Baby Boomers U. S. (The Blog)

Monday Musings for Baby Boomers – Cat Person Profile Quiz

Posted: 25 Jun 2012 03:51 AM PDT

The real BBUS post can be found here… Monday Musings for Baby Boomers – Cat Person Profile Quiz by Joe Hauckes © Baby Boomers U. S. (The Blog) . Not on Senior Zen!

Smile!

Monday has always been a little bit of a let down, what with it being the beginning of the work week and all.

So to start things out on a bright note for the week, I bring you the…

Baby Boomers Monday Musings.

Now, I have to say this upfront: Karen Is a Cat Person. We have a bunch of our own cats, most of who’s names I know AND she fosters cats for a Cat Rescue called CatNip. I re-name them as soon as they enter the house so I can remember their names (they fit the cats to a “T”).

That being said, I thought you may want to see how much of a “Cat Person” you really are.

Cat Person Profile Quiz

See how many of these can you give an HONEST “yes” answer to:

–Can you meow so well that you can fake out your cats?

–Have you ever called your husband/wife by the cat’s name by mistake?

–Do you think of your cats as the “furry kids?”

–Did you ever decide to buy a house or rent an apartment based solely on the potential spot for the litterbox?

–Do you think cat hair in your food is a good source of protein?

–Last Christmas/Hanukkah, did you spend more money on cat toys than you did on gifts for the kids or grandkids?

–Are you at a loss as to how to talk to people who don’t own any cats?

–Does your wallet contain more photos of your cats than your kids or grandkids?

–Have you often slept on the very edge of the bed so that you won’t disturb the cat who’s sleeping in the very middle?

–Do you leave messages for the kitty on the answering machine?

–Have you ever invited a guest to sit down by patting the seat and making that noise with your pursed lips?

–Does your answering machine have the cat meowing on the outgoing message?

–When you go to the bathroom do you think of it as “using the litterbox”?

–Have you made a habit of setting a place at the table for the kitty?

–Do you know your cat’s birthday (or if not, have made a good guess) and have a birthday party to celebrate?

–When your husband/wife gives you the ultimatum, “OK, it’s me or the cat,” you don’t hesitate for even one second.

–Do your neighbors talk about you as “the nut with all the cats?”

How many did you answer “yes” to? I think just answering one with a “yes” is enough to qualify you as a “Cat Person.” But the number of yes answers determines the degree.

Your “Cat-ability” Score”

–1 to 4 yes answers: In training – you could do better, but it’s OK, you’re learning.

–5 to 8 yes answers: Moderate – working on it, improving nicely. Potential is there.

–9 to 13 yes answers: Extreme – just about there, almost mastered the art. Keep stretching yourself.

–14 to 17 yes answers: Totally possessed, hopelessly devoted, cat-a-holic. Congratulations! (But you’ll find no 12 step program here!)

Hope that put a little smile on your face and Keep On Smilin’

If you are reading this on Senior-Zen: It is STOLEN CONTENT from Baby Boomers US

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Which OTC Pain Reliever is Right for You?

Posted: 24 Jun 2012 03:45 AM PDT

The real BBUS post can be found here… Which OTC Pain Reliever is Right for You? by Joe Hauckes © Baby Boomers U. S. (The Blog) . Not on Senior Zen!

This is a Guest Post by Nancy Parker of e-Nanny Source. If you would like to Guest Post for Baby Boomers US, check out our Guest Post for Us page.

As you get older, pain becomes a part of your life on a consistent basis. Whether it is popping joints or an achy back, you live with pain all the time. Because of this, you take over the counter pain medication like Tylenol, Advil, aspirin, or Aleve. But do you really know what you are taking? Do you know the difference between the medications and their side effects? Which one would work best for your pain? Well, keep reading to find out.

Tylenol – The active ingredient is acetaminophen. This is the drug 'most prescribed by doctors', and for good reason. It does not tear up yours stomach like some of the pain medications and works well at relieving minor aches, pains and headaches. For some people, that is. For others, Tylenol can have no effect whatsoever. Unfortunately, it is a bit of trial and error to figure out what category you fall into. One thing Tylenol lacks, however, is an anti-inflammatory. One of the side effects of long term use is liver damage. Tylenol is frequently found in over the counter cold and flu medications. It lasts four hours.
Advil – The active ingredient is ibuprofen. It is also sold under the name Motrin.Advil is a great anti-inflammatory and fever reducer. It works well for most people, though one of the side effects of long term use is stomach issues. This can be countered by using the liquid gel capsules; however they are also more expensive. I have found that Advil is the strongest pain reliever in many cases. It lasts four hours.
Aspirin – This is the oldest pain reliever and fever reducer out there. It thins the blood, which can be a great asset to those suffering from heart conditions. It is offered in regular and low dose options. The regular pain-reliving dose is often effective, especially with joint pain. It has anti-inflammatory properties, though not as great as Advil. Not safe for use with children because of a rare side effect, this medication is also known to tear up your stomach. This can be countered by getting enteric coated aspirin. The coating protects the stomach lining. Another side effect of aspirin is trouble clotting; which means if you get a cut it takes longer to stop bleeding than it normally would. It lasts four hours.
Aleve –The active ingredient is naproxen. The newest of the over the counter pain relievers, Aleve is another medication that works well for some and not at all for others. The medication is supposed to last twice as long as the others, however, at eight hours. Its specialty is joint and arthritis pain, though it also has anti-inflammatory properties and a fever reducer. Like Tylenol, long-term use can cause liver damage.

Always consult your doctor and pharmacist before changing or adding any over the counter medication. There are many drug interactions to watch out for. If you take aspirin for your heart, it is unwise to frequently mix in other over the counter pain medications.

About the Author: Nancy Parker was a professional nanny and she loves to write about wide range of subjects like health, Parenting, Child Care, Babysitting, nanny background check tips etc. You can reach her @ nancy.parker015 @ gmail.com.