Mountain Views News          Saturday, March 23, 2013

12

THE GOOD LIFE

 Mountain Views News Saturday, March 23, 2013 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

LOOKING FOR LOVE AND COMPANIONSHIP ONLINE 

Dear Savvy Senior: What can you tell me about online 
dating for older people? My daughter has been 
urging me to give it a try, but at age 62, I’m a little 
hesitant. Lonely Senior 

Dear Lonely:

Dating sites have become enormously popular 
among the older generation in recent years. In fact, 
boomers and seniors make up about 20 percent of 
online daters today, and the numbers keeps growing. Here’s what you should know.

Meeting Online 

If you’re interested in dating again or are just looking for a friend to spend time with, dating websites 
are an easy way to meet hundreds of new single people without ever having to leave home. 

If you’re feeling hesitant, a good way to ease into it is to visit a few dating sites and look around. Most 
services allow you to check out their members at no cost or obligation. Then, if you like what you see, 
you can sign up (fees typically range between $15 and $60 per month, however some sites are free) 
and start emailing members you’re interested in or they can email you. Here are some other tips to 
help you get started. 

Choose a site: With over 1,000 matchmaking sites on the Internet today, choosing can be a bit overwhelming. 
Depending on your preferences here are some popular options to look into. 

If you don’t want to spend any money, free sites like PlentyofFish.com and OKCupid.com are good 
places to start, but beware that these sites have a lot of ads.

If you’re interested lot’s of choices, consider mainstream sites like Match.com and eHarmony.com 
which have huge memberships in all demographics. 

Or, if you are looking to find a specific type of person, there are hundreds of niche sites like OurTime.
com and SeniorPeopleMeet.com for those 50 and older, Alikewise.com for book lovers, DateMyPet.
com for animal lovers, VeggieDate.org for vegetarians, JDate.com for Jewish singles, BlackPeopleMeet.
com for African Americans, and ChristianMingle.com whose slogan is “Find God’s Match for 
You.” Or, check out AARP’s new dating website partner HowAboutWe.com. 

Create a profile: When you join a dating site you’ll need to create a personality profile that reflects 
who you are including recent photos, hobbies, interests, favorite activities and more. If you need some 
help, sites like eFlirtExpert.com or VirtualDatingAssistants.com can write one for you for a fee. 

Use caution: When you register with a dating site you remain anonymous. No one gets access to your 
full name, address, phone number or email until you decide to give it out. So be very prudent who 
you give your information to, and before meeting, chat on the phone a few times or video chat online, 
and when you do meet in person for the first time, meet in a public place or bring a friend along. If 
you want to be extra cautious, you can do a quick background check on your date for a few dollars at 
sites like valimate.com and mymatchchecker.com.

Don’t be naive: In an effort to get more responses, many people will exaggerate or flat out lie in their 
profiles, or post pictures that are 10 years old or 20 pounds lighter. So don’t believe everything you 
see or read. 

Make an effort: A lot of times, people – especially women – sit back and let others come to them. 
Don’t be afraid to make the first move. When you find someone you like, send a short note that says, 
“I really enjoyed your profile. I think we have some things in common.” Keep it simple.

Don’t get discouraged: If you don’t get a response from someone, don’t let it bother you. Just move 
on. There are many others that will be interested in you and it only takes one person to make Internet 
dating worthwhile.

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.

 
By Pat Birdsall

FYI - Well, I’m slowly getting back in the saddle again, to quote Gene Autry. I should have a 
Bird’s Eye View or a topic that will actually be of interest to seniors next week. All about Pat Birdsall 
is extremely boring…my apologies. 

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HELPFUL HINT: How fresh is it? The color-coded plastics tags or twist ties on 
loaves of bread not only help keep the wrapper in place but they also indicate what day of the week 
the bread was baked. 

 BLUE GREEN RED WHITE YELLOW

 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Friday Saturday

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FOR YOUR FUNNY BONE 

 I didn’t enlist in the Army- I was drafted. Because of that, I wasn’t going to make life easier for 
anyone. During my physical, the doctor asked softly, “Can you read the letters on the wall?” “What 
letters?” I asked slyly. “Good,” said the doctor. “You passed the hearing test.”

 ~ ~ ~

 A young lady came home and told her mother that her boyfriend had proposed but she had turned 
him down because she found out he was an atheist and didn’t believe in 

Heaven or Hell. “Marry him anyway dear.” Between the two us, we’ll show him just how wrong he is.”

 ~ ~ ~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! … March Birthdays…

 

 Sally Contreras, Karen Blachly, Carla Duplex, Ella Guttman, Viky Tchatlian, Mary 
Cooper, Georgina “Snooky” Greger, Sun Liu, Helen Wallis, Joan Crow, Nancy Fox, Nan 
Carlton, Martha Cassara, Carol Cerrina and Amy Putnam. *To add your name to this 
distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR of birth not required.

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Quote of the Week: A best friend is like a four leaf clover: Hard to find and lucky to have.

~AuthorUnknown

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ACTIVITIES: Unless listed differently, all activities are at the Hart Park 
House (Senior Center) 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre

YMCA San Gabriel Valley Intervale Senior Café: Monday-Friday at 12:00 Noon

(Participants are urged to arrive no later than 11:45 A.M.) 

All seniors 60 and up can take part in the lunch program. There is a suggested donation of $2.00 
for those 60 and over and $3.75 for non-senior guests. Daily reservations are necessary as space is 
limited. Please call 24 hours in advance...626.355.0256

 

Free Blood Pressure Testing: On the 2nd Tuesday of the month 11:00 am-12:00 pm: A nurse from 
Methodist Hospital, Arcadia volunteers to do the readings. No appointment necessary.

 

Bingo: Every Tuesday afternoon from 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm Cards are only .25c each! 

Free Chair Yoga: Every Wednesday morning from 11:00 am-11:45 am Volunteer Teryl Willis offers 
this class that focuses on senior yoga techniques. It is geared toward gentle movements, breathing 
techniques and balance improvement. No reservations are necessary.

Free Legal Consultation: Pasadena attorney Geoffrey Chin volunteers on the 2nd Wednesday of 
the

month. He focuses on estate planning, trusts, wills, probate, conservatorships and business law. 
*Appointments are a must! Please call: 626.355.7394 to make yours* Conflicting court schedules 
can 

 occasionally cause cancellations.

Free Income Tax Assistance: Wednesdays through April 10th from 1pm to 2pm Don Brunner will 
provide is available to all seniors for income tax consultation. Appointments are required, call 626-
355-7394.

Birthday Celebrations: The 2nd Thursday of the month the Senior Center celebrates the birthdays 
of our patrons at 12:30 pm. Please join us for free cake and ice cream and “celebration.” (The cakes 
are provided due to a generous donation from the Sierra Madre Civic Club.)

Game Day: Every Thursday at 1:00pm. Poker is usually the game of choice, or should I say chance? 
Board games and other card games are also available. Outside, on the patio, a beautiful, one-of-a-
kind chess table is anxious for players.

 

Free Strength Training Class: Every Friday from 1:00 pm -1:45 pm. Conducted by long-time 
volunteer, Lisa Brandley. The class utilizes light weights for low-impact resistance training. Weights 
are provided by the Sierra Madre Senior Center. It’s a great way to stay in shape and to socialize with 
your peers. (Gossip included)

Senior Citizens Club: Every Saturday at the Hart Park House (Senior Center). Brown bag lunch at 
11:30am; Club meeting at Noon; Bingo 12:30- 3:30 pm. Only .25c per card… For more information 
call Pat at 626.355.7290.

NEW CLASS - Hawaiian & Polynesian Dance: Starting Feb 25th, this six week introductory course will 
teach hand, hip, and feet movements for one full dance. Classes will be held on Mondays from 1:00pm 
to 2:00pm for six weeks. Sarongs and leis will be provided. Class taught by Sierra Madre resident Cheryl 
Mason.

AARP DRIVER SAFETY COURSE This class focuses on learning current rules of the road,

defensive driving techniques, and how to operate your vehicle more safely in today’s increasingly 
challenging driving environment. You’ll also learn how you can manage and accommodate common 
age-related changes in vision, hearing and reaction time. Manystates including California offer 
discounts on auto insurance rates for those who complete this course..

EXCURSIONS:

COMING UP: 

Jeopardy Taping at the Sony Lot Date: Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Description: Attend a taping of America’s favorite quiz show. Test your knowledge while host Alex 
Trebek challenges the contestants.

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SENIOR MOVIE PROGRAM: FREE movies are shown on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays 
of the month. The films, one contemporary and one vintage, are chosen by the seniors themselves. 

All movies are shown in Sierra Madre’s City Council Chambers, 232 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 


Dirty Work

 It’s finally spring! One of my chief pleasures of the season is walking around 
our beautiful community, inhaling the delicate scent of blossoming flowers. Some 
of my fellow walkers, however, are more attuned to the not-so-delicate odor of dog 
excrement left upon the sidewalk.

 I never really noticed the number of dog “calling cards” dotting our streets and 
sidewalks. However, now that it’s been brought to my attention, I’ve become keenly aware of a pile 
here, a pile there, and a log or two impeding the flow of foot traffic.

 While I’m not particularly bothered by having to dodge feces 
on my walk around the neighborhood, I can see why home 
owners would become annoyed by it. Living in an apartment, 
I don’t have a yard to maintain, and therefore never really need 
to confront the issue of animal droppings on my property. (An 
animal would have to go up upstairs and find my apartment 
number in order to deposit anything near my place. Perhaps an 
African Gray parrot or raven would be capable of such a feat, but 
they’re not typically one of the animals defecating on people’s 
lawns.)

 So, you wake up, walk outside, and realize something has 
relieved itself on your property. How can you tell if it was 
the innocent mistake of an animal (e.g., how was that coyote 
supposed to know you’d just had your lawn reseeded), or the 
carelessness of a pet owner (e.g., “Go ahead, Fido. If we can’t 
see them, they can’t see us!”). I don’t really think any pet owner 
has those exact thoughts, but sometimes their actions suggest it. 
For example, have you ever gone outside and discovered a piece 
of dog poo neatly bagged and sitting in your driveway? The 
implications are that the bagger was conscientious enough to 
contain the problem, but irresponsible enough to leave it behind. 
There’s probably a big ethical debate at the core of this scenario, but I leave it for greater minds to 
consider.

 At the end of the day, we’re left with the challenge of identifying those specific dogs who’ve 
messed people’s yards. The only way to fairly do this is to conduct DNA tests on the feces left behind. 
Apparently, New York has attempted this. I’m not sure of their rate of success. Of course, this 
necessitates that all dog owners register their dogs along with their dog’s DNA. However, asking dog 
owners to register their dogs and their dogs’ DNA is akin to “preaching to the choir.” The responsible 
people will register their dogs along with their DNA. These aren’t the people who randomly allow 
their dogs to relieve themselves on your lawn. These people actually pick up their dog’s droppings 
and remove them from your residence. The folks who leave piles (bagged or un-bagged) probably 
aren’t sitting up at night worrying about your lawn. 

 So, with spring coming into full bloom, I hope your enjoyment of the season isn’t contaminated 
with the foul smells of someone else’s pet. And if it is, I hope they’ve registered its DNA.


Save Money and Conserve Water!” 
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