my bed not another Motel 6. That won the argument-the idea of a bed that didn't sag and sheets that didn't scratch. We could not wait.

Still not a disaster. Just wait. Why am I complaining?

One Sunday three years after our FREE vacation, we were watching 60 Minutes. General Development, the company from which we were buying our paradise lot, was the feature story.

The three owners were on the way to jail. They swindled thousands of people mostly from the northeast out of millions of dollars. The planned communities had started out in good faith.

There are 5 or 6 communities limping along. But as the companies grew, so did greed. Houses were sold that were shoddy. Land sold were swamps too difficult to clear. And promises and hearts were broken.

Our FREE vacation wound up costing $10,000. Class action law suits secured pennies of the loss. The hardest hit folks had bought homes that were falling apart due to cheep construction.

So my advice to you is avoid at all costs the FREE vacation. Somewhere down the line you will pay and pay dearly!

Choose Peace

Sounds good "Choose Peace". This grass root group is not talking world peace (nice), but peace in the inner neighborhoods of our cities here in America and around the world.

In Indianapolis, Indiana, the horrible homicide rate has become unbearable. Children and families are suffering and injured while sitting in their homes or front porch. Drive by shoot outs and gun battles are hurting and killing way too many people. By spreading "Choose Peace", we can make a change.

The group is new and hopes to spread to help take back neighborhoods and cities. It is one person at a time, talking to another person and spreading the word. Choose Peace and hope will return.

Go To: http://www.decidetochoose.com for more information.

Retirement Savings

The price of gasoline is reducing my great retirement plans. Who would believe $4.39 a gallon?
The price of food is reducing my retirement plan. The cost of all produce has increased from 5 to 10%. My social security payment is not going as far as it did two years ago.

My blog on coupons is helping cut costs. My blog is: http://wwwcoupons101.blogspot.com

I am following the advice that I give others.

Home Health Care Costs or Nursing Home Care Costs

The spiraling costs for Nursing Home Care are forcing families to make difficult decisions about health care for a loved one. The most acute situation is of course dementia and Alzheimer's. These illnesses cause so much stress about at home care or nursing home care.

Once you have exhausted all of the loved ones funds, what choices do you have?

This is issue is going to face at least 50% of us. Unless you have tremendous finincal means, the costs of care cam wipe out entire savings plans.

Elvis The King!

In 1956 my dad asked me if I liked the music of Elvis. I was a shy child and would always try to answer in a way that might please my parents. Howere in this case I just answered that I loved Elvis and his music.

We were living in New Orleans and Elvis spent time there and was popular. Jail House Rock opens with a skyline view of the city.

A year before he died, Elvis played the field house at Indiana University. My sister Carol was a student and arranged for two tickets to the show. My sister Kathy went with me to the show. Kathy had never been a fan of Elvis. Half way through the show she turned to me and said wow this is fun!

Just a little more than a year later, Elvis died.

A year ago, I went to Graceland. Elvis is buried there. It was a great comfort to see how Graceland would have been the place where he could find peace.

I still miss Elvis.

Barack Obama

Forty-eight years after meeting presidential candidate John F. Kennedy, I met another presidential candidate Barack Obama!

With a bit of luck and my adopted Mother Mary Gaines, I was in the fourth row with a wonderful view of Obama. In this day and age of high definition television where every blemish and wrinkle is exaggerated, Barack Obama is much nicer looking in person. When he smiles, Obama lights up a room.

The message of the day was about the energy crisis. Barack Obama gave a list of problems and then a list of solutions. He spoke mainly about oil, cars and efficiency. His solutions are a start.

I was trying to get him to ask me a question. I feel that we need to think out of the "box" about the energy issue. I have a plan. OK, my husband says that I need more information to make a plan. I am not a talented engineer, designer or artist. So my plan needs help. I do not mind sharing my plan so here goes.

We have personal phones, personal computers, home satellite receivers and such. I want a personal home energy power plant. Lets talk. There are two types of free energy-solar and wind. Some times there is no wind. Some times there is no sun. Those are the drawbacks.

Here are the positives. For the sun, the new mirror technology allows the sun rays to be enhanced. So take a satellite dish, fill it with mirrors and collect sun rays. As for wind, take the design of a local tree, add small turbines like pinwheels and collect even the slightest breeze.

Now this could be ugly or it could be cool. Make a power plant garden in every yard. The tree is wind collector and the bushes are the solar collectors.

I looked up windmill trees and the Dutch have one ugly tree. It looks like the tall metal ones we know with branches of about 6 more ugly windmills.

The complete look would be a metal fence around the personal power garden for safety, three mirror solar collectors looking like bushes one facing east, south and west, and one tree in the style of a native tree- south a palm, east a oak, west a pine etc. The coconuts, the flowers, pine cones and leaves could catch the air and spin for the power.

In each of the 50 states, we train workers to assemble, install and repair the personal power garden plants. In mothballed factories, we manufacture the personal power plants. We use foreclosed homes for the new workers. Best of all we give a tax credit for home owners using the personal garden power plant.

I get the first one! You all can have the rest!

John F. Kennedy

In October 1960, presidential candidate John F. Kennedy came to Indianapolis, Indiana. The state was a Republican strong hold so his visit was special.



At that time, I was a junior at Shortridge High School. My parents were active in the Indiana Democratic Party. There would be a parade from the Wier Cook Airport to the Claypool Hotel in downtown Indianapolis. Later, Kennedy would give a speech at the Indiana State Fair Coliseum.



As one of the few students at Shortridge identified as a Democrat, I was asked to be in the motorcade. We wore white blouses, blue skirts and sat on the back of some one's convertible. We were given those silly white hats to wear and Kennedy posters to wave. Also, this is big, we sang "Happy Days are Here Again".



The cars were lined up on the tarmac and as Kennedy left the plane we cheered. The route of the motorcade had been published in the papers, so there were crowds from the airport to down town.



I can close my eyes and see the whole day replay in my mind. It was such an innocent time compared to political campaigns today.



Back at home, my parents were getting ready to stand on 38th Street near the entrance to the fairgrounds to watch Kennedy drive by. Then we entered the coliseum and watched the speech.



We sat in the sixth row on the left side of the stage. There are old films of this event that I have seen quite a while ago. The speech was pure Kennedy. The reception huge. I think all 30,000 of the state's Democrats were there.


These events seem such a long time ago and yet just yesterday.

My Dog Coco Puff Poodle

We were camping last week for the Fourth of July. My dog Coco Puff Clute Poodle was with us.

She is 10 years old and still a puppy. She has fun every day. She plays ball every day. She demands lots of pets every day.

When my dog became 10, it makes aware of the fact that most of her days are gone. I am 64 and most of my days are gone.

I am following Tim Russart's idea-a day without fun is a wasted day.

I am having fun blogging and ebaying. I am having fun doing all of the things that I can fit into a day!

Alzheimer's Costs

A few facts about the costs of Alzheimer's disease.

1.$91 billion Medicare costs for Alzheimer's and dementia care in 2005.

2. $189 billion projected Medicare costs for Alzheimer's and dementia care by 2015.

3. 60.9 average age of an unpaid caregiver in 2005.

As we are 60 plus these are going to be hard times for a lot of us. Alzheimer's will be a part of our lives one way or another.

Saint Joan of Arc Grade School

Saint Joan of Arc Grade School Indianapolis Indiana

My family arrived in Indianapolis, Indiana May4, 1957. We had lived in the south for over 5 years.

Of course since the school year was not over, Dad enrolled us in the near by Catholic School. We were lucky since Saint Joan of Arc Grade School was one of the best grade schools. It created quite a stir at the school when 4 sisters all blond and suntanned (no one used sun block back then), show up.

I was in 7th grade, Kathy 5th, Mary 3rd and Joan kindergarden. We were freezing and in sweaters, while the other students thougt it was warm and in shirt sleeves.

My Saint Joan of Arc graduating class celebrates a 50 year reunion this July. I was startled to get an invitation except for one thing. The school has fund raisers for various reasons and manages to track down graduates. The Catholic families of those days were huge. We were only six children while 12, 13 and even 16 children were common. So if a Dunlevy (my maiden name) was in a class so was a Quinn, Chrapla, Feeny, Quiser and so on.

My family moved out of the Saint Joan of Arc Parish in 1962 but the parish is still part of our lives. Friends are buried from the wonderful church, weddings take place there and of course the fund raises are several times a year.

If you visit Indianapolis, be sure to drive by Saint Joan of Arc Church at 42nd and Central.

Alzheimer's Disease

A newspaper article special report on Alzheimer's disease, made me aware of the coming burden on all of us. With parents in their 80's, spouses in the 60's and children in their 40's, all ages may need to be caregivers of an Alzheimer's patient.

The signs of Alzheimer's disease start slowly-name forgetting, losing direction, failing judgement and other incidents of mind wanderings. When the person with Alzheimer's no longer recognizes loved ones, mixes up children and looks for friends and family long gone, the Alzheimer's has taken over and the emotional and financial costs set in.

The article says the nation isn't ready for the costs and burdens Alzheimer's disease will bring. The numbers are huge:

10 million American baby boomers will develop Alzheimer's disease

78 million baby boomers are alive in 2008

17% of women will develop Alzheimer's if they live to 55

9% of men will develop Alzheimer's if they live to 55

I am going to add additional information in the next few weeks on Alzheimer's disease as it will be a burden on the nation and our lives for a long time.

Fourth of July

The day before the big national holiday, the Fourth of July, and I think back to fireworks. As a child, fireworks occurred only once a year. We would be shaking with excitement while waiting for dark. Then the first rocket would light the sky and the fun began!

All of the anticipation seems routine these days. Baseball games have fireworks for home runs. Amusement parks close down every night with fireworks. Almost any large event has fireworks.

Yet the fireworks tommorrow will be the best of the year! Happy Fourth of July!