Well Past 50: The Weblog of Boomerful.com

"As Seen on TV": Beauty Products Revealed

By Megan Manecke, Lifestyles Editor

As a woman you are bombarded daily with beauty advice from advertisements and infomercials. They claim to lift this, tuck that, and show off this. But from exercise machines to pills to shots of oxygen, how are women really supposed to know which product’s tag-line is true to its word?

According to Sam Naficy, a Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon, patients are often unaware of what at-home anti-aging treatments actually work and end up trying products after being swayed by the marketing hype. It seems like new beauty products and treatments are popping up hourly and women have to weed through the jargon to find out which products actually offer them what they claim to. Dr. Naficy has taken time to explain the latest anti-aging products and given his opinion on the effectiveness of some of the latest beauty products “As Seen On TV.”

Dr. Naficy reviewed a product called the Neckline Slimmer. How does it work? It targets and tones the underlying muscles of your neck, chin, and cheek area by applying gentle resistance. Dr. Naficy says, “As with any exercise, strengthening of those muscles will be apparent, however overall facial exercises show no proven results when it comes to curing sagging skin in these regions.”

The Glowelle Beauty Drink is described as having a powerful blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and botanical. Fruit extracts claim to nourish and hydrate the skin from within and help fight free radicals, known contributors to signs of aging. Dr. Naficy said, “Adding extra antioxidants into one’s daily diet is not a bad idea, however women who expect to see true anti-aging results from a beauty drink will be disappointed. Also, most beauty drinks contain calories, therefore are not suitable for all diets.”

Dr. Naficy also reviewed the Oxygenating Face Shot, it sprays atomized moisturizers onto the skin using a stream of pressurized oxygen in order to hydrate skin immediately, making the face appear smoother and plumper. “This treatment is nothing more than a passing spa trend as there is no strong evidence of oxygen’s effectiveness when it comes to anti-aging. The treatments are $500 a session and it takes six sessions to see results.”

Finally there is the Lunchtime Face Lift, yes a face lift. It is a 30-minute procedure involving a series of injections and a mini face massage in order to stimulate collagen growth and provide an increase in skin thickness. “Filler face-lifts are nothing new, however, are becoming easier and easier to fit into a woman’s active lifestyle. Although, not for everyone, most of my patients see a difference with effects lasting up to two years.”

Do you have any at home beauty remedies? Let us know we would love to hear from you!

 

 

My Three Foster Dogs: Beloved Members of the Nehlsen Family

by Nancy Nehlsen, Editor in Chief, Boomerful.com

I have spent most of my life as a foster parent: first with children, now with dogs. I thought the dogs would be easier. I was wrong. My foster kids came to me feeling abandoned, unloved and inappreciable. My foster dogs come to me as representatives of the very worst behavior that humanity has to offer.

I now foster three dogs at my home through K9 Kindness. Cesar’s family decided after eight years that he was expendable. Cesar spent days standing by the front door of my house, ready, and expecting, to go home. He paced uncontrollably and snapped if you approached him from the wrong direction. My daughter Jilly worked patiently to restore his confidence in people, and himself. Now he smiles when we come home from work, and lies quietly beside Jilly’s bed without any sign of his former neuroses.

Sam, a stunning 100-pound German Shepherd, was found emaciated in a crate, chewing on his own legs and tail. He runs in circles yelping, only calming when he is being petted.

And then there’s Oscar. Old, decrepit, and what most people would describe as less than beautiful, Oscar may have been used as a bait dog in fighting rings. He was found wandering by the side of the road, battle scars covering his body, one eye bulging, mattering and bright red. Our friends literally gasped at the sight of Oscar when he first came to us. But, looks aside, Oscar exemplifies spirit overcoming adversity.

Oscar ambles at a pace that allows me to simply walk ahead and stand in front of him if he decides to leave the yard, his short, stubby little legs rocking his body from side to side as he pants and snorts his way through life. Yet his hairless tail wags continuously, his smile never fades, and he tries like the dickens to jump like the other dogs when I come home from work.

We think Oscar is at an age where he may not be with us for long. We will truly miss him when he leaves us, for he brings joy to everyone he meets, and adds a dimension to our lives that wasn’t there before. He has shown us that despite what happens to one in life, positive spirit can overcome fear and anger and a lifetime of hurt.

Here is contact information for the K9 Kindness location I visit. I encourage you to work with a foster pet program near you. Believe me when I say: the experience will enrich your life.

http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/k9kindnessrescue.html
563.391.1908
k9kindness@mchsi.com

No Million$ for Bubbles: Florida Center Depends on Donations to Provide Home for Jackson’s Pal and Other Primates

Ever since world-famous performer Michael Jackson’s death, people have wondered whatever happened to his primate pal, Bubbles. Members of the media in this country and abroad have reported that Jackson left his beloved pet millions to assure his continued well-being. But unfortunately, that is not the case.

Bubbles is a resident of the Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, FL, and according to Director Patti Ragan -- who is a dear friend of Boomerful.com -- the Jackson family has never provided Bubbles with financial support. "Bubbles has been living at our sanctuary for nearly five years," Patti said. "We had hoped that at some point, someone in his organization would assist with the care of Bubbles at our nonprofit refuge, but unfortunately, that never happened. Mr. Jackson was an incredibly busy man, so I can only assume that his obligation to Bubbles somehow fell through the cracks."

Patti added that Bubbles was kept by Jackson until he was about age 5 or 6. Then Bubbles lived for years in a small cage in a trainer’s backyard until five years ago, when the trainer went out of the business of working great apes in entertainment. "We accepted this trainer's 16 chimpanzees and six orangutans at our sanctuary," Patti said. "Bubbles is 26 years now, and can live another 30-plus years."

According to Patti, the cost of care for each ape living at the sanctuary is well over $15,000 per year. "We are only supported by donations from individuals and a few grants from charitable foundations," she said. "Usually, the previous pet owners or trainers do not financially support the care of these very intelligent chimpanzees and orangutans."

To learn more and find out how to lend your support to the Center for Great Apes, please visit www.centerforgreatapes.org.

Got Silk?

What a lucky accident!  The PR firm for Relastin Eye Silk inadvertently sent samples of their product to both me and our Boomerful editor.  We both tried the product for two weeks and agreed enthusiastically that it is the best eye cream we have used that didn’t come from a physician’s office.  It actually does feel like silk when you apply the lotion.  It is not greasy or heavy, it just feels like smoothing silk under and over your eyes.

Since the two of us suffer from different eye-area concerns it was a great way to test for both dark circle and crow’s feet repair.  Both of our problems showed marked improvement.  The product  is pricey at anywhere between $55 and $69 online, so it’s difficult to spread the word that everyone should use it.  However, if you are suffering from dark circles, crow’s feet or puffiness, and don’t mind paying dearly to repair them, this is a product that beats any product I’ve purchased online or over the counter. 

Fighting Back At Stress

by Megan Manecke, Lifestyles Editor

The country is in a state of economic turmoil and people are feeling the pressure. Along with the concerns about the economy, there are always personal issues we all have to address. So what does one do when the stress piles on and there is no sign of relief?

According to PeopleJam.com there are some simple steps a person can take to lift the stress off their shoulders. These stress relievers reduce the strain of everyday worries. Taking action to include some of these things into our daily lives is a step in the right direction

Incorporating the right type of foods into one’s diet can be very effective. Almonds and fish are two foods that contain a number of B and E vitamins as well as minerals that help to increase the serotonin in the brain. An increase of serotonin improves one’s mood. Wholegrain pasta is another food that contributes to lower stress levels because it has a ‘slow carb’ effect. Which means the body digests slower and keeps energy levels normal, avoiding sugar crashes in the middle of the day.

Another simple stress reliever is running. Going for a run releases endorphins, a naturally-occurring hormone that attaches to the receptors in the brain and spinal cord to fight pain. Endorphins cause a euphoric feeling that improves the runner’s mood significantly. Running also raises one’s metabolism and improves cardiovascular health.

If all else fails, shout! However, try not to shout at the people around you. Instead drive to a remote location, get out of the car and just scream, yell, or cry. Once it is all out, drive back home and no one has to know. Shouting out anger and frustration is a great way to lower stress.

PeopleJam.com suggests other stress relievers like golfing, laughing, and even breaking things. Do you have an alternative way you let out stress? Let us know!

Shopping Secrets Exposed!

by Megan Manecke, Lifestyles Editor

As the economy slows, many experienced shoppers are hitting up their favorite department store sales racks. In times like these, it is perfectly okay to brag about the great deal you got a pair of shoes, pants, a purse, and so on.

“A sale is a retail store’s way of flirting with you. They are saying to you, ‘come into the store and see the bargains!’ It is very tempting thing to do, especially when you are trying to supplement your wardrobe,” says Janet Wood, style expert and founder of Fashion Fit Formula.

According to Wood, shoppers need to be aware when they are shopping the sales racks at higher end department stores because a lot of the time the sales items are not up to the quality of the non-sale items. “They are loss-leaders. Clothing sold at almost no profit to attract buyers into the location where they will then see the high profit clothing.”

So how is it done? The sale garment is not as nice as the full price merchandise but the cost of the sale item is not much lower than the regular priced product. Right next to the sales rack, there is a rack with better quality clothing at a higher price. So, the buyer (you) rationalizes that for just $30 more, you can get a better quality outfit.

So where can you find true bargains? Wood says when the seasons change, the unsold items’ prices go down. Also, invest in clothing that you will wear twenty times a season and make sure you pick a color that will not be “out” in a year. Evening wear is great but choose wisely, you don’t want to end up with an expensive outfit you will only wear once.

Lastly, you may be wondering, ‘what if this doesn’t fit me right but it is on sale!’ For this reason Wood invented the Fashion Fit Formula. The Formula is a mathematical system based on the 12 vertical measurements of a women’s body. The Fashion Fit Formula helps women to avoid closet guilt – for more information, please visit www.fashionfitformula.com.

Go ahead and try it out! Are you a bargain shopper? Have any advice for the rest of us? Let us know!

'Child Stars' Retire to Florida: Performing Great Apes Have a Place to Call Home

by Megan Manecke, Lifestyles Editor

Have you ever wondered what happened to the title character of the 1996 movie, Dunston Checks In – you know, the hairy orange performer with the long arms? That movie was made 13 years ago. Where is that once-famous orangutan now?

TV and movie viewers are accustomed to watching great apes perform in movies, TV shows, and commercials. But most people do not know what happens to these animal actors once they’ve passed their prime. Great apes start becoming unpredictable to work with around the age of seven, and have to be retired. However, they live to be forty to fifty years old – and then where do they go?

Sammy, the star of Dunston Checks In, also appeared in The Flintstones in 1994, as well as the Planet of the Apes remake in 2001. Sammy was retired from his acting career when he became too dangerous to handle, and he is currently living at the Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, Florida.

“Sammy became a breeder and ended up in a backyard in a small cage. Now he lives in a huge three-story enclosure with his mate, Geri,” said Patti Ragan, founder of the Center for Great Apes.

Sammy and Geri have a son named Jam. Their baby was separated from them so that he, too, could be trained to work in commercials, TV shows, and movies. In March 2005, Jam came to the Center for Great Apes and was reunited with his mother.

Tango is another performing orangutan who has starred in ads for Tang, Budweiser, and appeared in the 2001 movie, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. She came to the Center for Great Apes in 2004, after being retired at seven years old. A chimpanzee named Ellie came to the center after starring in the successful CareerBuilder.com ads that aired during the Super Bowl.

From the Circus to the Lab
Sadly, not all great apes in the entertainment industry are retired directly to a center that will take care of them. Chipper, a chimpanzee, was born in Africa in the early 1970s. He was caught and sold to a circus trainer at the age of two. After performing for ten years in the Ringling Brothers Circus, he was sent to a bio-medical research lab in New Mexico. In 1985, Chipper was sent to a roadside zoo for retired performing circus animals in northern Florida, and after being moved around several times to other small facilities, finally arrived at the Center for Great Apes in 2000.

The Center for Great Apes is more than just a refuge for retired “entertainers” – it also includes orangutans and chimpanzees who were privately owned as pets. One chimpanzee came to the center after living in a cage in a backyard for 30 years. Denyse had lived on a diet of marshmallows, pizza, and beer, and the staff at the Center had to wean her off her addiction to alcohol. In 2006, Linus, Kiki, and Mickey – two adult orangutans and a chimpanzee – arrived at the Center after living in a garage for ten years, in cages that were too small for them.

“Denyse lived with an elderly couple for 35 years in a very restrictive enclosure. She wasn’t well cared for and doesn’t like other chimps. They are done a disservice when raised as people,” Ragan said.

Why Not Zoos?

It may seem like zoos would be the logical place for the retirement of great apes. But unfortunately, many apes that are in the entertainment industry or privately owned cannot be sent to accredited zoos, due to a lack of experience and interaction with their own species.

“Zoos won’t take them because they don’t know the proper behaviors of their own kind.” Ragan said. “Normally, baby chimps and orangutans stay with their mother until they are eight or nine. When an infant is taken away from their mother so young, they do not learn how to communicate or act like normal chimpanzees or orangutans.”

Patti Ragan, the founder of the Center for Great Apes, began volunteering with wild orangutans in 1984 in Borneo. She helped orangutans that had been captured by rehabilitating them before releasing them back into the wild.

In 1990, Ragan was volunteering for a small attraction in Miami that had orangutans and chimpanzees that were being sold to the entertainment industry. She was helping to care for two great ape infants – an orangutan and a chimpanzee – but she disliked the idea of great apes working as entertainers. She decided to start her own shelter when she could not find a home for the two great ape infants in her care. In 1993, she founded a nonprofit organization, and a few years later found a perfect location for her refuge.

“In 1990, there were no sanctuary facilities for orangutans… and only one or two places for chimpanzees. I wanted a secure home for them when they left the entertainment industry. So, after selling my small business in Miami, I was able to find a place to start a sanctuary,” Ragan said.

The Center for Great Apes has grown significantly in the past 15 years. It now has a total of 42 residents – 28 chimpanzees and 14 orangutans, ranging in age from four to fifty years old. Since orangutans and chimpanzees are retired at age seven, they need a secure place to call home. That place is not a roadside zoo or a research lab. There are many more great apes in desperate need of a place to retire, but the Center is currently at maximum capacity. Ragan wants to expand her facility to accommodate more great apes.

“It costs a great deal of money to take care of the apes. They need food and vet care. There are a lot of others on the waiting list but every time we take more apes, we need to expand our budget. Right now, we need money for another enclosure,” Ragan said.

There is a way for you to help. Donations can be made to the Center for Great Apes, and you can become a member. Members receive a subscription to the Center’s newsletter and are invited to the annual Spring Member Day. There are different levels of membership, and at the highest level of support, you can stay overnight at the sanctuary. There is also an adoption program – the first level of adoption makes you an automatic member for one year. Also, when you adopt one of the great apes, you receive a certificate and a framed photo of the great ape you will be helping.

To learn more about Center for Great Apes, please visit www.centerforgreatapes.org. 

Do you contribute to or otherwise help an animal charity? If so let us know! 

AminoGenesis Counter Clockwise: The Eyes Have It!

 

Product Review by Nancy Nehlsen, Boomerful.com Editor-in-Chief

I am always suspicious of eye creams. I don’t believe they can magically make those inherited dark circles disappear or erase all those fine lines that I've nurtured over the years.

When AminoGenesis sent a sample of their eye product, Counter Clockwise, I expected little. But after using it for three weeks now, I can report that I am pleasantly surprised. The product is light and non-greasy, so I don’t mind using it morning and night. The fine lines are definitely diminished and I honestly think under-eye circles are less noticeable. The entire AminoGenesis line shows promise, and I would definitely purchase the Counter Clockwise for continued eye care.

Visit www.photolagen.com for more information on AminoGenesis products.

Sorry, Sarah! Real Women Don't Shoot Wolves

An Editorial by Nancy Nehlsen, Editor-in-Chief, Boomerful.com

The day after the Republican Convention, I fully expected to awaken to an entire country of women who were either chuckling to themselves over the silly choice made by John McCain, or outraged by his insulting attempt to manipulate women in order to gain their vote for the Republican ticket.

"Women aren't stupid," I told myself. "We have waited a long time to see a woman in one of the top two positions of power in America. You can't exploit our craving by giving us a woman totally incapable of doing the job."

I was wrong. It seems the country is totally enthralled with a woman who is pretty, has five children and shoots wolves from a helicopter. None of which I find to deserve admiration – especially shooting wolves. I know a lot of pretty women who have given birth, can deliver a fiery speech from time to time, and don’t mind lying when it suits their purpose.

I have been a feminist since the seventies - raised my son alone, started my own business at age 23 and successfully resisted interference from any man in business or personal matters. I spent my twenties raging against the sexist systems of business and government. I hired only women in my business for many years to give them the opportunities they were denied elsewhere. I taught my daughter that she can do anything she sets her mind to, and doesn't need a man in her life to be complete. No one on this planet has wanted a female in power more than me.

The problem is, if we put ANY woman in power - say, one who has no experience in foreign affairs, and has only presided over an administration that governs less people than reside in the city of Memphis - we risk losing all we have fought so hard to gain. We have lost our fight to be taken seriously. Glamour has taken over as this country's number one priority, and glamour always fades.

If we are to move ahead as women, we must fight to put women in power who have proven themselves as leaders, not as lovely icons for feminine allure. The very fact that a joke is circulating that women want to be her and men want to do her speaks volumes about the lack of actual respect she commands. We need women who are taken seriously as knowledgeable, capable commanders - not mocked on the Internet with Photoshopped pictures of them wearing a red, white and blue bikini while pointing a rifle.

I was insulted by John McCain's choice. But I am more insulted by my sisters and fellow feminists falling for such a cheap trick designed to distract them from the very serious business of voting for issues that matter, and get them to fall in love with a Cinderella story.

We have two competent men running for President of the United States. Their stand on the issues that matter - education, taxes, stem cell research, the war - are the things we must weight before we vote. Whether a woman is on the ticket along with these men should have no bearing on your vote.

We'll get a woman in the top slot next time.

Faces of Fear

A Personal Essay by Boomerful Reader Anna Petrick

---------------------------

Each stage of life brings with it a set of fears - both seen and unseen.

That chubby-cheeked four year old may fear the dark; mamma leaving the house without him; and bugs and the big collie next door. The first day of kindergarten holds its own fears: "How will the teacher know my name?"; "I won't know where the bathroom is."; "What if some kid takes my snack?" Fearful indeed for a four- or five-year-old.

 

The kindergarten years soon become the teen years and a different set of fears surfaces:  "Will the other kids think I'm a loser?"; "Is this outfit dumb?"; "Will Mr. Larson give me a detention if I don't hand in this report?"

The teen years evolve into marriage for many and this brings yet other fears. The excited bride-to-be fears her wedding dress may not be ready on time, or she gains a few ounces and is afraid the dress will no longer fit.  The groom-to-be is afraid he will lose the rings or he will forget where he is to stand when the big day arrives.

Maturity - some call it old age - arrives and the face of fear changes yet once more: "Are those wrinkles?"; "Is that a grey hair?"; "That scale can't be right!"

Having survived these life stages and accompanying fears, I am now at the late, late boomer stage and the face of fear has almost disappeared from my life. I know where the bathroom is every place I go; I live alone and there is no one to take my snacks; I have lived so long with wrinkles they are like old friends. And it is no longer worth the cost to color my hair; I simply leave it as it is.

My one abiding fear now wears the face of Alzheimer's Disease. And I know that face well. I watched a sweet, gentle younger sister leave the family circle at the age of 55 because of Alzheimer's. I saw an older brother become a mindless infant before his death from this disease. And a beloved sister now is enduring many of the symptoms of this disease.

Statistics tell me that with my family history I am at risk for the development of Alzheimer's. But statistics also tell me there is much I can do to hold it at bay. Along with good nutrition, keeping the mind busy is believed to be a hedge against this illness. So keeping my mind busy now is my number one job.

The local libraries feed my love of reading, as do the two daily newspapers that arrive at my door each morning. I expect my mind to solve the three crossword puzzles printed in the papers, as as well as some from the endless supply on the Internet.

 

My computer works overtime helping me fill in the blanks in the family genealogy I’ve been working on since 1976. And believe me, the mind of anyone doing genealogy gets a workout, matching names and dates to family generations!

Travel, it is said, broadens the mind. Trips in the United States and several countries in Europe have given me much pleasure. Perhaps, in traveling, the necessity for the mind to remember flight times, hotel room numbers, and the difference in value between US and foreign currency may help broaden the time between a healthy mind and Alzheimer's.

Bed time does not always mean rest for my mind; I do not allow my mind to keep regular hours. Paper and pencil are always on the bedside table as the "wee hours of the morning" are prime working times when I'm in the grip of a new poem. Often just the right word or right line or right title calls out to me from the blackness of the night.

If someday Alzheimer's disease does come knocking at my door, I can face it in the knowledge I did all I could to keep my mind whole for as long as I could.