Hi All! I'm new here. Was doing a Google search for Baby Boomer sites and landed here. There's a lot to explore.

I'm from Colorado--anyone else?

I've also found the Boomer site NABBW.com and want to ask if anyone here is a member?

I'm hoping to gain a lot of info from both sites.

Oh I also came across Boomernet.com that has Dotsie's column. Is that also one of the sites associated with this one?

Thanks!

Hi Peg,
Welcome again! Yes, many of us are members of the NABBW. Dotsie Bregel, the founder of NABBW, also runs this forum. I think these are Dotsie's only websites, but she is now considered a baby boomer expert and you will find her name/columns/insights across the web.

I know we have a few Colorado members, but I'm not sure how active they are. Here's the website of Sharon; we met in Vegas on a boomer weekend last spring: http://www.la-isha.com/

There is also "Princess Lenora" - doesn't she live in Colorado girls? She was into real estate and I'm not sure what direction she's chosen to move at this time.

And many members are writers/authors/editors (or wannabees) so there's lots of experiences to draw from if you're interested in that.

Oh yes, my son is stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, and coming home for the holidays - can't wait to see him!!

What type of work do you do?

I work in the Accounts Payable Dept. at our local Community College. I've been in this dept. for over 3 years, but have actually worked for the College for going on 8 years. We went live on a new computer system in July so that has made our jobs WAY interesting!

I'm glad to hear that your son will be home for Christmas! That is so awesome.

My daughter and SIL will be home for Christmas this year as well so I am SO EXCITED! They live in New Mexico, but may be moving next year--hopefully back to Colorado.

We also have an adult son--who still lives at home, having lost his job. We are trying to get him to put in more job applications but there aren't a lot of jobs out there right now. The economy/jobs outlook is kind of scary everywhere.

Welcome, Peg!

I'm new to this site as well. From Michigan. There is a store in Grand Haven, Michigan named the Calico Cat and at first glance I thought that was who you were!

I wish your son luck on the job hunting. You're right...jobs are scarce everywhere; we're feeling it here in Michigan.

That would be great if you dd and SIL move back close to you!

Dancing Dolphin, thanks for mentioning the Princess. You are right: I don't know what direction I am going in. Maybe just round and round. Yes, I live in Colorado Springs. Somewhere along the line I missed the fact that your son is stationed at Fort Carson. When I was in real estate, I had the honor of helping several soldiers buy homes in CO Springs while stationed at Ft Carson. However, the trend has changed so that fewer are buying, more are renting. Even "set in stone" orders do not seem to be reliable. I had real lessons on how the military families are uprooted on a frequent basis. Calico, are you near CO Springs?

Welcome aboard, and thanks DD for sharing about the NABBW and BWS.

Kate, I also have a son who is unemployed as of a few days ago. Fortunately, he has a good severance package so he should be good for a few months, but jobs are hard to find in the finance market these days. It may take longer than three months, but I sure hope not. He lives in the city and I think it would be sad if he had to rent his home and boomerang back with us. Not that I wouldn't want him here, but he's way too happy being out on his own.

Danita is another member who is in Colorado. Oh Danita, where are you?

Hi Sistas and a big welcome to fellow Coloradoan CalicoKate!

Sorry for not checking in much lately...Been busy working 19 hr days launching/promoting La Isha and wearing many different hats (each one of them seems to be a full-time job in itself!) Thank goodness for my itty bitty little 5 lb. rescue yorkie Tinkerbelle: she lets me know when it is time to come up for air! I adopted her last May after I got a call from Yorkie Rescue of Colorado...They told me that they had just found a blonde, female 7-8 yr old (my age range in dog years) who was dumped by her family after many years and put in a kill shelter. Ohmygosh! Blonde, female, 50-something, dumped...A kindred spirit! How could I say no? We've been fast friends ever since. LOL! (Does anyone know how to upload a picture of her here?)

Speaking of friends, I did speak to Danita last week and it sounds like things are going okay for her...she's just busy like the rest of us, trying to move forward and stay motivated and positive in this economy. And I do send and receive private emails from some of my other awesome BoomerWomen sisters. Haven't heard from Chickadee in a while though...how are you doing cutie? Made the move yet?

This is my first year as an empty nester and I am really looking forward to having both my boys home for the holidays. My youngest arrives tomorrow and my eldest on Thursday. Should be a nice spot of warmth in this frozen tundra that used to be temperate Denver - it was 15 below when I got up this morning. Brrrr!

Sending you all a great big hug and much holiday cheer! Will try to stay in touch more often...


Hugs,
Foundhervoice-atlast
La Isha - created for women by women

Hey girl, nice to see you here. I cannot PM anyone for some unknown reason and I can't receive any either. So when is La Isha on the market?

Hey cutie! Good to hear from you!

Thanks for asking about La Isha...We went live on the web about 3 weeks ago, and introduced the first 2 organic anti-aging products from the skin care line for sale directly on the website. We've been getting a lot of attention, especially about Breast SOS (word of mouth, I guess) and are preparing some formal press releases that will go national after the holidays. Very exciting, and very gratifying as well.

Kathy mentioned that you are going to move...or have already? Not too far from the casinos, I hope, otherwise you may have to find a new "hobby"!

When are you coming out my way?

Foundhervoice-atlast

Wow, how exciting so many voices returning after an absence for one reason or another. How far is Colorado Springs ladies from Loveland/Fort Collins area?

Yuhoooooooo! Hi Sharoonnnnnnnnn!

Hi Princess Lenora, I live in Pueblo so we are "neighbors"! What a small world.

Yes, there are a few from CO here. Chatty, Loveland/Ft Collins is about a 2.5 hour drive from Colorado Springs. I'm guessing. Depends on who is driving, lead foot DH, or slow poke me.

Hi SpeakerMom, yes it is a picture of my beautiful little CalicoKate, whom I adopted in 1991 on the day of my Dad's funeral. Sadly I lost her in January 2004. She was very special to me since she reminded me of my Dad.

I hear you about the mess of remodeling. We remodeled our kitchen this summer--totally gutted it. What a huge project! Luckily my husband is retired so he could devote the days during the week to "the project". Of course, that meant my weekends were spent tearing out walls, old cabinets, old oak flooring, etc. I'm glad to say it is mostly complete now--just a few small things that need to be done such as baseboards, a little touch up painting. But we have a lot more storage now. And a modern kitchen, so it's been worth it.

I suppose you are coming to Denver in June? Lots to see and do in the big city.

Lots of old and new connectins going on. How fun.

Sharon, It's great to hear all your latest. I forgot about you being an empty nester. How's that going? And are you still dancing? You gals should see her dance. She and Meredith were the hits of the dance floor in Vegas. Yes, even in Vegas.

Meredith ahs been working 80 hour weeks and will be back when business slows down.

Hey Dotsie and Her Majesty the Queen Jaw Jaw! (Fanfare...) Sure do miss you gals...am looking forward to the next reunion!

Nope, I haven't been dancing lately. Like Meredith I've been working around the clock, putting in 19 hour days consistently so there hasn't been much time for dancing. When I went to St Louis to visit my son at school he took me to his swing dance club and it was so much fun that it really made me miss mine (I used to go dancing 3 times a week!). My poor body REALLY misses it...I have put on 10 pounds since I stopped! Argggh!

The empty nest thing was tough for me initially but would have been much worse if I didn't have a new business to grow. I also started a weekly meditation circle with a small group of like-minded women, started a once-a-month dinner group for women in influential positions who would like to affect positive societal change for the next generation of young women, and in-between do a lot of social networking for business. I'm not doing any dating...guess i haven't been divorced long enough to crave doing someone else's wash yet. LOL!

My youngest child is only 45 minutes away so he pops down to Denver when he needs a little home cooking and TLC (tender loving care) and I stop by to see him in school when I am up in his neck of the woods. I don't get to see my eldest very often but we either talk over the phone or skype each other almost every day, and that helps a lot. And of course the kids come home for breaks and vacations. The state of their messy rooms serve as a comforting reminder to me that in their minds this is still their home!

How did y'all first handle it when your little birdies flew the coop?

hugs,
Foundhervoice-atlast

Sharon, good to hear you again. Yes, for all you poor mortals who missed our Vegas get-together, she and I OWNED the dance floor LOL!

Congrats on getting the website up and running! I know your business has been in development and planning for a while, and it's great to see it go live! Your meditation circle also sounds very positive.

November I worked 70 hours/week and December it upped to 80. Finally done with the worst of it! As soon as I catch up on my sleep, I plan to unearth my house from its seasonal mess. Maybe even clean. Maybe even repair... no, I don't want to get too ambitious here.

I missed almost 2 months of working out: 3-1/2 weeks because I was coughing that long; and then the 80-hour insanity. My weight is holding but I feel like sludge on a rock.

Sharon, you were wise to have your business in the swing before the kids left the nest. It's given you a passion outside your family which I think is what all of us need. Our daughter was only about a half hour or so away so we saw hwe often too. So much for the empty nest though, because she's going to be living home this semester, which I think is actually a good thing.

I can't believe you haven't been dancing, but do beleive you've gained 10 pounds. Dancing is such good exercise.

Meredith, it's great to hear your voice again. I reported at one time that you were working 80 hour weeks and that you'd be back soon.
I went to a Christmas party wearing the jewelry Georgia gave me that you made, and there were two other women there wearing jewely of yours that I gave them. Isn't that wild? Needless to say, I thought and spoke of you that evening. Fun, fun.

That is too cool! I feel almost famous!

no wonder with so many butying and weering your jewlarie you are famise by sounds of it

hellow calicokate just getting round to saying hi to you now.

nice reading about your stuff and i sure you be welcomed and happie heer.

woopsiedaisy

I wanted to send a message, and it got in here by mistake. hmmm too much Christmas punch in my blood.

The fact that you live in California makes you an even more famous jeweler.

Welcome CalicoKate! I lived in Colorado Springs '93 to '97. I bet some of you CO gals could spend a day touring the Broadmoor, Zoo, Old Colorado City, the Garden of the Gods, Van Briggle Pottery, to name a few!

Oh my Meredith, you are famous in our eyes and for more reasons than the gorgeous quality jewelry you crank out...

Thanks Chatty, even though it isn't cranked HAHA. I know you know what I mean, and vica versa

Hey speaker, how's the college break going?

Speaking of my spreading fame (better than my spreading rear, huh?) lots of tourists at the market today and Meredith's jewelry is going home to Atlanta, St. Louis, and Germany. Of course, everyone got a business card with websites.