BOOMER-ING October 2009

For Baby Boomers who are Independent, Notable, and Graying

Volume VIII, Issue 10

A Note from the Editor, Jan Louthain

Many of you who know me personally know about my two sons, Willy and
Shorty, but I don't think I've mentioned them in this newsletter. Willy
is a White-Eyed Conure and Shortie is a Genday Conure. A conure is a
small breed of parrot. Willy is a loving, cheeky bird who is as likely
to bite you as he is to kiss you and he definitely dislikes my hubby.
They had a falling out many years ago and no one but Willy can remember
what is was about, but now he is a Momma's boy and my cherished pet. At
night when I say I love him, he answers, "I love you too" and
I've lovingly taught him how to roll over on my chest like a puppy. He
has a vocabulary of about 25 words and knows when to use which words in
a situation. Willy is 17 and we've had him since he was 2.

We acquired Shortie several years ago from his second owner and don't
know much about him. He's beautiful with brilliant feathers of yellow,
orange, red, green and even bright blue, but other than that, a most
unremarkable bird. He's never wanted out of his cage, didn't talk much,
and mostly kept to himself.

Last week I took them both to an Avian Vet, mostly because Willy was
pulling out his own feathers (a reaction. we think, to being left with a
sitter while we were on the cruise). To my utter surprise, we discovered
when we got there that Shortie was in serious health, breathing heaving
and puffed up. Birds of this type are renowned for hiding their own
illnesses, a characteristic that keeps other birds/animals from
attacking them in the wild. I felt terrible that he was so ill, but the
doc assured me he had probably hid it quite well up to then.

The doc examined, trimmed and discharged Willy, but he kept Shortie over
the weekend while he performed several tests to determine the cause of
his illness. Somewhere through the process, while Shortie was under
anesthesia, he passed away. It was determined through an autopsy that he
had a severe respiratory infection and they are doing lab work to make
sure he didn't have something that could be passed on to Willy or even
us.

The outcome of all of this was that we lost one of our family members
who'd been with us for about 15 years; we learned our son Shortie was a
girl; and we're about $1700 poorer than when we started out.

Perhaps losing Shortie first was better, because it might help me deal
better with the loss of Willy when his time comes. Parrots can live to
be very old, some as old as 95 to 100, although this breed only lives to
be in their 20s. Since Willy is 17 now, I guess I have to consider the
possibility that he might not be with us forever.

When I've mentioned the loss of Shortie to my friends, inevitably they
will respond back about the loss of one of their pets and how they are
still trying to get over it. We form such strong bonds with our pets.
Some of my friends show more love to their cats and dogs and birds and
reptiles than they do to their kids or spouses--perhaps because animals
are so non-judgmental, so forgiving, so simple in their love. And as we
get older, we can count on them to stay with us and not venture off to
start lives of their own. We count on them to love us regardless of
whether we're wrinkled or flabby. And they receive our love so
unconditionally and so unabashedly.

If you'd like to share stories about your pets, visit either of my
blogs: www.boomeringb.blogspot.com <http://www.boomeringb.blogspot.com/>
or www.boomering.alexiebooks.com <http://www.boomering.alexiebooks.com/>
. <http://www.boomering.alexiebooks.com/>

New Product – Pony Tail Hats. I have a new product I'm selling this
season and since you are my loyal readers, I'd like to tell you about
them. Throughout the summer, I've been busily knitting Pony Tail hats.
These are knitted hats with an opening in the back for your pony tail.
They're decorated with beads and ribbons and are not only functional
because your hair doesn't get a messed up and the pony tail helps anchor
the hat, but they are also quite attractive and show off your
"tail". They're great for outdoor spots like skiing or winter
golf or to just keep you warm on your way to work or school. Some even
have holes in the ear flap to attach your earbuds.
<http://www.boomering.alexiebooks.com/>
<http://www.boomering.alexiebooks.com/>

They're very reasonable--$10 without the neck flap and $15 with a neck
flap or button scarf. They come in many colors and you can even
special-order a preferred color. Please go to the following site to see
pictures of them: <http://www.boomering.alexiebooks.com/>
http://www.alexiebooks.com/ponytail.ivnu
<http://www.alexiebooks.com/ponytail.ivnu> alexie8@...
<mailto:alexie8@...> . <mailto:alexie8@...>
<mailto:alexie8@...>

This Month: It's estimated that 23.6 million people or about 7.8 percent
of the population of the United States have diabetes. Of this total,
90-95% have Type 2 Diabetes, the type we are more likely to get as we
age. This month Kathy Dukic, Manager of a Wound Healing Center in
Murrells Inlet, SC, talks about the problems that can occur with your
skin and feet when you have Diabetes. If you have Diabetes or know
someone who does (and I would venture to say that's most of you), you
should read the article below, "Diabetic Skin and Foot Care."

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Boomers Turning 60 This Month

Lindsey Buckingham, Guitarist (Fleetwood Mac), October 3

Sigourney Weaver, Actress, October 8

Daryl Hall, Musician (Hall and Oates), October 11

Bruce Jenner, Olympic Athlete, October 28

Please let me know when you will be turning 60 and we'll celebrate with
you, even if your birthday has passed. Send your first name, and first
initial of your last name, and birth date (or someone's you know) to
boomering@... <mailto:boomering@...> .

-----------------------------------

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---------------------------------------------

Diabetic Skin and Foot Care

Diabetic skin and foot care should be part of your daily regimen. Taking
prescribed medication, and following appropriate nutrition guidelines,
are the best ways to prevent complications from Diabetes. For diabetic
patients, injury to the skin or feet can result in more serious
complications, such as infection or loss of a limb or life.

The skin is a protective barrier that protects us from infection, and
your feet are critical components of mobility. Preventing what could
become a hard-to-heal injury, is the key to maintaining your quality of
life. Both insulin dependent or non-insulin dependent diabetics are at
greater risk for skin breakdown and infection due to decreased healing
time and circulation. A decrease in circulation can cause neuropathy.
Neuropathy, a common condition associated with diabetes, involves the
loss of feeling and sensation in the lower extremities. Because
neuropathy causes a decrease in feeling and sensation, you may not know
that you have cut, scraped, or injured your foot. Be sure to check your
feet daily. Wearing properly fitting shoes can help prevent scraping,
cutting, or other injuries.

Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to dry cracked skin. Compromised skin is
subject to breakdown .Eating properly, drinking plenty of water, taking
your medication and keeping your skin in good condition is important.
Use a moisturizing lotion after bathing to help prevent skin breakdown.
Avoid lotions containing alcohol since they can be drying. Lotions
containing paraffin cannot be absorbed and therefore will not moisturize
and protect your skin. Use a water-based lotion. These are easily
absorbed and help keep your skin soft. Never place lotion between your
toes. The area between your toes tends to be soft and moist. Applying
lotion will cause too much moisture and may lead to skin break down.

Be sure to visit your podiatrist regularly to keep your nails trimmed at
a proper length. Long nails over lapping other toes can cause skin to
breakdown.

Check your skin daily for any breakdown, cracks, or redness. If an
injury occurs and the skin is broken see your primary physician
immediately for treatment. If the problem persists consider a visit to a
Wound Healing Center specializing in diabetic wounds and treatment.

Kathy Dukic RN, BSN, Clinical Manager Nextstep Wound Healing Center,
4033 Hwy 17 Bypass Suite 107, Murrells Inlet SC 29576. NextstepWound
Healing Center is an outpatient service located at Waccamaw Medical Park
on Highway 17 Bypass and is staffed by physicians and nurses
specializing in wound care and hyperbaric oxygen treatment. Patients are
evaluated and seen on a weekly basis until the wound is completely
healed. For more information on wound healing and treatment, call
Georgetown Hospital System's NextStep Wound Healing Center at
843-652-8020.

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Boomer Humor
For this month, we have a brain teaser and this is tough. These are the
things we're supposed to do to remove the cholesterol around our brain
and try to slow Alzheimer's Disease. It takes an average of 5 tries to
get 100%. Follow the directions! Click on the link or paste it to your
browser: http://www.humorsphere.com/fun/8787/colortest.swf
<http://www.humorsphere.com/fun/8787/colortest.swf>
Submitted by Datha Walters, Carmel, IN

If you have Boomer Humor, Factoids or Wisdom to share, please send it to
alexie8@... <mailto:alexie8@...> .

Advertising: If you would like to buy advertising in this newsletter,
please go to: www.alexiebooks.com/adrequest.ivnu
<http://www.alexiebooks.com/adrequest.ivnu> .

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necessarily constitute endorsement by the editor of BOOMER-ING. Opinions
or views expressed are those of the advertiser, and neither BOOMER-ING
nor its parent company (Alexie Enterprises) is responsible for the
quality or delivery of the products or services offered by the
advertisers.



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