We’ve been blaming extra pounds gained on a slowing metabolism. AARP says, not so fast. The need for less calories as we age likely has more to do with less muscle mass and more couch surfing. So stick with that strength training and stay active to make room for that Big Mac.
– Jet Cannon
Caffeine tolerance is a thing. We like the Buzz before workouts, for motivation, for focus, and for those times when we need to stay alert. But tolerance minimizes those benefits.
We did some reading to get tips on getting a reset and we learned a few things. First, caffeine is not an essential nutrient! We agree to disagree on that one. Next, clearing out the caffeine from your systems takes about a week or even two. And then the tolerance rebuilds quickly as soon as caffeine consumption becomes a habit again. Depressing.
What about just drinking more? Three or four cups of coffee a day is considered to be fairly safe but more than that is probably not a good idea. And we need to include all sources of caffeine from chocolate to energy drinks.
After sifting through the suggestions for catching a Buzz when it’s really needed, the most reasonable seems to be either just getting out of the habit of, say, starting the morning with a cup of coffee just because we always do or steadily reducing the amount consumed each day. Save the big gulp for the days when we really need the Buzz. It’s common sense that beats going completely cold turkey.
Too drowsy to dig any deeper. Good luck.
– Jet Cannon
We thought you might want to see this story from NPR. Cats and dogs getting along. Bipartisan cooperation was on full display during the fourth annual Anheuser-Busch Brew Across America Congressional Brewing Competition, where five pairs of lawmakers, one Democrat paired with one Republican, work with breweries across the country to create new small batch beers and bring them back to Washington, D.C., to find out whose concoction is best.
Said one representative, “You spend time with one another, have a beer with one another — we can still disagree with one another but it’s not going to be the end of the world.” The competition serves as a reminder that people with different political views can work together to create something satisfying.
Cheers!
Exercise is important to good health. We all know that. Yet as we age, the list of what exercises are safe for our bodies starts to decrease.
We read an interesting article in Babyboomer.com called the Faulty Five. The article suggests that folks over 50 be very cautious with martial arts, running on hard surfaces, plyometrics, Crossfit, and yes, even yoga. It’s worth reading.
The website usually has some pretty darn good information on a variety of subjects for Boomers. Meanwhile, at Buzzed Boomer we will continue to promote escapes from reality (e.g. Painkiller cocktail, consumed responsibly of course). Okay, the article doesn’t say to stop doing the exercises we used to enjoy; just to be careful, consult your doctor, etc. While those healthy endorphins become more and more elusive we will continue to find a way.
Can you say water aerobics?
– Jet Cannon
Our good friend Captain Tony never sets out to sea (inland waters) aboard his “ship” (Boston Whaler) without a supply of Pusser’s Navy Rum. Why? It (was) a time-honored sailors’ tradition. Per Pusser’s web site, “Rum became an important drink for the British Royal Navy. From the 16th Century until July 31st, 1970, British sailors were given daily rations of a mixed rum called Navy Rum. These became referred to as “tots.”
Daily life aboard these ships was brutal. Not only did they have to deal with the stress of operating a ship in the middle of the ocean, where one mistake could mean death, but they also fought enemy ships “eyeball-to-eyeball.”
These sailors used to have multiple “daily tots” each day to help keep up morale. The practice was eventually halted in the 1970s when modern officers grew concerned with drunkenness and on-deck fighting.
Here’s some good news: fans of history and rum can still order Pusser’s Original Navy Rum. It follows the same historical recipe used for hundreds of years.”
Yo ho ho.
Pusser’s Painkiller Ingredients
Directions
– Jet Cannon
Men’s Health has a great article on fitness fads. It’s a trip down memory lane for sure and some of them really work when actually used on a regular basis.
We think the best fad of all is the Vibrating Belt. No, they didn’t really work from a weigh-loss standpoint but the appeal of just standing in place and losing weight is pretty irresistible.
Not surprisingly, there are variations still out there and even some claims that the vibration can be beneficial for obese folks. That is not an endorsement. Just a head-scratcher.
So dig through the closet, pull out the fads you bought and get back to exercising!
Lou Reed will be gone 8 years on the 27th. Not technically a Boomer (b. 1942) but he blew away a few zillion of us. We’ll be feeling his reverberations a long long time.
Apple TV has just released a documentary of his band The Velvet Underground. As a city-dweller like Lou was I got to see it on the big screen. Well worth the sticky armrests and risk of illness.
The Velvets music sold poorly but influenced majorly. Formed in 1965 New York as an avant-garde project managed by Andy Warhol, in the early days they turned out Lou’s dark and edgy yet hummable tunes, boogie woogie hopped up on feedback, not exactly peace and love, sweet stuff. They wore black!! Girl drummer!! Welsh artist (John Cale) playing viola or droning organ!!! It’s been said they sold only a few thousand copies of their first album, but everybody who bought one formed a band.
Lou wanted to be a rock star though, so he split with Andy and Cale and all of a sudden we got Sweet Jane. Dang!
All four VU albums are on RS’s top 500…not too bad. A lot of music from The Era hasn’t aged well (I’m talking to you, The Doors) but the Velvets keep exploding, giving and giving.
In the 80’s, a punker friend with ripped stockings (and according to her) the Best Legs in Baltimore turned me on to post-Velvets Lou, a whole other rock ‘n roll world. He later married Laurie (Oh Superman) Anderson, and went all mellow and Tai Chi. Gone too soon, RIP Lou.
Check out the VU rockumentary BB’ers…a brave artist was in our midst!
Photo: Billboard.com
We like sleep but sleep doesn’t always like us. Getting enough sleep is key to heart health, eye health, immune health, productivity, coping with stress, and workout energy. There are a number of possible causes of sleeplessness and the good news is there are answers. See your doc for a referral to a specialist and sleep like a Baby. Boomer.
– Jet Cannon
We often ponder what beverage to properly pair with our burgers. Actually, we usually just grab a beer but luckily someone is giving it some real thought. Fiona Beckett’s Matching food & wine post has some suggestions to help us up our game.
She starts with wine. Okay, a burger is just ground steak so why not? Cabernet, preferably, but she suggests a few others.
Next, IPA’s. Beer. There you go. Right up our alley.
Stepping it up, a Manhattan. Now we’re talking! Gourmet burger. Classy cocktail. She says it really, really works.
Finally, a milkshake. Not a big surprise there. Burger, fries and shake. Well, why buck tradition?
So there’s some things to try that we certainly didn’t previously consider. Enjoy!
– Jet Cannon
Here’s an excerpt from a 2013 AARP article by P.J. O’Rourke. It’s still spot on. To read the whole article click here.
“Yes, we’re spoiled rotten. We’re self-absorbed. And it seems like we’ll never shut up. But the boomers made a better world for everyone else. You’re welcome.
The boomers are a generation that changed the world. We’re the largest, richest, best-educated generation of Americans, the favored children of a strong, confident and prosperous country. Or, as other generations call us, spoiled brats. Born between 1946 and 1964, the 76 million boomers reaped all the benefits of the postwar period’s extraordinary economic growth.
We’re the generation that will die with the most toys. Until that day finally comes, we’ll still be riding our bicycles, jamming in garage bands, and wearing jeans and T-shirts. We’re famously careful about the way we raise our kids, because somebody has to grow up. It won’t be us.
And what about those kids? Will Generation X and the Millennials do a better job running the world than the boomers have? Let’s hope so. But first they’ll have to move out of our basements.”
Thanks P.J.
– Jet Cannon
Donating blood is a nice thing to do for your community and fellow Baby Boomers. As an added bonus, our local blood bank has a nice offer going.
“We’re giving away 4 Fly Away Music weekends across the USA. When you donate blood Sept 1 – Oct. 31, you will be automatically entered to win a 3 day weekend to see headliner artists at an iconic venue. Includes airfare, hotel, event tickets for 2.” Cities included LA, Nashville, Miami and New York.
So check with your local blood bank and see if you’re eligible to donate. Bloody good!
Wish us luck!
– Jet Cannon
What marching bands do executing precise formations while playing music at the same time is pretty amazing when you think about it. Translating formations into steps for each band member… we assume they use computers nowadays. But still. Amazing.
Anyway, check out the Ohio State Marching Band’s tribute to Rush. Not only is the marching very creative, the music translates pretty well.
– Jet Cannon
Photo Rollingstone.com
Most Baby Boomers will remember The Dick Van Dyke Show which turns 60 years old this year. Dick himself is 95 and still going.
That show spawned The Mary Tyler Moore Show with featured another great comedian Betty White. Betty is 99 and still going. She stays mentally sharp playing Scrabble. Dick loosens the joints by doing a little dancing every day. Whatever works!
Those shows demonstrated just plain old good clean fun. This Betty White clip is about as racy as the shows ever got. Censors were busy in those days. Things have changed.
Stay young!
– Jet Cannon
Photos courtesy of Forbes.com and alchetron.com
