Photo Tips Monday

Dave Berry, Director of the Photography Department at Computer School for Seniors will be sharing his insightful Photo Tips with you every Monday for Capture the Moment Mondays.

Tortola, British Virgin Islands--Welcome Aboard

Patti and I are very excited about this next port, because it is one we have never had the opportunity to visit in all the years we have been cruising.

Tortola means “Land of Turtle Doves” and it is located just 60 miles east of Puerto Rico…which, you may remember, is where we began this journey five days ago! Although it is the largest island of the British Virgin Islands, Tortola is just 36 gorgeous square miles of powdery white sand beaches, turquoise waters, lush green mountains and a sheltered yacht filled harbor. There are 21,000 people living in this island paradise, they all speak English and are very friendly.

Discovered in 1443 by Christopher Columbus, Tortola was the den of many infamous pirates over the years, and was ruled at one time or another by the Dutch, French or English. A severe drought, a disastrous hurricane and a cholera epidemic saw the island eventually abandoned and it reverted to a natural overgrowth of vegetation. Eventually, as the years and conditions passed, Tortola was again inhabited, its population grew and established banks, schools and hospitals. Since 1967 they have been largely self governing as part of the British Virgin Islands.

The Caribbean Princess docked in Road Town, which is the capital of Tortola. We hired a taxi, and headed off to see this beautiful island. As we were heading around the perimeter of the island, you can’t help but notice that just a very short distance across that inviting water you can see so many other islands of all sizes…St. John, Jost Van Dyke, Buck, Ginger, Dogs…just to name a few.

There are inter-island ferries that will take you to many of them. All you need is a ferry schedule and some time! Some of the islands are uninhabited and designated as National Parks, there are shipwrecks to dive, fish to snorkel around, coves to kayak through, and picturesque beaches to lounge on with one of those tropical drinks in your hand.

Our first stop was Long Bay –with pale blue water so inviting that you want to leap out of the car and run straight into the bay. Nearby in Cane Garden Bay was the historic Callwood Rum Distillery, where they still make and sell rum in the original boiler used two centuries ago. We went past many beautiful coves and bays, all gorgeous and eye candy to a photographer!

Our driver took us to a spot at the highest elevation on the island with a beautiful birds eye view of the whole north shore of Tortola. Towards the east side of the island, we passed thru a very colorful area of many painted wall murals depicting the history of Tortola.

The driver stopped at a last vantage point where we could catch a great shot of the Caribbean Princess docked in the harbor below as a final tip of our hats to beautiful Tortola, British Virgin Islands. I would definitely like to return to this island and be able to spend some relaxing time to really soak in all it has to offer, and maybe catch a few of those ferries to the neighboring islands too.

Our next and final stop will be St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands! Hope you will join us !!!!!!!

Bill Witcher, co-founder of Computer School for Seniors will be sharing words of encouragement, inspiration and hope with you each Sunday.

A Joyful Heart is Good Medicine

When burdens get heavy and sadness sets in, it’s amazing how a good sense of humor and laughter can lighten your load.

Charles R. Swindoll has a bible teaching ministry called “Insight for Living” (http://www.insight.org/) and in one of his articles he talked about how laughter is such effective therapy. He said, “I’m grateful that God dispenses this divine medication so frequently.”

For instance, rules and statutes aren’t meant to be amusing, but sometimes they are. Here are a few examples:

· In Danville, PA, fire hydrants must be checked one hour before all fires.

· Oklahoma law requires that drivers involved in fatal accidents stop immediately and give their name and address to those that were struck.

· In Lakefield, Ontario, legislation permits birds to sing for 30 minutes during the day and 15 minutes at night.

“My plea is not that we read the comics, watch mindless sitcoms, or tell a lot of silly jokes to each other. That’s external, superficial and shallow. I’m suggesting that we become more

lighthearted, relishing life more as our confidence in the sovereign Lord grows. After all, He gave us humor to enjoy and genuine smiles when we take pleasure in His gift.

Let’s lighten up rather than surrender to intensity and worry. A truly cheerful face radiates from a relaxed, joyful heart.”

Rejoice in the Lord always:Again I will say, rejoice! (Phillppians 4:4)

Bill Witcher is co-founder of Computer School for Seniors
(http://www.cs4seniors.com/)

Saturday's with Dr. Roffman

Each Saturday, Joel Roffman, MD, a prominent Dallas cardiologist and author will share meaningful experiences he has had with patients who are dealing with a variety of physical and emotional issues. You will find the manner in which they deal with life’s problems to be practical, inspirational and uplifting.

Greeting a Mourner

Maria’s husband died several months ago. She was now in my office for her yearly check of her heart condition. They had been married sixty years and were both in their early 80’s when Frank died of a stroke. As we chatted, Maria naturally became very emotional.

What to say? Here are some possibilities: “You should be thankful for all the years you had together.” True enough, but what about now? How, exactly, could that statement be comforting to Maria on this day? After all, the couple was no longer together. This response just doesn’t work. Maybe, “He’s in a better place.” This presupposes a level of faith in Maria that I can’t rightly assume. And even if true, that hardly lessens Maria’s loneliness and grief. How about, “He’s not suffering any longer.” But Maria is. She is alone and forlorn.

From my own personal and painful experiences and from the countless patients I’ve tried to console, I can relate to you that for some of life’s experiences, there are no mitigating circumstances and few comforting words, try as we might to find them.

Maybe this is why, when visiting the house of a mourner, the Jewish tradition instructs us to say . . . nothing. We can certainly speak when and if the mourner does, and can take our cues from what the mourner says to us. But we are taught that our mere presence is comforting, and that there are no magic words. We don’t have to come up with empty explanations, platitudes, and trite statements. Maybe just a hug and, “I’m sorry for your loss” will suffice.
Which is exactly how I began this visit with Maria.

If you have a comment or question about this blog entry, email Dr. Roffman at drroffman@cs4seniors.com.

Dr. Joel Roffman has spoken to many church, synagogue and support groups. His book, Coping with Adversity: Judaism’s response to illness and other life struggles is enjoyable, uplifting and informative. It is meant for people of all faiths and can be viewed at www.copingwithadversity.com. It is available at Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Amazon.com.

Internet Magic Friday

Jane Booras is the Editor of numerous newsletters including our Campus Times. She will be sharing how you can find whatever you need - photos, clipart, information, maps, phone numbers - on the Internet.

If you envision(ed) retirement as “footloose and fancy free,” with lots of free time for gardening, shopping, lunch with friends and long-put-off projects, forget it. Retirement just isn’t like that! It’s more common to hear retired people say, “When did I ever have time to work?” Actually, families of all ages struggle to manage their calendars – the more in the household, the more difficult the challenge. At our house, the notices and invitations come in by the day to:

• Parties of all kinds
• Baby showers
• Weddings
• Galas
• Fund raisers
• Political rallies
• Banquets
• Church activities
• Committee meetings
• and on and on…

We have a clippie on the refrigerator where we hang upcoming event invitations. This is to remind us to make an appetizer (or some other dish), buy a gift, call committee members, or pick somebody up on the way. It’s tough just to find a date when we can enjoy a quiet evening at home!

While all these activities are a real challenge to us, the recipients of all these “opportunities,” it also presents a big problem to those organizing and hosting the events. They have to compete with all the other activities on the calendar to 1) get your attention, and 2) entice you to attend! You’ve probably been on both sides of that fence.

Enticing people to attend (or motivating people to act) is known as “marketing.” And anything and everything has to be “marketed” these days. So, how do you make your invitation special? How do you create a marketing piece (invitation) so compelling that your invited guests just have to attend because it pops out from all the others?

By using your imagination and your computer skills, that’s how!

For instance, let’s suppose you receive this invitation from the seniors group at your church to attend a wine tasting.

Not too compelling, is it? Let’s take a closer look at it. First, there is no visual stimulation. No picture of anything you can relate to or that makes the event LOOK like fun. Obviously, the Senior Seekers have chosen a Mardi Gras theme. But there is no visual tie-in to that theme. Examining the flyer more carefully with a design eye, you’ll see the spacing is a little “off,” and looks a little jerky. There are too many type faces (fonts) used, and let’s face it, although all the facts are there, it’s just plain boring.

Let me show you how, with just a little thought and creativity, you can change this invitation into one that peaks interest and desire to attend.

And it’s not difficult to do! I’ve added three simple graphics from Clip Art, and stacked and overlapped them in an interesting shape. I also changed the type face (font) to a more stylish one (that I hope captures the frivolity of the Mardi Gras theme), and divided the text into two segments on the page to make it look more balanced. Now the event looks like more fun, don’t you think?

While this may look like magic, its not. Anyone can do it with a little imagination and determination! The original flyer was produced in Microsoft Word, and could be made more compelling by adding a graphic and changing the spacing and fonts. But MS Word is really a document software, and very cranky about graphics and how you can move them around.

The second, more colorful flyer was produced in Microsoft Publisher – a relatively easy program which may already be installed on your computer. It was included in the Microsoft Office package through Office 2003. If you have the newer Office 2007 version, you have to purchase and install MS Publisher separately, as 2003 is the latest version of Publisher.

If you have MS Publisher on your computer and open the program, you’ll see a variety of templates immediately that enable you to create flyers, brochures, invitations and stationery quite easily. Why not click around and try it? Jazz up your invitations and flyers!

By the way, what’s with the seniors from the church having a wine tasting anyway? Just kidding.

Jane Booras is Editor of the Campus Times Newsletter for Computer School for Seniors (www.cs4seniors.com)

Lifelong Learning Thursday

Nancy Merz Nordstrom, author of Learning Later, Living Greater: The Secret of Making the Most of Your After 50 Years will share the benefits of Lifelong Learning on Thursdays.

LEARNING LATER, LIVING GREATER: 

The Secret for Making the Most of Your After-50 Years.

Lifelong Learning in Your Later Years… 

A Health Club for Your Mind, Body, and Spirit!

So why do people become involved in lifelong learning? There are many reasons, each one individual and personal.

One big reason, however, is for the socialization. Social activities are a very big component of later-life learning– participants make new friends and some have even found new spouses!

Social activities surround lifelong learning activities. They make a wonderful addition to your social calendar.

But don’t confuse these activities with stereotypical senior citizen events. Most of these activities have a strong educational component. Just look at some of the many events learning later explorers take part in:
• Walking & Hiking Clubs
• Theater Trips
• Dinner Clubs
• Book Clubs
• Current Events Groups
• Weekend Getaways
• Summer Picnics
• Theme Festivals
• Chess Clubs
• Ice Cream Socials
• Holiday Parties
• Theme Dinners
• Card Groups
• Bird Clubs
• Special Interest Groups

Participants in later-life learning are as busy as they want to be, taking courses, developing new friendships, helping in the community, going on field trips and other social outings, and just plain having fun. They bring new focus to their lives and open the eyes of society at large about what it means to be an older adult.

Lifelong Learning’s core values of Learning, Exploring, and Serving, coupled with benefits for the Mind, Body and Spirit make it an incredibly powerful tool for personal transformation and life enhancement.

THURSDAY’S THOUGHT…

Over the last twenty years, scientists have documented the fact that being involved in social activities not only enhances lives but adds years as well. It’s almost as good as exercising for prolonging life. What a thought!

For more information on Learning Later, Living Greater visit www.learninglater.com

You can purchase Learning Later, Living Greater at www.amazon.com

Till Next Time…

Nancy Merz Nordstrom is Director of the Lifelong Learning Department at Computer School for Seniors (www.cs4seniors.com)

The Rolling Rains Report

The Rolling Rains Report
Dr. Scott Rains

We are pleased that Dr. Scott Rains will be a periodic contributor to our Blog and the Travel Department of Computer School for Seniors.

Travel for the elderly and people with disabilities can be very challenging. Dr. Rains looks for solutions to those challenges. In particular he searches for examples of how Universal Design creates new travel opportunities and products that are, to quote the definition of Universal Design, usable by the widest range of people operating in the widest range of situations.

Trying times call for trying something new!

People are asking, "Does it really have to be this uncomfortable to travel?" .
The travel & hospitality industry is sensing the spark of something new as people answer, "No, and we plan to do something about it."

Fresh thinkers are testing countless breakthrough ideas on accessible travel. They are rubbing ingenuity against continuity to enkindle a new flame.

At Rolling Rains we monitor that brush fire as it reveals ideas that are standing the test of the times.

The concept of Inclusive Travel is itself traveling around the world. It is leaving an infrastructure that will allow the pleasure of world discovery to generations to come. It enables generations present to do so through all stages of their lifespan. That's the vision of Universal Design applied to tourism -- Inclusive Tourism.

Follow the journey of Inclusive Tourism at his website . You will find:
• “On the road” where Dr. Scott Rains offers Travelogues.
• Chronicling the history of this initiative we honor our best at Case Studies and Leadership.
• For those of an academic inclination we have the Readings section.
• To get some strategic advice or assistance with management of a project Contact us.

The legacy of this innovation of inclusion is life-changing. The vistas opened up can be breathtaking - stylish, inclusive, and leaving you wanting more.

Each day you will find a new post at RollingRains.com - the only way to learn more than that is to get out and travel yourself!

To learn more about Dr. Rains work, visit http://www.rollingrains.com/. Dr. Rains will also be serving as a faculty Advisor to the Travel Department at http://www.cs4seniors.com/.

Photo Tips Monday

Dave Berry, Director of the Photography Department at Computer School for Seniors will be sharing his insightful Photo Tips with you every Monday for Capture the Moment Mondays.

Antigua--Welcome Aboard !!!!

Antigua was first sighted by Christopher Columbus in 1493 on his second voyage to the Americas. The island is fairly small, covering only 108 total square miles and is part of the Lesser Antilles. From its shores you can see the islands of Guadeloupe, the volcanic island of Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis. There is a population of 70,000 people living on the island, all of them speak English with a distinctive Caribbean accent. Antigua has a history of sugar production and slavery. Slavery was abolished in 1834 and the island’s economy collapsed, but sugar has always remained an important industry. In 1981 Antigua achieved political sovereignty.

So, after a splendid night of sleeping like a baby…again… on the Caribbean Princess we awoke early to catch yet another absolutely spectacular sunrise from our balcony. Getting up early gives you the opportunity to see the coastal areas of an island up close as the ship glides quietly by, sometimes revealing a photographic treasure like an old wrecked ship or a deserted beautiful beach. We caught the harbor of St. John’s in the early morning sunlight as the ship pulled in…a beautiful scene.

The port of St. Johns, which is the islands capital, is very colorful and welcoming with lots of shops and restaurants built all around the harbor. We hired our own taxi again, which is our custom, and set off to see the sights. Our first stop was a very old stone church, where services are still held every Sunday. The most popular denomination on the islands is Anglican due to the British influence. Next our driver took us up to Shirley Heights which was the colonial observation post high above Falmouth Harbor, English Harbour and the completely restored Nelson’s Dockyard which had been abandoned in 1889. From this vantage point you see the turquoise waters for miles and many boats moored in the harbors. It is easy to see why this was such a perfect position from which to defend the British Navy’s fleet in the 18th century. Walking thru the historic dockyards, there are many wonderful colonial buildings and structures to photograph.

Antigua does not lack for beautiful beaches…there are 365 of them...one for each day of the year if you were lucky enough to be there that long! We stopped at several of them to try to capture the beauty with our cameras.

All too soon of course, it is time to return to the ship. We caught a few more pictures of the port of St. John’s where our ship is docked now in the late afternoon light. Light makes all the difference in a picture! I often tell people that you can take the same exact picture over and over and never get the same results twice!

We will be leaving port about 5:30 and setting course for our next stop, which is Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands. I am really looking forward to this because it is an island we have never visited before. See you in Tortola!

Dave Berry shares his Photography Tips at Computer School for Seniors (www.cs4seniors.com).

Inspirational Sunday

Bill Witcher, co-founder of Computer School for Seniors will be sharing words of encouragement, inspiration and hope with you each Sunday.

Listen to Your Mother

Happy Mother’s Day. I sincerely hope all of you are having a wonderful and blessed day. You deserve it. I think it is natural for all of us on this special day to reflect on the words of wisdom our Mother’s shared with us over the years. Nancy Churnin, a staff writer for the Dallas Morning News, wrote a Mother’s Day article that reminds us that these little gems are referred to as Momilies. Momilies are those little homilies that can only come from Moms. They’re love compressed in powerful little guides that moms slip into conversation to help us through life, just as they packed treats in our lunches to perk us up through long school days.

My daughter Holly has three fabulous children (of course Papa is prejudiced) and she has found a unique way to be consistent in sharing one of her momilies. She ends all of her emails with a quote that is great advice from a mother to her children…

“Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." ~ Christopher Robin to Pooh

Isn’t that great advice? I can just see Holly looking at those precious children and saying those words.

Nancy Churnin asked the Dallas Morning News readers to share their favorite momilies – the sayings that inspired them and made them laugh. Here are a few that caught my attention:

Common sense isn’t all that common. ~Ed Chytil

Our family is rich and someday we might have money, too. ~Gayle Roberts

If you do not have anything nice to say, then don’t say it. ~ Barry DeWalt

My mom taught me that if I agree to do something for someone, I should do it cheerfully. Doing it but complaining the whole time just about defeats the purpose. Hard to live by, but still excellent to aspire to. ~Ellen Henderson

Use your broom to sweep your porch before you go sweeping other people’s porches ~Audrey Thompson

Things are just things. They aren’t important—people are. Nobody can take away what’s in your brain or in your heart. Every day you have with the people you love is precious. Tell the people you love that you love them every day. ~Nancy Churnin

Saturday's with Dr. Roffman

Each Saturday, Dr. Joel Roffman, MD, a prominent Dallas cardiologist and author will share meaningful experiences he has had with patients who are dealing with a variety of physical and emotional issues. You will find the manner in which they deal with life’s problems to be practical, inspirational and uplifting.

God’s Helper

Ed was in a bit of a hurry to finish his appointment with me – the visit was delaying him from his work. Oh, not that kind of work. You see, Ed had retired from Mobil Oil some years ago. He was now a volunteer driver for the Cancer Society, transporting patients to and from their doctor’s appointments and their treatments when they had no other means of transportation.

Ed is now 71 years old and fortunately is still in good health and quite mobile. He retired a few years ago and spent the first few years of his retirement trying to find things that would fill his day. He certainly has some other hobbies and interests – he enjoys golfing with his buddies and seems to always be in the midst of one carpentry project or another.

But Ed felt as though he needed something else – something that answered a calling. He had never been involved with volunteer activities, but was asked by an acquaintance one day for help. It seems the friend was already a bit weakened by his illness and felt that the day’s chemotherapy treatment would leave him too weak to drive home. Bingo! Ed found his niche. Before he knew it, he was an established volunteer for the Cancer Society, helping to bring patients to and from appointments.

“I’ve never had time to do any volunteer stuff, doc,” Ed told me. “This is something I like doing and that helps others.”

A rabbinic story tells of a man who bemoans the state of the world – a world filled with suffering and sorrow. Filled with anguish, he asks God, “Why don’t you send help to all these people who are sick and in need?” “I did,” replied God, “I sent people like you.”

If you have a comment or question about this blog entry, email Dr. Roffman at drroffman@cs4seniors.com.

Dr. Joel Roffman has spoken to many church, synagogue and support groups. His book, Coping with Adversity: Judaism’s response to illness and other life struggles is enjoyable, uplifting and informative. It is meant for people of all faiths and can be viewed at www.copingwithadversity.com. It is available at Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Amazon.com.

Internet Magic Friday

Jane Booras is the Editor of numerous newsletters including our Campus Times. She will be sharing how you can find whatever you need - photos, clipart, information, maps, phone numbers - on the Internet.

I do a lot of stuff on my computer.  Spend many hours there each day.  I work, do research, blog, play an occasional game of Super Bounce Out, interact with friends and relatives on Facebook, and lots and lots of email.

 One thing I do NOT do on my computer is diet.  I have just never understood Internet dieting.

Now dieting I DO understand.  I should, as I’ve been doing it on and off for over 50 years.  But dieting on the Internet mystifies me.

 

Just Google “Diet” and see what comes up.  I dare you.  I just did it, and got 164,000,000 items!  That’s one hundred sixty-four MILLION!  Not as big a number as the national debt, but it gets your attention.  Next I went to “The Latest Diets” on webmd, which is a pretty reliable site:

 

 http://www.webmd.com/diet/evaluate-latest-diets. 

 

There they conveniently list every current diet craze from A to Z (Atkins to The Zone).  You can click for more information on the Biggest Loser Diet, Cabbage Soup Diet, Cheater’s Diet, Cookie Diet, Hallelujah Diet, 3-day Diet, 3-Week Diet, Shangri-La Diet (seriously!), and my favorite, the Fat Smash Diet.  You get the point.

Each diet selection has its own website, of course, its own experts, and its own “program” to guarantee that you will lose weight safely and easily.  Many require that you “journal.”  That is, write down every bite of food you put into your mouth.  I guess that’s to remind you what you have in the house to eat.  As you read yesterday’s journal, you see  you ate “1/2 cup of peanuts” yesterday, and suddenly you remember there are peanuts in the pantry, so you go running to get a handful!

Many diet programs enable you to look up and record the calories you have eaten that day.  Try Googling “Calorie Counter.”  There are millions of them on the Internet.

 

 

No, I think dieting happens far away from the Internet.  I don’t need an email or blogging Internet “buddy” to encourage me, nor calorie counters, journals or nutritional information.  At my age, I know what to put in my body and what not to put in my body.  It’s not on the Internet, it’s in my mind and in my mirror.

So yes, I certainly recommend you invest a part of every day at your computer and on the Internet.  It’s a wonderful world of information, fascination, stimulation, practical help and entertainment.  As for dieting, I recommend instead that you click below and enjoy this lovely Internet minute.  I think I’ll go get a cookie…

 

http://susie1114.com/LiveALife.html

 

Jane Booras is Editor of the Campus Times Newsletter for Computer School for Seniors (www.cs4seniors.com)

Lifelong Learning Thursday

Nancy Merz Nordstrom, author of Learning Later, Living Greater: The Secret of Making the Most of Your After 50 Years will share the benefits of Lifelong Learning on Thursdays.

LEARNING LATER, LIVING GREATER: 

The Secret for Making the Most of Your After-50 Years.

Lifelong Learning in Your Later Years… 

A Health Club for Your Mind, Body, and Spirit!

Have you ever wondered how lifelong learning got started?

Well, I’m sure we all agree that education has always played an important role in helping shape our personal destinies. Success in many fields is measured by how much time we spent “hitting the books.”

But until recently, formal education has been the domain of youth. Certainly there are some who stay in school much longer, pursuing advanced degrees, but overall, by the age of 22, many adults end their educational journeys.

Not everyone, however, agrees with this ideology. As far back as 1854, Henry David Thoreau was arguing for a different philosophy when he wrote:

“It is time that we had uncommon schools…that we did not leave off our education when we begin to be men and women. It is time that villages were universities and their elder inhabitants the fellows of universities, with leisure–if they are, indeed, so well off–to pursue liberal studies the rest of their lives.”

Then, in the late 1800s, there was an attempt to bring closer attention to the idea of lifelong learning. The Chautauqua Movement, which was known as “colleges for one’s home,” brought individual study to adults of all ages throughout the United States. Unfortunately, this movement’s initial momentum soon faded away and it would be some time before lifelong learning actually established a true foothold in the granite of educational philosophy.

Until that happened, the best options available to mature adults were to either return to school in pursuit of a degree or to simply audit a class. Finally, in 1962, with the development of the very first lifelong learning program for older adults (the Institute for Retired Professionals at the New School University in New York City) educational philosophy began to change; people once again began looking at ways they could maintain a healthy mind long after traditionalists spoke of ceasing active learning.

Later-life learning gained momentum. Institutes devoted to enriching mature adults through a wide variety of courses, adventures, and community service options began opening. And people began to notice.

So much so, in fact, that learning later is now no longer limited to just the United States. For instance, France’s own initiatives began in 1972. Shortly thereafter, the International Association of Universities of the Third Age (U3As & UTAs) was established. The idea quickly spread through Europe, spurring countries like Belgium, Switzerland, and Britain to begin their own organizations devoted to later-life learning. Since then, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia have also reaped great benefits from the establishment of lifelong learning programs. And, as you read this, Japan, Mexico, China and other countries are getting on board as well. We will discuss the global nature of later-life learning programs in a future blog.


Today, you can find lifelong learning opportunities at colleges and universities, at senior centers and adult communities, in libraries, churches, and in shopping places and public spaces. The concept of later-life learning is growing by leaps and bounds as people age and realize how much more enriched their lives will be with the added value of learning later.

THURSDAY’S THOUGHT…

Louis L’Amour said, “Knowledge is like money: to be of value it must circulate, and in circulating it can increase in quantity and, hopefully, in value.” And that’s exactly what lifelong learning has done in its spread around the world. In big countries and small, lifelong learning, especially for older adults, is taking hold and being trumpeted as one of the most important ways to stay connected to, and give back to society; to remain useful and productive no matter what your age. What a great opportunity for those of us reaching our Third Age.

For more information on Learning Later, Living Greater visit www.learninglater.com

You can purchase Learning Later, Living Greater at www.amazon.com

Till Next Time…

Nancy Merz Nordstrom is Director of the Lifelong Learning Department at Computer School for Seniors (www.cs4seniors.com)

Tuesday's Treasures

On Tuesdays we provide our Faculty an opportunity to feature the talented work of some of our students and friends. You may see a display of creative PhotoShop work, their beautiful photographs or an interesting story about an individual’s meaningful contribution to his or her community, country or the world.If you have memories, old or new, you would like to share, send them to me at mxw8110@yahoo.com.

The Hanna Walker Art Show

I first learned about the Hanna Walker Art Show in a Photoshop class I teach. Bill Cardwell was telling his two friends, Kevin Rush and Betty Haack, about an exhibit he was personally mounting in Luling, Texas.

I have watched this fascinating project unfold, and as always have been amazed at the strength, vitality and tenacity that one individual can bring to a project to make it a success.

Here you see Bill with a Hanna Walker painting called Peaches in a Basket on an easel outside of the Fellowship Hall of the Episcopal Church in Luling.




Bill has been working for the past year on plans for an art show to honor the memory of Hanna Walker (1876 – 1945), a native of Luling, who painted with oils prolifically in and around Luling, San Antonio, and Mexico, among other places, and interpreted subjects such as still lifes, landscapes, structures, figures, and other diverse examples of flora and fauna. Her works were exhibited frequently in the 1920s and 1930s but have only rarely, if ever, been shown to the public since her death.

While Bill is a long time resident of Dallas and has practiced law here for years, he has a special place in his heart for Luling, Texas where the exhibit will be held. He says, “It seems particularly appropriate to hold this show in the Fellowship Hall. In 1950 numerous paintings by Hanna Walker were sold and the proceeds from the sale of were used to construct the Parish Hall/Fellowship Hall of the Episcopal Church in Luling. One of her paintings is on permanent display there.”

It has been quite a journey for him. Here are just some of the things involved in this one day show: Sketch/Essay – complete final editing/coordinate with Dr. Michaele Haynes, Witte Museum, San Antonio; get exact names of paintings to be used on signage, press release, security, easels, memory book, video/audio presentation, memorabilia table, and advertising:




Dr. Michaele Haynes, the curator at Witte Museum in San Antonio, has agreed to pen a few hundred words about Miss Hanna and her career for a printed program for the exhibit. The art show was mentioned in the newsletter for the Center for the Advancement and Study of Early Texas Art (CASETA) http://www.caseta.org/. With the help of Todd Carlson, Austin photographer/graphic artist, he will have a printed program for the exhibit which will include photographs of many of Hanna Walker’s paintings.

A total of eighty of the paintings by Hanna Walker from the collections of about 17 people will be displayed at this exhibit. No paintings at this art show will be offered for sale. This event is aimed exclusively at honoring the memory of this long-deceased, early Texas artist.

We will blog about how Miss Hanna’s day went later on in May.

Congratulations to Bill Cardwell for bringing this special event to life!

Thanks for visiting with us! 

Mimi

www.cs4seniors.com

Capture the Moment Monday

Dave Berry, Director of the Photography Department at Computer School for Seniors will be sharing his insightful Photo Tips with you every Monday for Capture the Moment Mondays.

St.Lucia--Welcome Aboard

Double Rainbow!…that began our very first sighting of the beautiful island of St. Lucia … a pretty special opening act don’t you think? We were snapping pictures right from our balcony. We had gotten up earlier to catch the sunrise, which is always spectacular if there are some clouds to catch the rising sun’s colors, so this double rainbow was an unexpected treat!

St. Lucia was discovered around 1502...several theories abound as to who is credited for this find, one being Christopher Columbus and another a group of shipwrecked French sailors. The island has been under French or British rule over the last 300 years, but gained independence in 1979 as a British Commonwealth. St. Lucia is slightly larger than Barbados, but has only 160,000 people living there. The islands best known products are the hand printed fabrics and fashions created by local craftsmen.

We docked in Castries, which is the capital of St. Lucia. Almost a third of the entire island population lives in this city. We hired a taxi to take us on a tour of the island. Our first stop was a viewing post at an area called Soufriere which overlooks the famous Pitons and the volcanic crater of Sulphur Springs. You had to look close to see the steam rising in the distance. I was looking for a volcano…but it is actually a volcanic crater, so it is kind of nestled among the lower valleys of the hills we were looking at. The Pitons are the most famous landmark on St. Lucia rising to 2000 feet directly at the edge of the island, quite beautiful. Few dare to climb to their summit…and I wasn’t going to be one of them.

Next stop was the world’s only drive in volcano crater, Sulphur Springs, and the smell almost knocked your socks off. It is rather desolate and drab looking as nothing will grow in the hot bubbling mud springs of this area. After that, our next stop was very welcome indeed, the tropical, cool and lush area of the New Jerusalem Waterfall. Had we known we would be stopping here. Patti would have loved to take a refreshing break under the waters that cascade down from the ridge..but alas we had no towels and the taxi driver wasn’t keen on wet seats. There were fantastic, colorful flowers here, I have no idea what their names are but they are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen.

On the way back to the ship we stopped to take some pictures of one of the most beautiful beaches on St. Lucia…Marigot Bay…swaying palms and sparkling clear water. No wonder it is home to many a beautiful yacht.

By no means were we able to see everything…there are rainforests and sea turtles and many more beaches and so much more. Those will have to be seen on a future visit to this beautiful island. We have to get back to the ship in time to sail to our next stop,which will be Antigua!!!

Dave Berry shares his Photography Tips at Computer School for Seniors (www.cs4seniors.com).

Inspirational Sunday

Bill Witcher, co-founder of Computer School for Seniors will be sharing words of encouragement, inspiration and hope with you each Sunday.

“Coach, what is success?”

John Wooden is a legend. He coached basketball for over forty years. He only had one losing season (his first). He led his UCLA teams to four undefeated seasons and a record ten NCAA championships, including seven in a row. Wouldn’t you say that is a successful coach? How did he do it? His coaching accomplishments are unbelievable and unparalled – “seven NCAA championships in a row!” Incredible.

In his book Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court, he said…

“I have often been asked when I first started dreaming about winning a national championship. Was it at Indiana State Teachers College or after I arrived at UCLA. Perhaps while I was a college player? I never dreamed about winning a national championship.

What I was dreaming about each year, if you want to call it that, was trying to produce the best basketball team we could be. My thoughts were directed toward preparation, our journey, not the results of the effort (such as winning national championships). That would simply have shifted my attention to the wrong area, hoping for something out of my control. Hoping doesn’t make it happen."

Mix idealism with realism and add hard work. This will often bring much more than you could ever hope for.”

“Success is peace of mind,
which is a direct result
of self-satisfaction
in knowing
you did your best
to become the best
that are you are
capable of becoming.”

~ John Wooden

Bill Witcher is co-founder of Computer School for Seniors (http://www.cs4seniors.com/)

Saturday's with Dr. Roffman

Each Saturday, Dr. Joel Roffman, MD, a prominent Dallas cardiologist and author will share meaningful experiences he has had with patients who are dealing with a variety of physical and emotional issues. You will find the manner in which they deal with life’s problems to be practical, inspirational and uplifting.

Not long ago, I gave a talk to Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church’s Stephen Ministers. These are congregants who minister to the needs of others in their church. It’s a wonderful means of outreach, with the volunteer ministers receiving extensive instruction in their preparation.

Having discussed the tangible benefits of an optimistic attitude in life (it has been shown in medical studies that in many cases, one’s mindset influences the course of illness) and how people who are always downcast and pessimistic can turn a sunny day into a cloudy one, I was asked in the Q&A session that followed the talk about how to handle those who seem to always be down and in a bad mood.

I leaned forward from the podium and gave the simplest answers: “Avoid ‘em!”

While it may be true that we are all “hard wired” differently, with many inherent personality differences, it is also true that, to some degree, happiness is a choice. As holocaust survivor and author Victor Frankl says in his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, we can’t necessarily control the events that affect our lives, but we are in full control over how we react to those events.

So here is an exercise for you. Imagine that you contract pneumonia and are hospitalized. The doctor tells you that you will probably be in the hospital 4-6 days and will then need to curtail your activity for another week or two. You also have been found to have diabetes. You will need to be on medication for this problem and will need to change your diet.

While in the hospital, you are visited by several friends who are concerned with your health status. What are some positive reactions you might have to what has happened to you? What are some negative responses?

Send your responses to me at drroffman@cs4seniors.com. Selected responses will be published in a later blog.

Dr. Joel Roffman has spoken to many church, synagogue and support groups. His book, Coping with Adversity: Judaism’s response to illness and other life struggles is enjoyable, uplifting and informative. It is meant for people of all faiths and can be viewed at http://www.copingwithadversity.com/. It is available at Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Amazon.com.

Internet Magic Friday

Jane Booras is the Editor of numerous newsletters including our Campus Times. She will be sharing how you can find whatever you need - photos, clipart, information, maps, phone numbers - on the Internet.

Remember the last time you moved your refrigerator, washer and dryer or bed? I do! I was appalled. I thought we kept a clean house, but when I saw the debris on the floor under the appliances and furniture, I felt ashamed. Well believe it or not, it’s the same scenario with your computer! You have to deep clean it consistently to keep it running the way you want it to – fast and efficiently.

Let’s start with the basics: cleaning the dust from the computer, monitor, keyboard and mouse. The best instructions for this that I have found are at CNET Review, where you can watch a number of short videos on:

1. Why you need a clean PC
2. Computer cleaning supplies
3. Cleaning a keyboard
4. Monitor cleaning tips
5. Clean your computer’s fans
6. Computer cleaning no-no’s
7. Get better air flow in your PC

Each video is only about two minutes long, but they clearly demonstrate the How To of each process. You won’t believe the cat hair I found in my computer fan!

Just click on this link http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-11319_7-6240575-1.html?tag=nav

The next computer cleanup issue concerns your hard drive – the “guts” of the computer. Instead of rags, wipes and such, here you must use software. Why?

Every time you visit a website (or go to the Internet for that matter), especially if you download software, pictures or graphics, other little items get “deposited” on your hard drive that can slow down your computer. For instance, adware, or advertising-supported software sometimes called spyware, cookies and such. A good place to go to learn how to do this type of cleaning is:

http://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Your-Computer-System

There are a couple of other things I do periodically just to make sure my computer is neat and tidy (the “belt and suspenders” for extra security plan).

1. My security software has a computer maintenance feature. If you have Norton or McAfee, just click on the icon in the very lower right of your screen or on your desktop to open the menu and look for the cleanup prompt (mine says “maintain computer”). You can usually ask that program to defrag your hard disk, remove cookies, clean the registry, and do other cleanup functions.

2. Go to the Internet, then click on “tools” in the top toolbar. From the dropdown menu, select “Internet Options.” This menu prompts you to remove cookies and temporary Internet files which clutter up your system. And we hate clutter!

You’ll find that after a good cleaning, your computer will run faster and better. Wish I could get the same result with my body!

Jane Booras is Editor of the Campus Times Newsletter for Computer School for Seniors (www.cs4seniors.com)