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This Week’s Survey: What’s Your Favorite Thing to Do on a Rainy Day?
What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
- Curl up with a book
- Take a walk in the rain
- Watch TV or a movie
- Cook or bake
- I don’t like rainy days
- Other (name in the comments)
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Fun Facts: Some Surprising National Days in January
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Jan 8 – National Bubble Bath Day 🛁
Self-care, but make it bubbly -
Jan 11 – National Milk Day 🥛
Surprisingly wholesome -
Jan 14 – National Dress Up Your Pet Day 🐕👑
The internet’s true holiday - Jan 20 – National Cheese Lover’s Day 🧀
A lifestyle, really -
Jan 21 – National Hugging Day 🤗
Consent-based hugs encouraged -
Jan 23 – National Pie Day 🥧
Sweet or savory, no judgment -
Jan 24 – National Compliment Day 💬
Free and underrated -
Jan 31 – National Backward Day ⏪
Wear your shirt inside out. Why not?
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Savvy Senior: When Do Most Americans Take Social Security?
By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior,
What are the most popular ages that people start taking their Social Security retirement benefits? I’m turning 62 later this year and trying to decide when to start taking my benefits.
Born in 64
Dear 64,
You can sign up to begin your Social Security retirement benefits any time after age 62. However, your monthly payments will be larger for each month you delay claiming them up until age 70. This adds up to around 6 to 8 percent higher payments every year you delay.
To get a breakdown on exactly how much your claiming age affects your benefits, visit Social Security’s Retirement Age Calculator at SSA.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/ageincrease.html. This tool provides your full retirement age (FRA) – which is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later – and shows how much your benefits will be reduced by taking early payments or increased by delaying them.
In the meantime, here’s a rundown of when people start receiving retirement benefits (according to the most recent SSA statistical data), and how signing up at each age impacts your payout.
Age 62: This is the earliest possible age you can sign up for Social Security. According to the SSA, in 2024, 23.3 percent of women and 22 percent of men signed up for Social Security at 62. But if you sign up at this age, you’ll get a 30 percent smaller Social Security payment if your FRA is 67.
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Health Beat: Aging Without Apology
By Mark McNease
New year, same old ageism. We’re surrounded by messages telling us that getting older is something to fight, hide, or delay. At the very least, we’re told to ‘age gracefully,’ because it’s required of us if we’re to be seen in public. We must be demure, soft-spoken, quiet. Loud, outspoken and old just won’t do.
Not here, and not by me. Aging is not a personal failure. It’s not something we did wrong. It’s a sign we’re still here, whether anyone wants to acknowledge us or not.
Health in later life isn’t about chasing youth or punishing your body into compliance. It’s about function, comfort, connection, and quality of life. It’s about knowing your body well enough to listen to it, and trusting ourselves to respond with care rather than criticism.
This column – this year – will be focused on our everyday realities: energy that comes and goes, sleep that changes, bodies that behave differently than they used to. We’ll talk honestly about what’s normal, what’s worth paying attention to, and what simply comes with time.
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Your Weekly LGBTSr Humorscope: ‘A’ Is for Aries
♈ Aries
This week you’re fired up and ready to fix something that isn’t actually broken. Before rearranging the furniture or starting a spirited group text debate, pause. The universe suggests a walk, a deep breath, or a cookie. Preferably the cookie.
♉ Taurus
Comfort is king this week, and you’ve earned it. Say yes to naps, favorite playlists, and food that requires zero explanation. Someone may test your patience—remember: you can be stubborn and serene.
♊ Gemini
You’ve got stories this week, and everyone’s getting one. Just be careful not to interrupt yourself mid-sentence. A surprise conversation could spark a new idea—or remind you why you stopped oversharing in 2009.
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Tech Talk: Technology Without the Panic (A Weekly Series)
Mark McNease
Why technololgy can feel overwhelming, and how to approach it calmly and confidently.
If technology sometimes makes you feel like you’ve missed a class everyone else showed up for, you’re not alone. For many of us, tech didn’t gently enter our lives—it barged in and changed the rules, often in what seems like a daily basis. This continues to happen regularly to me: AI is everywhere, and now even my bank app wants me to submit to facial recognition. I’m putting that off, but eventually it will just be another requirement of using apps and websites, at least on our phones.
The truth is, most modern technology isn’t difficul, it’s poorly explained. As someone who’s pretty tech savvy, I sometimes lose patience with people who aren’t, but I know better. I’ve put off learning things myself, and I’ve sometimes declared a learning curve too steep for me to climb, at least for now.
Devices assume you already know the basics, apps change without warning, and updates arrive with cheerful messages that tell you nothing useful at all. And they seem to change the entire look and fuction of our phones. No wonder it feels overwhelming.
Here’s the good news: we don’t need to “keep up.” We only need technology that serves our lives, not the other way around. Unless you’re like me and you crave learning new things and playing with every tool in the box, you really don’t have to take master classes in any of them. At the same time, it’s coming, it’s been coming, and it’s going to keep coming. At some point I just have to sayy “I surrender” and get on the bus.
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The Twist Podcast #315: 2026 Blastoff, Mark Loves Kristy Lee, and Emma Lyons Reviews ‘Trainwreck: The Real Project X’
The Twist Podcast blasts into 2026 with our usual mix of pop culture, media commentary, and personal reflection. Hosted by Mark McNease and Rick Rose, this entertainment and commentary podcast ignites the new year with sharp observations, familiar humor, and the kind of cultural conversation that keeps The Twist Podcast humming.
In this episode, Mark shares his admiration for singer Kristy Lee, and Rick welcomes Emma Lyons for a review of Trainwreck: The Real Project X, adding a timely Netflix documentary review to the stew. Fasten your headphones
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Blank Page to Bookshelf: From First Sentence to First Sale: Fiction Writing, Character Creation, and Self-Publishing Basics Now Available
Two years of workshops, one solid book
This has been a goal of mine for the last six months, and it’s out for 2026. You can get the ebook on Amazon ($8.95), various other online retaliers, or directly from me for a $2 discount ($6.96 – epub and PDF).
The paperback edition is available on Amazon, coming on IngramSpark, and will be available to bookstores and retailers everywhere.
About ‘Blank Page to Bookshelf’
Blank Page to Book Shelf: From First Sentence to First Sale: Fiction Writing, Character Creation, and Self-Publishing Basics brings together the core lessons from author and workshop instructor Mark McNease’s writing workshops, distilled into a single, accessible volume for aspiring and emerging writers.
Guiding readers from initial idea through character creation, plotting, revision, and self-publishing, the book emphasizes practical steps and realistic expectations. It demystifies both the creative process and the mechanics of self-publishing, helping writers move from concept to completed book.
Suitable for individual writers, writing groups, and creative workshops, this how-to guide blends craft instruction with actionable publishing guidance.
A clear, encouraging roadmap for turning a blank page into a finished book.
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A Twist Podcast Bonus Interview: Rick Rose In Conversation with Sonia Thomas on Life’s Next Chapters
A Twist Podcast Bonus Interview features host Rick Rose in conversation with Sonia Thomas as she reflects on retirement, her career with DHS and ICE, and her newest chapter as founder of SimplyHygge. Sonia shares insights on public service, life after government work, finding balance in retirement, and building a lifestyle brand rooted in comfort, mindfulness, and purpose. An honest, thoughtful discussion about career transitions, reinvention, and embracing a slower, more intentional way of living.
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Savvy Senior: How To Find a Quality Nursing Home for Your Loved One
By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior,
Can you give me some tips on picking a good nursing home for my father? Since his stroke, I’ve been taking care of him at home, but he’s gotten to the point where it’s too much for me to handle.
Exhausted Daughter
Dear Exhausted,
Choosing a nursing home for a loved one that provides quality is a very important decision that requires careful evaluation and some homework. Here are some steps you can take that can help you find a good facility and avoid a bad one.
Make a list: There are several sources you can turn to for referrals to top nursing homes in your area including the Area Agency on Aging (call 800-677-1116 or visit Eldercare.acl.gov for contact information); your dad’s doctor or nearby hospital discharge planner; friends or neighbors who may have had a loved one in a nursing home; and online at Medicare’s nursing home compare tool at Medicare.gov/care-com
Also, keep in mind that it’s always best to choose a nursing home that’s close to family members and friends who can visit often, because residents with frequent visitors usually get better care.
