The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

What were the best and worst consumer experiences you had this week?

Recently, I launched a best and worst consumer experience feature on The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide.

I think looking weekly at these experiences helps us learn from our successes and mistakes.

Here are my most and least successful consumer transactions for this week:

My best consumer experience: Getting a good price on a new blazer

 

When I went shopping at the Gap with my daughter, I didn’t expect to buy anything for myself. However, I need some new blazers. So when I saw one I liked, I slipped it on. It fit, but the price was too much – $99.

My daughter mentioned she had a special card from the Gap that gave her 30 percent off for items not on sale and an additional 15 per cent off for sale items. That would make the blazer $70. That sounded better.

We found out when the blazer was rung up that it was on sale. With the additional 15 percent off, the price was $45. A real deal. I was happy.

My worst consumer experience: Confusion at the movie theater

My daughter and I arrived right on time for the movie at 10:45 a.m. However, no one was available to take the money for our tickets. An employee was fooling around with the design of the straps on post that show people where to line up.

After about five minutes, six people went inside to the customer service desk to buy tickets. I followed them. After a few minutes, my daughter came in, too. Then the employee who has been unhurriedly messing around went to open a ticket window. The family behind us in line at customer service dashed ahead of my daughter before she could get back to the ticket window.

Then as we approached the ticket taker inside, the first in a group of about a dozen kids got ahead of us. 

We skipped the popcorn, so we made it in time to see most of the previews and the opening of the movie.

It certainly was a strange experience to not have an employee ready to take your money at movie time.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

The Academy Awards and baby boomers

The Academy Awards were disappointing to me this year.

I was rooting for “Frost/Nixon” to win best picture.

I didn’t appreciate the fact that “Slumdog Millionaire” won best picture and so many other awards.

As I blogged earlier, I don’t think that movies that feature torture are anything to brag about or hold in such high esteem. It was a very violent movie.

Two baby boomers won big: Danny Boyle, 51, Director, “Slumdog Millionaire” and Sean Penn, 47, Best Actor, “Milk.”

Other boomers winners are:

• Best Cinematography, Anthony Dod Mantle, 53 – “Slumdog Millionaire”

• Best Documentary Feature, James Marsh, 44 – “Man on Wire”

• Best Foreign Language Film, Yojiro Takita, 52 – “Departures”

• Best Visual Effects, Craig Barron, 46 – “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

There may be other boomer winners. These are all I could find the ages for.

Younger actresses and writers won many of the awards.

Prior to the Academy Awards, AARP developed a list of what it thought are the best movies, actors, and actresses from 2008 for baby boomers in its "Eighth Annual Movies for Grownups" Awards.

AARP's categories and winners are:

• Best Movie for Grownups – "Frost/Nixon"

• Best Grownup Love Story – "Last Chance Harvey"

• Best Intergenerational Film – "The Visitor"

• Best Comedy for Grownups – "Ghost Town"

• Best Documentary – "Man on Wire"

• Best Foreign Language Film – "The Edge of Heaven"

• Best Buddy Picture – "The Family That Preys"

• Best Movie for Grownups Who Refuse to Grow Up – "Iron Man"

• Best Actor 50 and Over – Frank Langella, "Frost/Nixon"

• Best Actress 50 and Over – Meryl Streep, "Doubt"

• Best Supporting Actor 50 and Over – Bill Irwin, "Rachel Getting Married"

• Best Supporting Actress 50 and Over – Christine Baranski and Julie Walters, "Mama Mia!"

• Best Director 50 and Over – Gus Van Sant, "Milk"

• Best Screenwriter 50 and Over – J. Michael Straczynski, "Changeling"

• Breakthrough Accomplishment – Pierce Brosnan, "Mama Mia!"

Not many of these movies won an Oscar.

The Nourishing Relationships blog lamented that the 81st Academy Awards was an unlikely place for sandwiched boomers to look for role models. “After all, the red carpet doesn't exactly represent the clothes and shoes in our closets or the figures reflected back to us in our mirrors each morning.”

However, the blog said boomers could learn these lessons from the winners:

• Work around obstacles placed in your path. The determination of director Danny Boyle and others connected with “Slumdog Millionaire” to find funding and a distributor after they lost their original backing.

• Have a Plan B ready. When things don't seem to be going your way, hang in there and give it another try, also “Slumdog Millionaire.”

• Look at life as a series of opportunities. Host Hugh Jackman chose to define his pre-Oscar feelings as excitement not nervousness.

The blog, Boomers: A Trip into the Heart of the Baby Boomer Generation, lamented the fact that baby boomer Mickey Rourke didn’t win the Best Actor nod in the post “Academy Awards and Heroes; Mickey Rourke, Boomers, and Fighters.”

Bret Green said Rourke’s comeback role in “The Wrestler” reflects aspects of his real-life comeback.

See these two posts for my opinions on the Academy Awards:

“Academy Award Nominated Movies Often Offer Violence and Sadness, Occasionally Inspiration”

“What Did You Think of the Oscar Nominations?”

Maybe we’ll have some better, less violent movies next year.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Academy Award nominated movies often offer violence and sadness, occasionally inspiration

Since I wrote my last post on the Academy Awards’ nominations, I’ve seen six more of the nominated movies. One of the movies is about getting older, “The Wrestler,” but I wouldn’t recommend it for baby boomers.

“Slumdog Millionaire”

The story for “Slumdog Millionaire” is good, but the movie is pretty violent. I didn’t appreciate the torture scene. I don’t think it merits a nomination for best picture.

“Frost/Nixon"

I really liked “Frost/Nixon.” I haven’t been interested in seeing the movie. I’ve never been a big Richard Nixon fan. I knew he was lying when he gave a speech from the Oval Office on television firing his top assistants John Erlichman and H.R. Haldeman. The movie was interesting, thought-provoking, and brought back memories of a president who broke the law and thought anything the president does is legal. I’m rooting for “Frost/Nixon” for best picture.

“The Wrestler”

I don’t think “The Wrestler” has much going for it. Who’s the audience? Young men who like wrestling? Why would a young audience be interesting in an aging wrestler? For baby boomers who are getting older, it may offer some messages. I don’t see how “The Wrestler” received two Academy Award nominations.

“Rachel Getting Married”

“Rachel Getting Married” is an interesting movie about a young women getting out of a rehabilitation facility to attend her sister’s wedding. Some of the monologues of the troubled characters are so long, you can hardly wait until they’re over. The writing isn’t the usual short, fast-moving bits of dialogue that you usually see in movies. Anne Hathaway gives a good performance and deserves a nomination.

“Revolutionary Road”

“Revolutionary Road” is a disappointment. In the two classes I took in scriptwriting, we were told to tell our stories “over the top.” While this movie, about the disappointments of living in the suburbs and not achieving your dreams, is over the top, it’s way, way, way too over the top. I lived in the suburbs and raised children. In addition to being a mom, which is one of my life’s greatest joys, I discovered many things to do to be engaged and make a contribution. I did volunteer work, worked on political campaigns, and ran for a city commission position.

“The Dark Knight”

I don’t like violent movies, but I went to see “The Dark Knight” because my daughter told me to. Unfortunately, the only place the movie is showing in Olympia is in an IMAX theater. I sat in the back to be further back from the violence and motion on the screen. The story was O.K., typical for an action thrilled. Much has been made of Heath Ledger’s interpretation of the Joker. While he did a good job, I think our culture has better things to do than to focus on these violent movie characters.

For me, the sound for “The Dark Knight” is a real problem. The background sound was too loud throughout. At the end, one character was talking about Batman’s role in the future. The background music was so loud, you couldn’t understand his words. It’s incredible that “The Dark Knight” won nominations for sound mixing and sound editing. The people who did the sound for the movie should be fired.

“Gran Torino"

I also saw “Gran Torino,” about a man’s man from another era, a widow, who must deal with immigrants moving into his neighborhood and life. I misplaced my list as I was seeing four movies in one day. The movie attendant at the theater said it had been nominated. It wasn’t. “Gran Torino” is a good story, and the actors played their parts well. The Clint Eastwood character is certainly over the top, but as a grouch, he is a lot like my dad, also from that era, was.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison

What did you think of the Oscar nominations?

I haven’t seen as many movies this year as I usually do because I’ve been busy blogging.

I liked “WALL-E” a lot, as did my five-year-old twin grandchildren. I thought it was a good movie, but not great. I heard one movie reviewer call it one of the 10 best movies of 2008. I think Hollywood has the resources to be able to make movies of this quality all the time. However, it doesn’t. Time after time after time, I go to the movie theater and see mediocre, violent movies.

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” is an enjoyable movie also. But again, I wouldn’t call it great.

“Changeling” is an average movie, I thought. The whole movie seemed to be centered on Angelina Jolie pursing her famous lips.

I enjoyed “The Duchess” because, being of English ancestry, I like stories about England.

I didn’t like “Tropic Thunder” at all. Neither did my daughter, who saw it with me. Too violent, too farfetched. I learned in my scriptwriting class that when you write movies, you should make them “over the top.” “Tropic Thunder” was way, way, way too over the top.

I’ll try to see more of the movies nominated and post about this again. However, I won’t be seeing “The Dark Knight.” As you can tell, I don’t like violent movies.

What are your opinions on the nominations?

See “2009 Oscar Nominations” in USA Today for a listing of the Oscar nominations.

Here are some posts about the movies nominated.

“Taking Shots at the 2009 Oscar Nominations” – Rolling Stone

“Let’s Talk Oscars” – Slate.com

“Stars React to 2009 Oscar Nominations” – Hollyscoop

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

100 ways baby boomers can improve their lives in 2009

It’s often difficult to remain cheerful in these turbulent economic times. News of more job layoffs. Banks and other financial institutions continuing to have problems. Businesses closing.

Although the news can be discouraging, it’s important to think through what’s positive in your life and how to get more joy and satisfaction.

Here are 50 ways to improve your life this year:

 

Health

• Read novels to reduce stress.

• Walk, walk, walk.

• Use less toxic products, especially for cleaning your home and on your body.

• Eat more vegetarian meals.

• Plant fruit trees.

• Buy organic food.

• Talk honestly to your doctor about your health needs.

• Try yoga.

Community

• Talk to your neighbors.

• Find a rewarding volunteer activity.

• Move to a walkable neighborhood.

• Contribute to your city or county government.

• Take a walk in a park once a week.

Finances

• Compare prices before you buy.

• Pay off your credit cards.

• Complain when something you buy or a service isn’t right.

• Figure out ways to simplify your life.

• Read Suze Orman's 2009 Action Plan: Keeping Your Money Safe and Sound.”

 

Joy

• Read “Finding Joy: 101 Ways to Free Your Spirit and Dance With Life” by Charlotte Davis Kasl.

• Sign up for the lessons you’ve always wanted to take.

• Say “I love you” to someone you love every day.

• Have coffee or lunch with a friend you haven’t seen in a while.

• Relax by soaking in the bathtub.

• Laugh out loud.

• Sleep in once a week.

• Hold a baby.

• Remember to get as much joy as you can from the present, rather than worrying about the past or future.

• Visit a farm.

• Watch movies that are fun.

• Stop being a perfectionist.

• Visualize daily what you’d like your life to be like.

• Surround yourself with people who are positive.

• Spend a realistic amount of time using the computer.

• Don’t think about work when you leave for the day.

• Pursue your dreams.

• Enjoy the wonders of nature.

• Give up nagging.

• Figure out ways to enjoy your children more.

• Reduce the amount of television you watch.

• Take care of yourself.

• Don’t dwell on your mistakes.

• Pace yourself.

• Be open to new ideas and activities.

• Let go of disappointments and negative people from the past.

Home

• Turn on your favorite music when you clean house.

• Organize one spot or cupboard in your house weekly.

• Use lights and plants to make your home more enjoyable.

• Remodel a room.

• Buy a pretty new bedspread.

• Organize your photos.

• Recycle.

Here are additional suggestions from the article “50 Ways to Improve Your Life in 2009” in U.S. News and Reports:

Money

• Recycle old gadgets for cash.

• Choose “Obama” stocks.

• Advance your career online.

• Put your cash in safe accounts.

• Start your own nonprofit.

• Drink screw-topped wines.

• Lose the ‘microwave’ mentality.

• Make friends at work.

• Watch television free online.

• Try that home before buying.

Health

• Bike to work.

• Use glass to store food.

• Take an afternoon nap.

• Get paid for good health.

• Walk the cravings away.

• Get a new toothbrush.

• Move to Vermont.

• Get your eyes checked.

• Add obstacles to your jog.

• Get fit as you get older.

The brain

• Read Edgar Allan Poe

• Publish your book yourself.
  

• Go back to school for new skills.

• Study philosophy.

• Save that November 5 newspaper.

• Silence noise pollution.

• Finish a crossword puzzle.

• Start using Twitter.

• Learn Russian

• Keep a “clothes hanger” journal.

The world around you

• Learn about Abraham Lincoln.

• Plant a square-foot garden.

• Hypermile when you drive.

• Help those hit by the recession.

• Switch to a push mower.

• Air dry your laundry.

• Practice spreading tolerance.

• Ditch the phone while driving.

• Get your news online.

• Buy laptops for kids.

 

Play

• Learn to play bridge.

•  Visit Alaska.

• Celebrate the life of Miles Davis.

• Take a “staycation.”

• “Geotag” your digital photos.

• Watch the Beatles “Let It Be.”

• Teach your kids to cook.

• Play a fake musical instrument.

• Read the book before you see the movie.

• Try your hand at pottery.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Are you skipping 'Quantum of Solace'?

As a movie buff, I got sucked into seeing "Casino Royale" last year.

Since I've written two movie scripts and 10 shorts, I go a lot of movies. Immersing yourself in movies helps you as a screenplay writer. You get used to thinking in "movie" sentences and scenes.

I "bought" the new James Bond hype about "Casino Royale." An exciting Bond, with a new image. A tough, big-muscle guy. A bit of a rogue.

It was a terrible movie. It had a toture scene and a grizzly death. I was disgusted.

I think Hollywood can do better than that. "New and improved" for "Casino Royale" simply meant more awful Hollywood violence.

So, I'm not going to see "Quantum of Solace." I'm not going to be fooled twice.

However, I'm going to miss seing Judi Dench. I think she's a terrific actress.

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist