I came across two stories back-to-back in this morning's perusal of newsal that caused a physical response that felt like something Sybil, the famous multiple personality woman could have experienced regularly ... bang! zowie! huh? boy howdy! ... the world can sure look different one moment to the next!

First, this, on people who give and give and give ... mega-givers, so to speak, those who... more

When Mark and I began our first adoption journey, like many people new to the concept I had the idea that it was girls that were most likely to be needing homes and families.

The UK's Channel 4 production, "The Dying Rooms" swept the world, and the terrifying view into the world of unwanted little girls in China convinced many that boys had it easier and were far less likely to be in orphanages.

For many reasons ...... more

The 4th of July has always been one of my favorite holidays. Is there any occasion so quintessentially American? So, aw, shucks, here-are-my-bootstraps, grab a beer and pull up a lawnchair, Buddy low-key, yet wildly noisy and festive an occasion?

It's a hard one to describe to non-Americans, as conveying the full flavor of a long, hot July day of food and fun ... often involving some sort of water-based activity ... culminating in a pique of pyrotechnic patriotism isn't a simple thing.

Of course, my memories of fabulous... more

This post starts off having nothing to do with adoption, but when I saw the headline, "How Old is Too Old?" in this story I had to take a closer look.

So, what else besides the contemplation of adopting small children could possibly prompt a question like that?

How old is too old for learning to ski? Nope. Geezers take that up every winter and some resorts have special classes for the careful-about-the-old-bones set.

How old is too old... more

I've been writing about some heavy stuff over on the International and News blogs, and can't face more rounds here ... another sign of old age, I suppose.

I will, however, don my tatty old geezer cap and do a 'What the heck is happening to the world?' sort of post, just for the heck of it.

Actually, I am scratching my head over something that started ... more

There are times when I can do little but sit back, scratch my head and wonder how in the heck so much time has passed ... and so quickly.

Birthdays ... and I have one coming up ... always prompt this.

"Fifty-six! How did I get to be fifty-six, when I'm quite sure I was thirty-five just the other day."

(Of course, that line of thought completely ignores the fact that I have a daughter about to turn thirty-eight, but that's really beside the point.)

Today, however, is where the rubber meets... more

Here's a question for Boomers to think about, especially those of us with small children:

How much of a commitment are you willing and able to make to help your aging parents?

Or to put it more bluntly:

How much of your lifestyle do you potentially give up so your mom and dad can lead the kind of life you ... or they ... think they should lead?

These are being asked in USA Today, and should... more

Anyone traveling soon might want to brush up a bit on the problem of deep vein thrombosis, venous thromboembolism (VTE), since the WHO just issued warnings again in its Research Into Global Hazards of Travel project.

Referring back to the first of today's posts, the WHO says, "Travellers can take "common-sense" measures to reduce the risks of contracting... more

Cleaning up some corners of the desk today, I've come across some bits and pieces of information other geezer parents might find interesting or helpful. I'm particularly fond of this bit about common sense from the Earthtimes.

Common sense being a somewhat illusive attribute, simple to recognize but difficult to define, a recent study set out to identify just how the no-nonsense approach to life actually works, and to, "... pinpoint the... more

I don't lie, and unless you're the same you have no idea how much trouble that sometimes causes me. I won't tell people they look great in canary yellow bicycle shorts unless I truly think they do, and I won't yum, yum away over a dish I can't swallow. If I'm angry, people know it. If I'm happy, there's no doubt.

And that's the part I like about complete, unadulterated honesty ... the part where there's no doubt, the part where honesty becomes trust.

In recent efforts to get Cj ... more