TV

Our favorite TV show is NCIS. Robert and I love the characters and the humor, and we both think it's just great! Even though it's been on since 2003, we only started watching it last year. So a couple of months ago I decided to see if our library system - which has tons of TV shows on DVD - had NCIS so we could catch up on the seasons we'd missed. But it turned out the library didn't have NCIS! Not one season! So we splurged and bought seasons 1-6 of NCIS. Since then we've had a great time watching every episode in order - one each night - with no commercials!

Here we are re-creating a cute TV-watching photo from AARP. Hey Rob, hit replay! I want to see what Abby did again!

Here's the original photo. Well, unfortunately, a few nights ago we finally came to the end our NCIS tapes. Though we still love NCIS, our plan now is to start watching DVDs of the TV shows the library does have. In the past, we've watched Dexter and Burn Notice courtesy of the library, and we've just put Entourage and Breaking Bad on hold. We'll let you know what we think.

Makeovers

Before and after makeovers have always fascinated me. Perversely, I often like the "befores" better, especially when it comes to senior makeovers. The poor "befores" get accused of every fashion faux pas in the book - looking frumpy or matronly, having a hairstyle that's aging, or even - horror of horrors - not being age-appropriate. Yikes! I always want to say, "Hey, you look fine, lady! Wipe that disgruntled look off your face!" But of course, the "afters" always look so stylish and slick, and they always look so happy - ya gotta love it!

Here I am re-creating a before and after makeover. (I tried to capture the spirit of the clothes even though I didn't have the exact clothes.)

And here's the original photo. So which one do you like better - before or after?

Hobbies for retirees

Today's photo comes from an article called Hobbies for Retirees, which says: "There are a number of relaxing and exciting hobbies for retirees to pursue. These are the hobbies that you might have only dreamed about doing during your younger years, and now with the additional time on your hands you can finally pursue them."

Yes indeed. Here we are at Hollywood Beach re-creating the photo from the article, happily pursuing our retirement hobby of pointing.

Here's the original photo. The article also says, "As a retiree, you are making your own rules about how you want life to be. Choose hobbies that improve your quality of life and take up the motto of 'if it's not fun, what's the point?'" Ha ha, my point exactly!

Life imitates art

This morning I was looking through my retirement photos wondering what our next re-creation should be when Robert said, "I'm going out to work on the front yard." A few minutes later, I looked out the front window, then looked down at the photo I was looking at and went, "Holy mackerel!" So I jumped into my clothes (yes, I was sitting at the computer in my robe) and hustled out to take a picture.

Here's Robert working in the front yard. He put some Roundup down and then watered.

And here's the original photo. Okay, that was too easy!

Japan

Like everyone else, Robert and I have been watching the news unfold about the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Thinking about Japan, I found this Bible verse. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.”– Psalms 46:1-3. I think this verse pertains to all of us, no matter what our situation.

Here we are re-creating a photo at TY Park this afternoon.

And here's the original photo. We're keeping the people of Japan in our thoughts as they go through this difficult time.

Required reading

Today's photo comes from Mid Dakota Insurance, which has a simple, straightforward website. In About Us, there's a picture of their office. In Auto, there's a picture of a car. In Home/Farm, there's a picture of a house and a picture of some cows. (I always enjoy pictures of cows.) But in Life, Health and Annuities there's a picture of...well, see for yourself.

Here we are re-creating the photo from Life, Health and Annuities. Yes, this is what old people do all day - they sit around and read books about old people!

Here's the original photo. I'm sure these books have their merits, but the whole idea is just so silly! Couldn't they at least have been reading TV Guide?

Here's Joey!

A few days ago we gave Joey a bath. Ever since then, he's been trying to tell me something. I thought it was, "I feel so nice and clean," but this morning I realized it was, "For heaven's sake, put me in the blog. I haven't been featured since January and look how cute I am!" He's right, of course. So without further ado, here's Joey!

Here are Joey and Robert re-creating a photo outside our back door this afternoon.

And here's the original photo, from a retirement community in Ft. Washington, Pennsylvania. I don't know about this dog, but Joey was so happy to be in the picture that he zoomed around the back yard and twirled in place a few times. When Joey's happy, he's happy. And oh yes, he's cute, too.

Happy birthday, Robert!

Today there's another birthday in the family - Robert's is 65! And you know what that means - cake, candles, cards and....MEDICARE! It's a pretty big deal. We've been planning Robert's entry into the world of Medicare for almost a year. Not only has Robert been inundated with mail from every Medicare supplement company in the country, but I've spent months working on getting him removed from our Blue Cross health insurance, which was harder than you might think - aaugh! Anyway, Robert chose AvMed to sign up with for Medicare and so far that part has gone fine. He'll get better coverage than he had with Blue Cross and he even gets a free membership to the YMCA.

Here we are re-creating a photo with Robert's birthday cake and cards. We took some liberties with the original photo, but after all, it's his birthday.

Here's the original photo. Happy birthday, Robert! Many happy returns!

Happy birthday, Lillie!

Today's photo comes from an article called Best Places for Senioritis, about the hottest spots for retirement these days. Number one on the list is the Bradenton-Sarasota area in Florida, followed by Prescott, Arizona. But really, who cares about that? On March 5, 2003, our granddaughter Lillian was born, and today she's 8 years old. Woo hoo!

Here I am re-creating the photo from the article at Hollywood Beach. Do you see what I see? There's something in the sand that the original photo must have failed to pick up...

Here's the original photo. Happy birthday, Lillie! We love you! (You can see pictures of Lillie on her dad's wonderful family blog, Julian's Early Morning Blog.)

A one-bike photo...with fries

Here's the thing. We only have one bike - my blue bike that I bought shortly after we moved back to Florida. Robert doesn't have a bike or want one. So when I look for retirement photos, I always have to pass up any with two bikes. But that's okay - thanks to some diligent searching, I've found some great photos of senior couples with only one bike between them - and you know what? They're much more interesting than the ones with two bikes!

Here we are re-creating a one-bike photo at TY Park. See what I mean? No one gets to eat French fries in a two-bike photo!

Here's the original photo. The fact is, in two-bike photos they're usually riding their bikes, which would be practically impossible to do on a 10-second timer. So it's just as well we only have one bike. The fries were delicious!