I SPEAK FROM 78 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND REALLY MESSED UP.

THERE ARE FOUR CONSIDERATIONS TO RETIREMENT: HEALTH, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL; FINANCES; LIFE-STYLE; SPIRITUALITY.

HEALTH:

You must prepare to retire in good health and start preparation yesterday.

Smoking is a sure way to early demise.

Obesity can be controlled with self dicipline. Not to sue McDonalds.

Sex is good for mental health and can be done with Viagra or penile implant, unless you're lucky.

You can live a good life with chronic disease as I have being diabetic for 61 years. It is totally your responsibility.

Be sure to regularly follow up all medical appointments.

Follow directions and take medications as prescribed.

Excersize with a disciplined regimen. You may push the limits.

Walk, jog, play tennis, swim and even marathon if possible.

FINANCES;

Start to prepare early, 401K, IRA, savings or investments.

FDR never intended social security to totally finance retirement.

Stay married, it's too expensive to fool around. Example, Florence was a good housekeeper, she got to keep the house, and etc. for three times.

LIFE STYLE;

If the first two items are accomplished, now is the time to do what you have always wanted to do.

You now have time to fish, golf, travel, write (letters to editor), involve in politics and many more.

When you turn seventy, you get by with alot more because of senility.

After retirement you will be too busy to have any spare time.

Husband and wife will need some personal time, but don't overdo it. I do it by going to White Castle in the morning and getting involved in political campaigns.

Fourth and by no means least is SPIRITUALITY;

Spirituality progresses with age.

Religion enhances spirituality as do other happenings that we experience.

Regarding President Bush's proposed plan to improve health care. The president made a proposal. If the Democrats don't like its details, they can change it. To simply ignore his proposals is a disservice to the nation.

Some Democrats oppose his proposal because "it won't solve the nations health-care problems." Of course it won't. No single measure will. But it would be a meaningful step in the right direction.



The president put a ball in congress's court on an important issue. They should keep it in play. Any refusal to do so is a bad omen for broader reform on health or any other issue.

Senators Coleman and Klobuchar say they will keep the controversial DM&E railroad expansion out of the heart of Rochester.The trains involved would be hauling coal for power plants from Wyoming thru the center of Rochester and close to Mayo Clinic. A Rochester grass-roots coalition made up of the city of Rochester and Mayo Clinic, headed by Patrick Connolly and Associates, will do their best to block the project. For questions or comments, PCon can be reached at 612-669-2296. The Federal Railroad Administration determined the DM&E project has met federal environmental review process requirements and must now approve or reject a $2.3 billion loan for the project. During a conference call Sen. Norm Coleman, who has called for mitigation to ease the concerns of the city, sez he'll use "every power that I have as a U.S. senator...in addition to legislation, and individual senators can make it very difficult for the department. Sen. Amy Klobuchar sez she and Coleman are "pledging to do everything we can do to stop this." The total cost of the project is $6 billion to upgrade 600 miles of track and 280 miles of new track for coal trains. This would require a $2.3 billion loan from the U.S government. "This is an unsafe railroad, and this is an unsound request for the use of public money" sez Glen Forbes CEO of Mayo Clinic and they should make the railroad's loan application public. HELP STOP THIS LOAN AND SUPPORT OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION BY SIGNING AN ONLINE PETITION at www.dmetraintruth.com.

I Corinthians 13:1-3. If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Diana sez... 'Rubber stamps don't make any noise", and may I add, nor do rubber stamps accomplish anything.This was her reply to charges of being behind much of the fireworks in Maplewood. Diana's brand of fireworks is what keeps Maplewood alive. To add insult to injury, Monday Pioneer Press had article titled Gladstone Housing Gets Into High Gear but failed to mention the name Diana Longrie as the person responsible for this.