Senior Discounts

I love getting a good deal and now that I'm eligible for a few Senior Discounts, life is good! Different places offer discounts based on age and that age can range from 55 to 65. I turned 60 last fall and now qualify for those discounts that start at 55 and 60 but still have to wait a few years for the age of most discounts.

My wife and I like to shop at thrift stores to see what treasures we can find. One thrift store gives a Senior Discount of 25% on Mondays. That is a great discount! One of our favorite Mexican restaurant just began offering a Senior menu for 60 and older. It includes one enchilada, rice and beans for $7.99. It is a great discount because the normal price for that dish is $11.99. 

I get my haircut at Great Clips. They offer an $18 cut for seniors that usually costs $20. Their age is 65, but I don't argue when they ring up the discount for me. I have also used my AARP membership to snag discounts at a few restaurants and hotels. I searched Google for senior discounts in Oklahoma and the list below is what came up. I'm sure this is a very small portion of places that offer a discount to the mature population. 

I need to get better at asking for discount when I am out and about. I just don't think of it every time. Where are some of your favorite places that offer a good deal for Seniors? Do you routinely ask about Senior discounts or just know where the great deals are?

I recently saw a push to end property taxes for those over 65. Now that would be one awesome discount? I could afford to pay that extra $2 for a haircut if they cut my taxes! During my discount research I also saw a list on Good Housekeeping.  It had a list of 25 places. I couldn't figure out an easy way to copy the link so try to search it and check it out. But here is a great list also:      https://www.theseniorlist.com/senior-discounts/

Let me know of any great discounts that you have found! I'm always in the mood for a great deal

Dining & Groceries

Bonefish Grill & Outback Steakhouse: 10% off for AARP members..

• Dairy Queen & KFC: Participating locations offer up to 10% off or free drinks.
• Chili's:
   10% off (55+)
  .
Golden Corral: Senior pricing available. 

Retail & Shopping

• Kohl's: 15% off on specific days (60+).
• Michaels: 10% off for Rewards members.
• Rite Aid: Savings for Wellness65+ members.
• Ross Dress for Less: 10% off on Tuesdays (55+).
• Goodwill: Discounts vary by location (55-62+). 

Service & Entertainment

• AMC Theatres: Special pricing for guests 60+.
• Oklahoma Area Agencies on Aging: Offers assistance, meals, and services for those 60+.
• Choice Hotels: 10-30% off (60+). 

ICE

 

As I write this, we have about 6-8" of snow on the ground here in OKC as part of the great winter storm of 2026. I can see a 3 foot snow drift out my front window where snow has been piling up against a large landscape rock. The snow accumulated there as it slid or blew off the roof. The snow is beautiful and will be around awhile with predictions of super cold temperature for the next several days. 

This post is titled ICE but is about snow and ice and not touching on the current political discussion and protest about the other kind of ICE. Hopefully the blog will benefit from extra views because of the clever title.

In retirement, I really get to enjoy these snow conditions without the worry of work pressures and getting behind in a work schedule. I can sit back, enjoy the views and a cup of coffee. No worries of wondering if I can get on the roads and get to work today. I turned 60 last year and was interested in a recent article from USAToday titled "When Should You Stop Snow Shoveling?". The article says that snow shoveling puts a heavy strain on the heart. I have always heard that the activity shows an increase in heart attacks. My past snow shoveling is less about shoveling but more of a bull dozer motion of pushing the snow off to the side of a sidewalk or driveway. Even that activity will get your heart rate up. The article said between 1990 and 2006 there were 200,000 adult seen in emergency rooms for snow shoveling incidents with 1600 deaths. They recommend not shoveling snow definitely after 65 but even recommend an earlier age of 45 as the cutoff date for this activity.

This is more than enough information for me to avoid this activity from now on! Most of the time I let nature take care of melting the snow. The few times I did clear snow was probably more for the entertainment of the activity and satisfaction of a clear walkway and driveway. In OKC, we get a few snows through the winter but most don't measure up to more than a few inches. This snow is a particularly heavy one for us. I can't imagine living further north or around the Great Lakes and dealing with feet of snow. 

So, during the huge winter storm, which is affecting a large portion of the country, take caution with snow removal. Also heed the warning about the extreme cold. Humans have been dealing with snow forever. The first snow shoes were invented 4,000-6,000 years ago. Snow skis were invented about 8,000 years ago. The earliest snow shovel was found in Russia and is about 6,000 years old. You have to wonder how many men have died since then from this horrible tool. I say men, because the studies show that is who is out shoveling snow and then dying from the activity. 

Do you shovel snow? Or, do you have a snowblower or hire someone to clear the snow? Has anyone had a cardiac event while shoveling snow that you would like to share?

If you are over 45, hire a snow removal company or 16 year old kid. Enjoy the snow, play, take photos but do not pick up that snow shovel! Stay safe and stay warm! Spring is only a few months away!

Screen Time

Last week I talked about device usage in public and the stress that it causes me. Today, I want to discuss screen time. If you have an iPhone you probably get the Screen Time pop up notification once a week. If you go into your settings and select Screen Time it will break down the time you spend on your phone and will break it down by app. It is very interesting data to see what you spend your time on. I will admit that my screen time has increased during these colder and darker winter months. I pick up my phone often to check texts, emails, facebook, news and the random Google searches to find out answers to the latest question that pops into my mind. Looking at yesterday's screen time shows a total of 2h 24m with 54m on Social, 33m on Information and Reading and 20m on Productivity & Finance. My most used breakdown is Facebook 36m, News 23m, Messages 18m, Safari 16m, Checkbook 11m, Mail 4m and other smaller usage on various apps. I can't imagine what the screen time would be for those who are on Instagram, TikTok and other social sites. It doesn't feel like I spent 2+ hours on my phone, but I guess every little pickup of the phone adds up.  

Since our phone holds so much power and info at our fingertips, I wonder how much screen time is too much? I do necessary things on my phone such as check news and balance my checkbook and other daily things. I just added to my screen time by searching the average adult screen time. Wow, I am shocked with the answer of 7 hours with US adults often exceeding 8-9 hours. Here is the breakdown by age:

Age 16-24 around 7.5 hours

Age 24-44 is 7+ hours

Age 55-64 is 5-6 hours

The search also broke down by Smartphone, TV and Computers with 2.5 hours on phone and 4.5 TV streaming. That breakdown would explain the 7 hour average above when you combine phone and TV, although many use the phone to stream. Another article says you spend 17 years of your adult life online. I've seen estimates before about how much of our lives are spent waiting in lines or in traffic. I think the online years far outpace the waiting years!

If your read my last post, you know my wife and I enjoy streaming on our TV. I would guess we watch 2-3 hours per night unless we watch a longer movie and then it may jump to a 4 hour night. We catch the evening news for about 30m to an hour and then watch a couple of episodes of various shows. 

In the summer I listen to music on Spotify or Amazon Music. I wonder if that counts as screen time? That doesn't seem to qualify as screen time to me as I'm not utilizing the screen and simply just listening, just as I would a radio. I'm sure there are other apps, such as those used for driving navigating, that should not count as screen time in my opinion. 

What do you spend screen time on? Are you on social media a lot? Do you spend time on emails, text and news? What time do you consider necessary and what time do you consider entertainment? How much screen time do you average a day on your phone? How much time watching streaming services or TV programming? Does your screen time and TV decrease in the Spring and Summer when the weather is nicer, or do you maintain a pretty even usage? If retired, do you think your phone screen time has increased as a form of entertainment that you didn't have time for when working?

When spending time on screen time just remember one thing, use those earbuds and headphone when in public! 

Device Usage in Public

Pet peeve of the year..........People on their phones, tablets and computers with the speaker on!!  Nothing annoys me more than having to listen to a small child's cartoon program while waiting in a medical waiting room, in a restaurant, in an airport waiting area or any other public area. People of all ages are so inconsiderate of those around them. I have seen families at a restaurant with three kids, each with their own tablet propped up on the dining table listening, without headphones, to their program or game. I have seen teenagers and adult scrolling video after video or streaming music with no head phones on. I have seen adults watching how-to videos or talking to someone on speakerphone in a hospital waiting room full of cancer patients. It all infuriates me to no end! I wish I had a jammer that I could flip on in these situations and shut them all down. I mean really, who needs to hold their phone conversation on their speakerphone while sitting among 30 other patients in a waiting room!

On the last flight I took we had plenty of open seating. I was on an aisle and the row across had only one woman in a window seat. She began watching video after video with the volume up enough that I could clearly hear it. I finally got her attention and asked if she had headphones. She looked at me stupidly and said "sorry...sorry" and muted the volume. This was after the flight attendants had clearly stated that any device usage requires headphones! I've gotten to where I carry noise cancelling headphones on planes or even into waiting areas just to try to tune out the idiots with their devices on speaker. 

How about phones at the movies? We recently took our granddaughters to see Zootopia 2. I understand people doing last minute texts or emails during the commercials that they now have before the movies. I don't like them to continue to be on their phones during the previews. At this movie, I could see about 5-10 phone screens lit up through the whole movie. I wanted to stand up and proclaim "Turn off your phones!" but I did not. I tried to focus on the movie screen and tune out the phones but it was impossible. Why can't these young parents of young children not be fully engaged in watching the movie with their kids? I just don't get it. I paid $15 per person to see this movie and I expect to be able to watch it without distractions. 

Oh, and what about restrooms! I have seen many a man talking or watching videos on their phones while standing at the urinals. I've heard phone conversations from people in a stall. Is there no place that is off limits anymore?

I'm all for freedom in this country but that freedom has a limits if it impedes on the freedom of another. The use of phones and devices is fine until it infringes on the rights of others. 

Does this device usage, I listed above, get you agitated as it does me? What example of annoyance have you seen? Am I over reacting to this issue? As I write this, my wife has her phone on speaker while talking with her mother. I have no problem at all with this as it does not disturb the general public and is in the privacy of our own home. I often have our son or daughter on speaker while I continue to do whatever task I'm in the middle of. But, you will never see me on speakerphone in public or listening to videos or movies without headphones in public. Maybe I can suggest an Executive Order to prohibit this annoying behavior! An idea is born!

What Are You Watching?

This is the time of the year when my wife and I watch our most television. With it being colder weather and less daylight, we tend to catch up on streaming shows and start new shows. We have watched these various streaming series and completed them:  The Man on the Inside, The Beast In Me, Nobody Wants This, The Morning Show, Mayor of Kingstown, Tulsa King and one of our favorites Ted Lasso. We are still watching Shrinking, The Neighborhood and another favorite Landman. I am also in the late Season 2 of Silo and find it an interesting watch. 

As you can see we subscribe to multiple streaming sites and have our favorite shows for each one. We watch Hulu, Netflix, Prime, Paramount and recently added Apple TV. We also have access to HBO Max and Peacock but watch very little so far on those sites. We quit our main cable tv service months ago and went with Hulu Live for our primary service for local channels. 

We are very much looking forward to The Pitt coming out next week. We really enjoyed the first season and are ready to see the new season. Just yesterday, I watched CBS Sunday Morning do a story on Noah Wyle in which I discovered he was on the ER show in 1994-2000. I remember watching the show but never connected him from The Pitt to the older show.    

On a regular basis, we watch local news and NBC Nightly News and then usually start watching "our shows" on the various streaming services. 

We are always looking for new shows we might enjoy so if you have one you really like, please list it in the comments and we will check it out. You would think with a billion streaming options we would have enough lined up for a lifetime, but sometimes the many options are a little overwhelming to sort through.

What are you watching? Any favorites that really stand out? Do you have a favorite streaming service? One thing I avoid is dubbed movies or shows that were originally in a different language. I just can't get past the fact the words don't match the facial motions. Can you handle dubbing or does it bother you too? How many streaming service do you subscribe to? Do you start and stop the services to watch a particular series?

Whatever you watch, I hope it helps you get through the bleary winter months like it helps us. I personally get burned out after watching 2-3 hours and have to turn it off and read a book. I already look forward to warmer weather and more sunshine ahead.

Happy New Year!

Uggaa Buggaa!

UGGAA BUGGAA!

I mentioned my three granddaughters a few weeks ago and they continue to give me blog post ideas just by being around them. One post was "alone time". This week's post is about grandkids and our interaction with them. My three live just a few miles away so we get to see them very often and my wife and I love it! They seem to think Nana and Pawpaw's house is the place for snacking and they are not wrong. They come in the door, greet us, and then are instantly hungry. I beginning to think they don't get fed at home! They enjoy looking in the candy jar we have placed on the middle of our kitchen island. They climb up onto two bar stools at the island and begin digging for something to eat. Then they want popcorn, then ice cream, then a jolly rancher. When mom and dad are here, I refer questions on being able to have something to them. At least one, if not two, are candy sneaks and will creep into the kitchen when no one is watching them to grab an extra piece of candy.  

The grandkids enjoy playing at our house. They play with playdough, color with crayons or markers and play with baby dolls. One thing they love to play is Uggaa Buggaa! I made it up, so I'm sure that is the correct spelling. One day while they were here they wanted to play monsters and have me chase them. I began stomping around and uttering "Uggaa Buggaa" while chasing them and then hiding from them as they creep through the house to find me. Now when they come over they want to play Uggaa Buggaa every time. They will sometimes come over to me like they are telling me a secret and whisper in my ear "Can you be Uggaa Buggaa?". Of course, Pawpaw as the UB, will oblige and off we go. I love to hear their screams and giggles as I chase them back into their room and into their closet to hide from me. It is a great joy to hear their laughter and their efforts to fight and then hide from Uggaa Buggaa. I will admit it ramps up the volume in our house but it is well worth it. I have to calm them down sometimes. Recently, they each grabbed a plastic toy golf club to come at Uggaa Buggaa with their "whackers" as they called them. The oldest said "the more scared I get the more I whack!" 

A big part of my enjoyment in retirement is the interaction with the grandkids. I'm fortunate to have them all just a few miles down the road. I know a lot of grandparents only get to see their grandkids every so often due to them living hours or even days away. However often you see them, make the best memories that you can, while you can!

Do you have a special something that you do with your grandkids to connect with them? It doesn't have to be as active as Uggaa Buggaa. It could be baking with them, drawing with chalk outdoors, reading with, or to them and any other special activity. To me, it is a special time that will pass way too soon as they grow into teens and adults. I try to be Uggaa Buggaa every chance I get to get as many screams and laughter as I can. 

Tell me what you do to get the smiles, giggles, screams, hugs and kisses. I'm always up for trying something else with them.

When I googled Uggaa Buggaa I discovered their is a casino slot machine with that name. Who knew?

Uggaa Buggaa out.

Christmas Cards

 

Christmas card exchange during the Christmas season has been a pastime for many centuries. The first known Christmas card was given in 1611. The first commercial card was designed in 1843 in London to make the postal service more popular. The modern format of the folded card with an envelope was an innovation in 1915 by the Hall Brothers company, later known as Hallmark. The White House began a tradition of an official White House Christmas card with President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. Cards became enormously popular in the 1930's-1950's.  I began my government career as a mail carrier in 1986 and carried the mail for about 5 years. I remember December being real busy with Christmas cards. My mail case would be full of red, white and green Christmas card envelopes. They were so noticeable because they were so much bigger than the average letter or bill at the time. I imagine the mail case for each route is much less festive these days.

I remember our family receiving Christmas cards when I was young in the 70's and 80's. My mother would tape them to a large double door frame along the edges. We would get so many cards the door frame would be covered up each side and across the top with cards left over and stacked in a basket. That was a time when we received many cards from relatives that have now passed away.

We sent out about 25 cards this year, but have only received 12 to date. I believe our generation will be one of the last to exchange cards through the mail. These days, people either post a greeting on their social media or send a greeting or letter via email. It is just not the same. I enjoy getting the cards in the mail. I enjoy getting the newer version where the sender puts photos of the family consisting of a family photo or multiple photos of the year's activities. This card exchange pastime is on the decline and I fear will soon be a victim of technology and social media.

Do you still send and receive Christmas cards? If so, have you seen a decline in participants over the past years? My wife is a card giver. She still sends cards for birthdays, anniversaries, Halloween, Thanksgiving and other major holidays. She loves getting cards as well. It is a small gesture that means so much. It is much like receiving a Thank You note, which is also a lost art.

                                                     

 Merry Christmas to everyone!

May your packages remain safe from porch pirates!