I planned to start this issue like this:
HOW ABOUT THOSE TROJANS!!!!!!!!!!

Based on the events of Saturday, I will start it like this:
How about those Trojans????????????

It is always good to see family and friends during the summer in Minnesota\Wisconsin, but it also is good to get back to a more "normal" Southern California life.  Many think that it's always hot and humid in the Midwest, but that is not the normal summer weather.  This summer, we had only two days when it got to 90 degrees.  It was a little cooler than normal summer, but September, for example, was great weather.  That helped the "fests" I mentioned a couple of months ago.  Enough of the travel log.

This is not a very "newsy" month.


UPCOMING SRA EVENTS

SAVE THE DATE -
In what has become an annual SRA tradition, we have secured a block of tickets at $8.00 each for the USC School of Theatre production of Into the Woods for Saturday, April 3, 2010, at 2:30 p.m.  Questions to Dick Martin (323)343-1146 or <dickmar@msn.com>.

The Homecoming game with Stanford is November 14th.  The SRA and RFA will have the usual event before the game in the area in front of the Library.  I still don't know the time of the game.

EMERITI CENTER –
You will likely soon (or have already) received a mailing from the Emeriti Center regarding their activities, a request for financial support, and a few other items.  The Emeriti Center charges no dues and is open to all.  Your support is critical so that they can continue their fine work for all USC retirees.


HOPEFULLY HELPFUL TIPS

ELAINE STEWARD'S BLOG — Our SRA member, Elaine Steward, has developed a blog that contains a way to get information for just about everything of interest to retired, or about to be retired, folks like us.  The few items we mention in this newsletter you are likely to also find on Elaine's blog.  It is called "Colleagues for Life."  Check it out for yourself at <colleaguesforlife.blogspot.com>.

HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS — The Treasury Department has put out an updated version of its brochure on Health Savings Accounts.  The brochure covers contribution limits, distributions, and eligibility.  Go to <www.treasury.gov> and click "Health Savings Accounts" to download a copy of HSA Basics.

AGING WITH DIGNITY — There is a lot of talk these days about what kind of medical treatment would you want if you were near death and unable to communicate.  The Kiplinger's Retirement Report, October 2009, page 16-17, has considerable information on this topic.  They recommend several sources that can help you sort through these issues.  Here they are:

1.  "Consumer's Tool Kit for Health Care Advanced Planning" by the American Bar Association's Commission on Law and Aging.  <www.abanet.org/aging/toolkit>
2.  "End-of-Life: Helping with Comfort and Care," <www.nia.nih.gov> or call 800-222-2225;
3.  "Aging with Dignity's Five Wishes" <www.agingwithdignity.org>. This one costs $5.
4.  At <www.caringinfo.org/planningahead>, is offered downloads of directives in every state.

SOLAR ELECTRIC POWER — If you are thinking about installing a solar power system in your home, you can get an idea of what such a system might cost.  Try the calculator at <www.findsolar.com>.  For additional information, you can check Kiplinger's Personal Finance (October 2009, page 74).

NEGATIVE OPTION MARKETING — his is much too big a subject to cover in this newsletter, but you can check it out in the September AARP Bulletin, page 22.  What happens with this type of "marketing" is this: a company may assume that you agreed to something if you didn't say NO in a format they liked.  Or they may assume you agree to some contract they mentioned simply because you did not specifically say you were turning it down.  Always carefully review all bank statements and other financial documents you receive for items not added by you.


Here are a couple of professional growth courses you may be able to pick up at a nearby junior college:
1.  Tapdance Your Way to Social Ridicule
2.  How to Convert a Wheelchair Into a Dune Buggy

His mother said to one of our grandsons, "Go right to bed and pray to be a better boy."  So he went to bed and prayed, "Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it.  I'm having a real good time like I am."

There are a lot of ways to help you to know when you are growing older.  For example, after painting the town red, if you have to take a long rest before applying a second coat, it may be happening.  In my case, I decide to take it easy and procrastinate but just never get around to it.


CHEAP FLIGHTS — <www.kayak.com> fetches the best air fares, according to Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine (Octber 2009, page 15).  Kayak uses more than 400 online sources to run down the best fares.

GOOD DEALS — If you are a flexible traveler and can grab last minute bargains, check <www.hotels.com>.  This site lists last-minute quickie hotel deals every Thursday.

MORE WEB DEALS — If you are a Web crawler and like looking for discounts, try these sites:

For the mother of all deal seekers, go to <www.dodtracker.com>.  This site monitors more than 200 sources for deal-of-the-day offers.

All Trojan fans probably know about <www.stubhub.com> for buying or selling event tickets.


FINAL GUIDANCE FOR NOVEMBER

Murphy's Law — If anything can go wrong, it will.
O'Toole's Commentary on Murphy's Law — Murphy was an optimist.

Remember, no person would listen to you talk if they didn't think it was their turn next.

I try to follow the old motto, Forgive and Forget . . . , or is it Forget and Forgive??  Oh well, see you later.


C L A S S I F I E D  A D S
(Listed in order of receipt)

None this month.

[To have your free ad appear (for things to give away, to sell, to buy, etc.) in the next issue, please send to <len@winesland.net> before the first of the month.]


_______________________________________

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*The content of this E-mail Newsletter is for the information of the members of the USC SRA.  It is not a University of Southern California official publication.  There is no intent to promote any particular product or point of view.  Personal decisions regarding health, finance, exercise, or other matters should be made after consulting with the reader’s own professional advisors.