‘I thought It was covered’ 4FInancIal column by bruce bItter

thIngs to do 6

botox can remove ‘angry’ look 11health column by dr. nolan hetz

FEATURE STORY:

taI chI Instructor dedIcated to helpIng senIors 8-9 dave heImerl oF two rIvers leads begInners and advanced classes, twIce a week For an hour

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2 . may 2011 . 50 plus!

Oral Storytelling Preserves History

Ethiopian Orphans Find Loving Homes 3

‘I Thought It Was Covered’ 4

SAVVY SENIOR 5

THINGS TO DO 6

The Perfect Cup of Coffee at Home 10

Botox Can Remove ‘Angry’ Look 11

Cooking for 2: Peanut Butter Chicken Tenders 12

Survey Finds Most Unprepared for Retirement 13

Get Ready for Planting Season 14

The New Face of Parenting Is Creepy 15

On the Cover: Tai Chi insTruCTOr DeDiCaTeD TO helping seniOrs 8-9 Dave Heimerl, 57, of Two Rivers leads a tai chi class at the Manitowoc Senior Center recently. Sue Pischke/50 Plus

staff Pat Pankratz, 50 Plus! Editor 920-686-2138 ppankratz@htrnews.com

James Maurer, Advertising Manager 920-684-4433 jmaurer2@manitowoc.gannett.com

50 Plus! is published monthly by the Herald Times Reporter. It also is distributed to select businesses in Manitowoc County.

50plus!

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11Judy Rank | For 50 plus!

The aging & disability Resource Center (adRC) will be hosting a senior fair “age Strong! Live Long” on Wednesday, May 25, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Manitowoc Ice Center. This fair is free to the public and offers something for those individuals who already classify themselves as seniors and for the baby boomers who will be turning 65 in the next couple of years.

The fair will have over 35 vendors that offer services that can assist individuals in staying healthy and in their own homes as long as possible. There will also be several half-hour presentations that will be of interest to everyone.

attorney Jack Cashman will present a workshop at 1:15 p.m. on Estate Planning. He will talk about power of attorney for health care and finances and the importance of having this paperwork in place. He will also share information on preparing yourself financially for the long term.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will staff a booth with information on Medicare, with staffer Brenda delgado presenting a program on Medicare updates from 2:45 to 3:15 p.m. delgado will also be available to talk one-on-one with fairgoers about Medicare a, B, C and d. She may also be able to answer questions about Health Care Reform and how it will affect Medicare.

also at a booth will be the benefit specialist from the adRC. They too will be able to discuss Medicare and talk about their upcoming workshops for individuals who will be turning 65 or those who will become eligible for Medicare in the next couple of months.

Lynn Seidl Babcock from Home Care and Hospice will provide a program on hospice, explaining how it works and how it is funded, from 2 to 2:30 p.m.

Rounding out the afternoon of presentations and helping to establish a Food Fair will be Leah anderson, a dietitian with Festival Foods. She will explain the store’s nuVal program and how it can assist individuals who want to eat healthier as it assigns a numeric value to foods based on sodium, sugar and calorie content. She will be working with the adRC staff to set up a food booth that will give fairgoers the opportunity to build and taste different snacks that are rated as having good nutritional value.

Vendors will be supplying door prizes that will be given at the end of the afternoon. The top door prize will be a lift chair donated by Home Care Resources in Sheboygan. Individuals must be present to win a door prize.

‘Powerful Tools’The adRC is currently taking registrations for an evening “Powerful Tools for Caregiving” six-week program that is set to start June 7 at Felician Village. This class is for the family caregiver, which includes a spouse, an adult child, or friend, or could be an adult caring for a developmental or physically disabled adult child.

The class is designed to assist caregivers in understanding the importance of taking good care of themselves, so that they can continue to give care. It helps the caregiver deal with the added stress that comes from taking on added responsibilities. It also teaches communication skills that can be used in dealing with medical professionals or other family members in enlisting help with care giving.

The class will run from 5:30 to 8 p.m. once a week for six weeks. Felician Village will provide a light supper so that it is easy for the working caregiver to attend. Please contact the adRC at (920) 683-4180 and ask for Lynn for more information or to register for the program.

Don’t AnswerThe adRC received word this week that someone is calling individuals who are enrolled in SeniorCare and asking if they would like help with diabetic supplies and other drugs. SeniorCare is not placing these calls, so please do not respond to any of the questions.

Lost Computer DiscsWord was received from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that Health net Insurance has lost the computer discs that housed the names of individuals who are enrolled in their Medicare Part d plans. These plans also go by the name of Health net Orange. Individuals who are enrolled in one of these Part d plans should follow the instructions mailed to them. Please contact the adRC at 683-4180 for more information.

Judy Rank is executive director of the Manitowoc County Aging and Disability Resource Center.

powerful Tools for Caregivingsix-week program that is set to start June 7 at Felician Village. This class is for the family caregiver, which includes a spouse, an adult child, or friend, or could be an adult caring for a developmental or physically disabled adult child.

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50 plus! . may 2011 . 3

ethiopian orphans Find loving homesIn response to a story about older parents in the April issue of 50 plus, Marykay Niedermeyer of Manitowoc e-mailed about her Manitowoc family, and another in Whitelaw, who had adopted older boys orphaned in Ethiopia. Here are their stories.

By dEB HORn, 50 Plus correspondent

Two local couples — the Lehmans of Whitelaw and the niedermeyers of Manitowoc — who are friends and belong to Faith Church, have adopted older boys orphaned in Ethiopia through Celebrate Children International.

Bill Lehman, 62, and kim Lehman, 54, have six biological children of their own, with their youngest, Jonathan, 18, graduating this year from high school. With retirement and an empty nest in their sights, they had finally bought the motorcycle of their dreams and were looking forward to summer road trips. That’s when their daughter brought over a video of a young boy named nati, which led them down the road to adopt four Ethiopian boys, with a fifth arriving in May.

“It took all of about five minutes for us to know we were bringing nati home to our house,” kim said. “Then through lots of prayers, we felt we should not bring him alone, so we asked our worker to find his best friend who was eligible to adopt, and along came Mulugeta.”

They came home on May 10, 2010.

“We had the guys home about two months and realized we were not done,” kim said. “There were two more boys on the wait list that kept haunting us. From there, we brought alemayehu and Tekele home on dec. 19, 2010. at court for alemayehu,

we found out he had a brother, kassahun, who was in need of a home as well, so it is a good thing our home study had approved us for one more.”

Jonathan has helped the boys adjust by taking them under his wing, helping them to settle in and introducing them to

friends. He has been a part of the adoption journey and made the first trip to bring nati, 14, and Mulugeta, 15, home. alemayehu is 14, Tekele is 11, and kassahun is 13.

The four boys all attend Valders schools and are doing well there. all are multilingual

and have had Christian teachings at the orphanage, kamashi, where the director is a Christian. It is a large boys-only orphanage, which was started seven years ago in western Ethiopia.

all of the boys sing and play their spiritual music in amarhic and want to learn to play an instrument. Jonathan is a musician and will be going to college for music performance, so the boys will often sing and play music together.

“For us, the decision to bring the boys home was easy, and we feel we relate to boys and that God has given us a heart to parent these boys, who had no future, to their fullest potential,” said kim.

“People often say to us, ‘you have done

above; bill and kim lehman sit with their children nati, front left, mulugeta, front right, and in back from left, their nephew ashton, and sons Jon, alemayeho and tekele.

left: marykay and bill niedermeyer pose with their children, from left, alex, obsi, tamirat and seth. photos by doug sundin/50 plus

such a great thing for these guys,’ but we don’t see it at all that way. These boys, our new sons, have added so much to our lives we cannot even begin to put it on paper. They are hard working, polite, intelligent, deeply spiritual young men. Our family has been blessed tenfold and more having them join our family. “

The niedermeyers adopted two Ethiopian boys, Tamirat, 12, in april of 2010, and Obsi, 14, in July.

“Our family already had two boys, so bringing in two more boys just seemed the right thing to do,” said Marykay. She and her husband, Bill, 55, have biological sons Seth, 16, and alex, 13.

They followed the lead of their friends, the Lehmans.

“as I was telling my family about the Lehmans adopting their boys, they all said, ‘Let’s do it.’ It was unanimous.”

“Bill and I were done having children,” Marykay niedermeyer said. “God led us and put it in our hearts to step out in faith and give two orphans a family, a home, and a good education. We started out wanting to bless them, but as it turns out, we are the ones that are very blessed in bringing them into our home,” said Marykay.

To learn more about Celebrate Children International, visit www.celebratechildren.org.

“They are hard working, polite, intelligent, deeply spiritual young men. Our family has been blessed tenfold and more having them join our family.“ ~Kim Lehman

4 . may 2011 . 50 plus!

I work with seniors every day and one of the most common misconceptions has to do with coverage for expenses incurred during a short-term stay at a nursing home or skilled care facility.

Here’s the scenario. We’ll call him Mr. Jones. He has a stroke. He spends a week in the hospital. Then he is sent to the nursing home for rehab. It’s all covered, right? Well, yes and no. Let’s address the misconceptions.

Misconception 1

Medicare will cover expenses for 100 days. Medicare will cover 100 percent of the cost for only 20 days and only if it follows a stay in the hospital for three or more days and only if it is considered “rehabilitation.” This is care that results in significant improvement.

after the 20 days, Medicare will cover all but $135 per day for the next 80 days. So Mr. Jones could be “on the hook” for $10,800 if his stay lasts the full 100 days. That amount is not covered by Medicare, and it is covered by Medicare only if his status is considered “rehabilitation.” If he is no longer experiencing “significant improvement,” his status is changed to “custodial care.” In that case Medicare no longer covers anything and Mr. Jones is “on the hook” for the full amount, typically a little less than $20,000 for 80 days.

‘I thought It was covered’

Misconception 2Medicare Supplement or advantage Plan or Health Insurance will cover expenses not covered by Medicare. The norm for these insurances is to provide coverage for what Medicare doesn’t cover during the 100 days. However this is also only if the status of Mr. Jones is “rehabilitation.” as soon as it is changed to “custodial care,” neither supplements, nor advantage plans, nor regular insurance provides any coverage. The average length of time before a person is switched to custodial care is 28 days. This means that after 28 days Mr. Jones will very likely be “on the hook” for the full amount of the cost.

This brings up the importance of considering Long Term Care (LTC) insurance to cover custodial care costs. This type of insurance covers care provided at home, in an adult day care facility, in an assisted living center, or in a nursing home. This option has become even more attractive since the implementation of partnership plans for long-term care on Jan. 1, 2009.

Bruce Bitter is an associate for great american senior Benefits, a resource for seniors.

sudoku

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50 plus! . may 2011 . 5

Jim Miller

reverse mortgages now more affordable Dear Savvy Senior:What can you tell me about reverse mortgages? I was considering one a few years ago but decided against it because it was too expensive. But now I hear they are much more affordable. What can you tell me? ~Looking for Cash

dear Looking:

One of the biggest drawbacks of reverse mortgages over the years has been the high upfront costs. But now, thanks to some new federal rules and reduced lender fees, reverse mortgages are much cheaper for cash-strapped retirees to get into. Here’s what you should know.

The BasicsLet’s start with a quick review. a reverse mortgage is a unique loan that lets older homeowners convert part of the equity in their home into cash that doesn’t have to be paid back as long as they live there. To be eligible you must be age 62 or older, own your home (or owe only a small balance) and currently be living there. There’s no income qualification. you can receive the cash either as a lump sum, a line of credit, regular monthly

checks or a combination of these. and with a reverse mortgage, you, not the bank, own the house, so you’re still responsible for property taxes, insurance and repairs.

Repayment is due when you or the last borrower dies, sells the place or lives elsewhere for 12 months. Then you or your heirs will have to pay off the loan (which includes the money you borrowed plus accrued interest and fees) either with the proceeds from selling the place, or if you want to keep the house, with money from another source.

Cheaper LoansMost reverse mortgages on the market today are known as Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM), which are backed by the Federal Housing administration (FHa). The big

complaint about HECMs has always been the high upfront fees, which include a 2 percent loan origination fee, 2 percent mortgage insurance, along with appraisal fee, closing costs and other miscellaneous expenses. all told, the cost of getting a HECM can run around 5 percent of the value of your home.

But starting last fall, the FHa introduced a new HECM “Saver” loan that offers a smaller loan amount that’s about 40 percent cheaper than a traditional HECM has been (which is now known as the HECM “Standard”). The new Saver loan virtually eliminated the 2 percent upfront insurance premium to create the savings.

But with the Saver, the amount you can borrow is about 10 to 20 percent less than what you could get with the HECM Standard. So, for example, a 70-year-old with a home worth $300,000 could get a lump sum of about $149,000 with a Saver, versus around $187,000 with a Standard loan. To calculate how much you may be able to borrow visit www.rmaarp.com.

Lender Fee Cutsyou also need to know that as a way to drum up business, many lenders today — like Generation Mortgage,

MetLife Bank, Bank of america, Wells Fargo and others — are waiving loan-origination fees and other upfront charges on some loans, which could also save you thousands of dollars. Most lenders, however, are offering these deals only to fixed-rate HECMs that require borrowers to take out a lump sum. The cuts are generally not available to adjustable-rate loans that can be taken as a line of credit or in monthly payments.

Required CounselingBecause reverse mortgages are very complicated, you’re required by the government to first meet with an independent counselor to make sure you completely understand how they work. Counseling can be done in person or over the phone and many counseling agencies today provide it for free or at a minimal fee. Some locations charge around $125. For more information on reverse mortgages, or to locate counseling agencies in your area, visit hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hecm/hecmhome.cfm or call 800-569-4287.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

6 . may 2011 . 50 plus!

thIngs to do50plus!May 1 | pinecrest historical Village opens for the season, Visit this wonderful turn of the century village with over 25 historical buildings from Manitowoc County, (920) 684-4445

May 5 | 41st annual of heart-a-rama begins, J.E. Hamilton Community House, Two Rivers, Community fundraising event to help support the American Heart Association. (920) 682-5586. Event is held May 5-7 and May 12-14.

May 6 | 28 Boat/largarto reunion, Wisconsin Maritime Museum. Remember those who built and served on Manitowoc’s submarines during WWII. Free. (920) 684-0218. Also runs May 7.

May 7 | sweetWater sea Concerts/ pickin’ up speed, 620 Park St., Manitowoc. This group of four musicians plays traditional bluegrass in the style made popular by Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys, 7p.m.

May 7 | uW-Manitowoc lakeshore Wind ensemble: an american salute, Come Fly With Us, A Century of Flight, Capitol Civic Centre. The ensemble pays tribute to the wonder of flight. 7:30 p.m., (920) 683-4733

May 7 | share the past Bus Tour, Heritage Center, County bus tour travels throughout the county, visiting interesting places that are often closed to the public. (920) 684-4445

May 7 | horse-a-rama, Manitowoc County Expo/Ice Center, horse demonstrations and clinics, vendors from the Midwest with horse products, crafts and equipment, parade of stallions, pony and wagon rides. Saturday entertainment by Oil Can Harry. Call Kay Trost at (920) 242-4416. Also May 8.

May 12 | “Chicago”:The Masquers, Inc., Capitol Civic Centre. With the right song and dance, you can get away with murder. Also May 13-14. (920) 682-1165

May 13 | Mishicot village rummage sale, Village of Mishicot, bargain hunters paradise. Lists of items and addresses available. (920) 755-3411

May 14 | hungry for history: A Slice of Manitowoc County, Manitowoc County Heritage Center. Discover a humorous side of our heritage with a presentation by the Palace of Reif Mills. A catered meal will follow. (920) 684-4445

May 20 | 35th annual Midwestern Model ship Contest, Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Modelers from throughout the country will fill the museum’s Riverview room with exquisite models for the weekend. Visitors can vote for their favorite model. (920) 684-0218; (920) 242-3245. Also May 21-22

May 26 | ss Badger Carferry sailing season begins, Arrives Manitowoc at noon, departs at 1:55 p.m., 1-800-841-4243

May 30 | Manitowoc Memorial Day parade and Ceremony, Eighth Street, parade at 9 a.m. and ceremony about 10:30 a.m. at the War Memorial. (920) 482-1643.

plenty of family fun is in store at the annual horse-a-rama event, May 7-8 at the Manitowoc County expo grounds. 50 plus file photo

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50 plus! . may 2011 . 7

crosswords: tv classIcsACROSS1. Wharton’s “The House of _____”6. Between id and superego9. done to shirt after it’s tied13. Hula dancer’s hello14. *”Scooby doo, Where are

___?”15. new Zealand resin-producer16. “none the _____”17. dog-___-dog world18. Radio sign19. *Everybody loves him?21. *Friday’s show23. Peyton’s Giant brother24. Food wrapper25. Tax helper28. *ashton’s wife, former “General

Hospital” soap star30. *Hagman was shot on this show35. nazi villain37. *Coleman, Bridge, Plato, Bain

of “different Strokes,” e.g.39. *_____ Park, where Eric, kenny,

Stan and kyle live40. ancient Peruvian empire41. Literary composition43. Site of Trojan War44. *”Growing _____”46. dance with leis47. a devilish place48. Cold-shoulder50. Count on52. “Rocky” creator53. Ready to eat55. Slight amount57. *”Cheers” spin-off61. king arthur’s castle65. klondike gold rush site66. Exclamation of surprise68. Clarence Thomas’ accuser69. Mack the _____70. knightly title71. dna is a double one72. Volcano in Sicily73. *___ arden, star of “Our Miss

Brooks”74. Old-time calculators

DOWN1. Bryn ____, liberal arts college

for women2. Hipbone3. Like happy people’s glasses4. *Will Smith performed his

show’s _____ song5. Maude’s unlikely beau6. Looked at7. India’s smallest state8. One up9. Euphemism for “darn”10. Chinese monetary unit11. Cleveland, OH lake12. Scoop on someone?15. Eucalyptus eaters20. *Marilyn to Lily Munster22. Relieve from24. Cranny25. *Ponch and Jon26. Subject to punishment by law27. american Standard Code for

Information Interchange29. *It ran longer than the war

itself31. Reluctant32. Fisherman’s decoys33. Circular island of coral34. Bashfully36. Crooned38. *”... a ____ of a fateful trip.”42. Site of 1945 allied conference45. Place of worship49. not a win nor a loss51. Japanese electronics

manufacturer54. as opposed to poetry56. Brightest star in Cygnus57. Type of fish net58. Smallest of a litter59. Related60. *Where “Friends” hung out?61. Center62. Snoopy’s original owner63. Like ear infection64. *about Sunshine Cab

Company67. T-cell killer

puzzle solution on page 13

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8 . may 2011 . 50 plus!

tai chi Instructor dedicated to helping seniors

By dEB HORn 50 Plus correspondent

dave Heimerl of Two Rivers didn’t know 16 years ago that he would be teaching tai chi classes. He took a tai chi class with his wife at the yMCa at that time, only because they were both interested in learning the ancient Chinese martial arts movements. However, he became hooked on tai chi and has been doing it ever since.

Heimerl first began with tae kwon do before learning tai chi.

“It started off when my family had a membership at the yMCa,” he said. “I would drop the kids off when they had tae kwon do and then I went out on the pier and did some fishing. after a while, the weather started getting bad and I started watching them do tae kwon do and thought, ‘Hey I can do this. It looks like fun.’”

So he joined a class at the yMCa and eventually switched over to Lakeshore Tae kwon do, taught by Mark Weber, where he earned his third-degree black belt.

“Eventually, my kids all dropped out for

one reason or another, but I kept at it, and eventually I became assistant instructor,” said Heimerl, 57.

after taking a tai chi class, again led by Weber, Heimerl was asked to help teach the class, and eventually Weber asked Heimerl to take over the entire tai chi program, which he did.

about five years ago, denise Larson from the Manitowoc Senior Center asked Heimerl if he would be willing to teach tai chi at the center.

“So I said I’ll give it a try, and I came over and gave a little demo at their monthly meeting,” he said.

There were enough people signed up to start classes. Heimerl now teaches a beginner class and an advanced class, twice a week for an hour. Each class has nine students enrolled. “We still have a couple right from the beginning

continue on page 9

Dave heimerl of Two rivers leads a class through tai chi exercises at the

Manitowoc senior Center recently.photos by sue pischke/50 plus

50 plus! . may 2011 . 9

continued from page 8

that attend,” he noted.

“For me, teaching is what it’s all about,” Heimerl said. “When they get it, the light bulb pops up and that’s what makes it all worthwhile.”

Yang StyleHe teaches the yang style short form of tai chi, which most people are able to practice to help them maintain good health. It concentrates on breathing and relaxation, posture, and flowing, natural movements.

“also, if you have arthritis, it helps fight the effects of that,” said Heimerl.

He starts off his classes by focusing on breathing. “Breathing is important. Then we start off with a gentle hand movement. you come up, inhale, hold your breath, go down and you exhale. It’s focused a lot on slowing things down,” he said.

“I try to keep the class at a pace where everybody is learning at the same pace. They like the fact that we repeat the moves over and over. There are times when they will ask me the practical application of some of the moves, and sometimes I can demonstrate that.”

There are approximately 78 moves in the yang style short form.

The beginner’s class concentrates on

breathing and learning the moves. Once class members know the moves and feel comfortable, he has them focus on the internal energy that is flowing inside them.

“The Chinese believe that if your internal energy is flowing freely without any blockages, that your body is able to heal itself,” said Heimerl.

Outside ActivityWhen the weather gets nice, he likes to take them on field trips to places like Schuette Park, the yacht Club grounds by Lake Michigan, or the Healing Garden behind the aurora Hospital. The Chinese movements are derived from nature, such as the fluidity of water, the motion of the stars, the stillness of mountains, and the movement and action of animals, so tai chi is often practiced out-of-doors.

He will often play relaxing music in the background such as the sound of waves or wind blowing through the trees to replicate the sounds of being outside.

“usually, they (students) are real mechanical when they first start off and their movements become more fluid later,” said Heimerl.

“I want everybody to be able to practice the form and get the best benefit that

they can get. By the time you get done with the whole form, your legs get a pretty good workout. as the muscles in your legs get exercised and get strong, that increases your balance.”

Heimerl believes anyone can do tai chi because they can learn the gentle, low-impact movements at their own speed.

He is not active in tae kwon do anymore. He has had two hip replacements, so his doctor told him

sparring would not be good for him. However, tai chi remains beneficial. “It forces me to work on my balance, on my breathing,” he said.

Heimerl works 40 to 48 hours a week as a spot welder at kohler Co. He used to work in the Manitowoc Shipyards as a welder.

Besides his busy job and teaching tai chi classes, he recently received his pilot’s license. He also likes to hunt and fish whenever he can in Sayner, Wis., at the family cabin.

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10 . may 2011 . 50 plus!

the perfect cup of coffee at homeaRa

Some might think the perfect cup of coffee is something that can only be found at a favorite coffee shop, but it is possible — and much more affordable — to brew gourmet-quality coffee right in your kitchen. The following brewing guide will help ensure you start every day off right with a delicious, bold and smooth cup of coffee brewed in the comfort of your own home.

n Regardless of what type of coffee maker you have, keeping it clean is the key to ensuring your machine is capable of brewing the perfect cup of coffee every time. Rinse the carafe and any removable parts with hot water and dry with a clean towel after each use to avoid build up.

n Choose your roast and don’t be afraid to try something new! While lighter roasts have a milder taste, a dark roast is a good choice for those looking for robust flavors. With its bold, yet smooth flavor and enticing aroma, a dark roast offers a nice change of pace to your morning ritual. If you’re looking to learn more about what different flavors and roasts have to offer, visit folgers.com or join the Wakin’ up Club for coffee recipes and other coffee-related information.

n The type of water used in brewing can also play a significant role in the flavor of your coffee. a good rule of thumb: if you enjoy drinking your tap water, it should work well in your coffee maker. Bottled and filtered water are great options but you should always brew your coffee with cold water for best results.

n Just as important as selecting a roast is making sure your coffee is properly packed and stored to preserve the flavor. Once opened, coffee is best stored in a sealed container and kept in a dark place. Folgers aromaSeal canisters are sealed to preserve freshness and the snap-tight lid allows you to lock in the aroma. never freeze coffee grounds. Freezing can break down the coffee’s natural elements leading to a less robust flavor.

n adding steamed or frothed milk to your coffee can be a real treat at home. The type of milk you use is up to you, but keep in mind that the fat content of the milk is what provides creamy flavor and texture. Heat your milk on the stovetop for best results and whip milk with an electric mixer, increasing speed as milk begins to thicken. Continue beating until foam doubles or reaches desired volume. Steamed milk will settle to the bottom. Foam will rise to the top.

n With the warmer days ahead, a homemade iced coffee can be a cool and crisp treat throughout the day. Save your morning coffee in the refrigerator then, when the day heats up, add cream, sugar and ice for a refreshing iced coffee beverage.

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50 plus! . may 2011 . 11

botox can remove ‘angry’ look

Question: a couple of my grandchildren recently, and out of nowhere, asked me why I am looking more and more angry and unhappy. a customer service co-worker once told me I have great facial expressions. Looking in my mirror tonight, I now see what they are seeing and I’m thinking of ways to retrain my facial expressions when I talk to prevent those angry looking wrinkles between my eyebrows. Can an old working grandmother be too old for Botox?

Answer: unfortunately, grandchildren and those morning mirrors tend to never sugarcoat the truth and they tell us their innocent perspectives on things without considering our feelings. Those great expressions in your face when you talk were great when you were younger. But as you grow older, those hard working face muscles have thickened and those deep wrinkles between your eyebrows have unmercifully stamped you with an inaccurate “angry mood” appearance.

There is no reason to attempt to change your great ability to express yourself to others when communicating at work or with your grandchildren. There is no known behavioral modification therapy to teach you to stop to use, or in your case to stop the overuse, your facial muscles when talking.

Botox is a great option for you since this treatment can relax those muscles in between your eyebrows without losing your characteristic expressive nature to your speaking presentation to others.

you may ask, “How is this possible if Botox really relaxes the muscles in my

face?” That’s where the art, or the science, of Botox treatments has advanced in the past 10 years and has allowed the Fda to approve Botox for specific face muscles, but not all face muscles that are responsible for one’s facial expressions. after a Botox treatment, you still would be able to lift your eyebrows, still be able to speak easily without missing a beat, and you would not become an expressionless person.

Botox is actually a genetically engineered protein that is injected into the dermis of the skin, and not usually into the muscles, using the tiniest of needles.

Botox is almost 100 percent effective and is totally safe and totally reversible. never have there been any reported serious side effects, or even a single death, with the minute amounts of Botox doses in the face.

a Botox treatment, and

its recently released sister drug dysport by another manufacturer, is great at significantly reducing moderate to severe wrinkles. at 52 years of age, and one who also overuses facial muscles when talking with excitement and flair, I have removed my thick cords of wrinkles on my forehead and between my eyebrows with Botox.

Whether you are 30 years old and wish to prevent wrinkles from ever developing or you’re 65 years old and want to look younger and/or without that angry look, Botox can be a life changing treatment. don’t let someone make you believe you are too old to do something for yourself to look better and/or feel better about yourself.

Dr. nolan hetz is the medical director at Youthful endeavor Medspa in Manitowoc, is a certified aesthetics consultant, and is board certified gynecologist. Call (920) 683-1800 or e-mail nolanhetz@yahoo.com.

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12 . may 2011 . 50 plus!

cooking for 2peanut butter chicken tendersingredients:

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon lime juice

1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 teaspoon minced fresh gingerroot

2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (6 ounces each)

1 cup shredded red cabbage

1 tablespoon finely chopped celery

1 tablespoon sunflower kernels

Directions:

in a small saucepan, combine the first eight ingredients. Cook and stir over medium-high heat for 3 minutes or until smooth. remove from the heat; set aside 2 tablespoons sauce for serving.

slice chicken lengthwise into 1-in. strips; thread onto metal or soaked wooden skewers. grill, uncovered, over medium-hot heat or broil 6 in. from the heat for 2 minutes; turn and brush with remaining sauce. Continue turning and basting for 4-6 minutes or until no longer pink.

place cabbage on a serving plate; top with skewers. sprinkle with celery and sunflower kernels. serve with reserved sauce.

Yield: 2 servings.

nutrition facts: 1 serving equals 421 calories, 21 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 94 mg cholesterol, 518 mg sodium, 17 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 43 g protein.

recipe and photo courtesy of Taste of home, www.tasteofhome.com

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50 plus! . may 2011 . 13

survey Finds most unprepared for retirementPRnewswire

nEW yORk — almost 40 percent of working americans say they will never afford retirement, which, for the second year in a row, ranks as the nation’s most important financial concern, according to a telephone survey conducted for the american Institute of Certified Public accountants by Harris Interactive.

More than half of working adults, 55 percent, say they don’t know how much they need to save to retire, according to the survey. Many who think they know are likely off in their projections. asked to estimate how much they needed to retire at age 65 and live for 20 years, those earning $50,000 to $75,000 annually said $250,000, at the median. assuming inflation and annual expenses of $50,000, that amount of savings likely would run out in less than 10 years.

“These statistics suggest we are on the verge of a retirement crisis in america,” said Jordan amin, chairman of the national CPa Financial Literacy Commission. “americans don’t know how to prepare for their twilight years, and many have put off figuring it out because they’re struggling to make ends meet now.”

Indeed, higher gas and food prices in particular are taking

a toll on family budgets, according to the survey of 1,005 adults conducted by telephone interview March 23 to 27 for national Financial Literacy Month in april. Six in 10 americans have changed their behavior to offset rising gas prices, according to the survey. and 48 percent have made adjustments to deal with higher food prices. More than half of americans, 56 percent, say they cannot save, tamping down consumer sentiment. Only 16 percent say they’re financially better off now than a year ago and 29 percent say they’re worse off.

all told, 9 in 10 americans currently have financial worries, but none ranks higher than retirement. It emerged as the top issue on a list of 16 possible financial concerns facing americans, ahead of uninsured medical expenses, the price of gas and rising education costs.

“Here’s the best advice I can give for retirement planning: Start!” amin said. “Set aside a $1 a day for an IRa, or $100 a quarter for a 401(k). It’s like losing weight. Small change adds up.”

The national CPa Financial Literacy Commission

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offers these tips to help get on track for retirement:

n Track your expenses now. Most people know what they spend on the big stuff — the mortgage

payment, the car payment — but they don’t have a good idea where the rest of the money goes. Track your expenses for three to six months. Then think critically about how those bills might change in retirement. Less dining out, perhaps. Or more air travel.

n Create projections. a financial planner can provide the most sophisticated analysis of how much you need to save, but online calculators can help you determine, based on anticipated expenses, how long savings will last. The retirement calculator on www.360financialliteracy.org in particular, can be helpful in calculating necessary savings. don’t forget to account for inflation.

n develop a transition plan. These days, few people turn 65 and stop working the next day. More and more, they’re transitioning out of the workforce-going part time at age 65, for example, or turning a side hobby into a business that can help supplement income in retirement. If you don’t quite have enough savings to let you kick back on the beach, think about part-time or consulting work that could help you transition from full-time employment to retirement.

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14 . may 2011 . 50 plus!

get ready for planting seasonaRa

Outside birds are singing and bits of green are popping up all around. as seasons change from winter to spring, the gardener’s mind quickly leaps to growing flowers and produce. Before getting out there and planting, follow these basic garden preparations to get the most out of this growing season.

JournalScotts Miracle-Gro gardening expert ashton Ritchie strongly recommends that every gardener keep a “garden journal.”

“My wife and I keep a garden journal so we know what we planted, when we planted and harvested, what problems we had to treat, what we used and how well it worked,” he says. “We start each growing season by reviewing last year’s journal.”

In fact, many successful gardeners, like ashton, take notes or keep journals. It can be as easy as taping seed packets into a small notebook or sketching out where the tulip bulbs are planted. keeping track of gardening experiences can simplify the gardening process, and will be an invaluable reference in the future.

Garden Design Whether planting a new garden or bringing life to an old one — a smart design is key. Light, water and space requirements vary from plant to plant — and region to region. Therefore, a well designed lay-out for a garden

can make the difference between a bountiful harvest and withering leaves.

From fancy landscaping software programs to simple charcoal sketches, creating a garden layout is a great way to plan the optimal design. a few measurements of the space and observations of the amount of sunlight or moisture will prove helpful in the planning process. Consider what the garden will look like from all angles to maximize enjoyment. In addition, seed packets, garden books, potting labels and nursery experts are always great resources on a plant’s growing requirements.

Plant SelectionVarieties of plants available in today’s

market are virtually endless. That is why seed catalogs are a priceless tool for any gardener. Leafing through these resources can make plant selection easy and fun. With a garden design and journal from last year in hand, it will be a cinch to narrow down the choices for this year’s garden. a successful gardener doesn’t have to grow all their plants from seed. Most nurseries offer a wide range of small herbs, vegetables, fruits and flowers to transplant directly into the garden. However, starting plants from seed does provide more variety, is usually less expensive and can grow plants that are more disease resistant. Selecting plants native to your region attracts wildlife and makes your garden a living visual experience.

Soil Amendmentnative soils and topsoils are not all created equal. Most will need a little boost to become fertile garden soil. a 3-inch layer of high-quality garden soil, such as Miracle-Gro Organic Choice Garden Soil, can be tilled into native soil to improve existing soil, add organic matter and help plants build strong roots.

amending soil will allow gardeners to grow beautiful flowers and bountiful vegetables naturally. Compost is another great source of organic matter for the garden. Create a compost bin and add leaves, lawn clippings, kitchen scraps, potting soil from last year’s containers and any other garden waste. Turn or aerate the pile once a month, and by next summer all that former yard waste will be nice organic material for your garden, and keep the refuse out of landfills.

Feed, Water and WeedOnce the garden is planted, feeding, watering and weeding are essential to the growth and survival of flowers and vegetables. Fortunately, you can prevent weeds and feed plants for up to three months with Miracle-Gro Shake ‘n Feed all Purpose Plant Food Plus Weed Preventer when placed onto soil before laying mulch. Even with proper feeding, a garden should still be monitored daily for water needs, depending on the amount of rain, sunlight and temperatures it receives.

MulchMulch is an often overlooked cousin of garden soil. Many believe mulch to be a strictly decorative item, but most gardeners know its true value. High-quality mulches look great while also helping conserve water and naturally preventing weeds by blocking growth and restricting access to sunlight. Mulch should be used around the base of plants and in beds, but can also be used to create pathways through a garden, making harvesting and watering easier. don’t forget that containers also benefit from a nice 2-inch layer of mulch.

With just a little planning, and a few easy preparations before the growing season, gardeners can reap the rewards come harvest time, and enjoy the beauty of the garden all season long.

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50 plus! . may 2011 . 15

Growing up, I thought my parents were just fine. They took good care of me, fed me, taught me some life lessons, disciplined me, then sent me on my way.

I had one mother and one father, and that seemed quite enough at the time. On occasion it even seemed too much.

My father, for instance, would leave a list on the kitchen table most Saturday mornings. Chores for the day. This began at an early age. Like 5. never too early to start helping out around the house, he’d say. I did not agree.

My mother’s only demand was that I pick up my room. The good news was she didn’t seem to really care if I did or not. We got along just fine. nothing clingy.

But now along comes a man in California who is promoting what he calls Parent dolls.

Here’s how they work: you take a photo of your face, slap it on the head of a plush doll, record a message inside the doll’s tummy, and your child carries you around all day while you’re away. (It’s up to you what you want to say to your child. you have eight minutes to say it.)

Have you ever heard of anything so perverse? Me either.

Good parents go away for periods of time. Like to work. Like to the grocery store. Like to Las Vegas.

the new Face of parenting Is creepyas a kid I liked to think of their time away as my down time. and when they returned and asked if everything was fine, I’d always say “Better than fine.” This always seemed to amuse them.

as for my father’s face on a doll’s head, I can’t imagine. The word “creepy” comes to mind. I’d have fled.

and what would he be telling me from the doll’s tummy? Get your chores done? I would have pushed that voice button but once.

The inventors of Parent dolls mean well, I’m sure. They say the child will bond even more with the parent if the “doll” is talking to them all day, encouraging them, comforting them.

I have a better idea: uncle dolls.

Much to my sister-in-law’s chagrin, I taught my niece and nephews dozens of things she and my brother never did. and we’re not just talking sex here, although that did come up. We’re talking bathroom humor. Bad dining habits. antisocial behavior. Things uncles know all about.

They’re too old for an uncle doll now, but what fun it would have been to record that eight-minute message 25 years ago. “Today we’re going to talk about the joys of the whoopee cushion ”

I had to do the next best thing. I told them directly. Old-fashioned, yes. But it worked perfectly.

Craig Wilson is a usa Today columnist.

cwilson@usatoday.com

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16 . may 2011 . 50 plus!