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Club MED
December 2023
A Circus of a Vacation The Joys of Taking Time for Family During Our Busy Season
No one takes a vacation during Medicare Open Enrollment. That’s the house rule — no exceptions!
The Ringling consists of the Museum of Art, two circus museums, the Ca’ d’Zan, the mansion, the Historic Asolo Theater, and the Bayfront Gardens. We arrived at 10 a.m. and stayed until we had to leave for the wedding, but we absolutely could have stayed longer. When our grandkids return from Brazil next February, we plan to take them to The Ringling when we’re next in Florida. It would have been much more fun if we had our group of Hanaks with us. The surrounding gardens are gorgeously landscaped, with a children’s circus playground in the middle. I wanted to go down the enormous slide but didn’t know if I would fit, not to mention the indignity of a 60-year-old on a kid’s slide. The art museum is on the same level as The Frick in New York or the Jocelyn here in Omaha. John & Mable Ringling collected European art from the late Middle Ages to the late 19th century. John had a thing for Peter Paul Rubens, a Flemish painter from the 16th century who painted during the Baroque period. Rubens painted monumental canvases that were 20–30 feet high. He loved scenes from classical literature, the Bible, and major historical battles. He also had a penchant for fair, curvy women. Bright, flowing garments falling off the shoulders of women are a consistent motif throughout Rubens’ paintings. However, the paintings Ringling collected were the less flamboyant of Rubens’ works. It seems John’s wife, Mable, did not admire the female decolletage as much as John, or maybe she didn’t want 15-foot women with equally proportioned bare breasts in her sitting room and ballroom. Though John, always the circus showman, couldn’t help himself, he sneaked a couple of bawdy paintings into the tent through the back door. The Ca’ d’Zan is the name of the mansion Ringling created. It is a typical Art Deco mansion built in the 1920s. With 36,000 square feet and 56 rooms, the Ringling’s opulent winter home, Ca’ d’Zan, was meant to impress! Completed in 1926 after two years of construction, the mansion quickly became a social hub in Sarasota.
When my cousin, Mark Krejci, and his wife, Tammy, visited from Florida this summer, Tammy asked if I would attend her daughter’s wedding in Sarasota. I caved immediately, just like I always do when women bat their eyelashes at me. We left as late as possible on Friday, Oct. 27, but I felt guilty leaving Angie behind at 2:30 p.m. on Friday to handle the onslaught of phone calls and emails.
The trip was short — we arrived Friday night and left Sunday morning. When I woke up Saturday morning in Sarasota, I rolled over in bed and asked Bev, my personal tour guide, what we would do until 5 p.m. when the wedding commenced. She had already been up Googling and YouTubing the Sarasota landscape and had a list of 20 things we could do. After a moment’s perusal, I picked The Ringling. The Ringling is the former estate of John Ringling of the Ringling Bros. Circus. I’d never heard of the place, so we weren’t expecting much. How wrong I was.
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Medicare Insurance Made Easy
402-614-3389 • 1
THE LINK BETWEEN SLEEP POSITIONS AND DREAMS A DREAMER’S GUIDE:
Dreams are mysterious journeys into our subconscious. They can be filled with strange places, familiar faces, or bizarre scenarios. While the content of your dreams may seem random, research suggests the position you sleep in can influence their nature and intensity.
breathing and less fragmented sleep and may increase the likelihood of vivid and intense dreams because you’re more likely to reach REM sleep.
PRONE (ON YOUR STOMACH) Sleeping face down is associated with more restless sleep, less REM, and potentially fewer dreams, meaning your dreams will be less vivid and memorable.
THE IMPACT OF SLEEP POSITION ON DREAMS
The way you sleep can affect how often you enter the rapid eye movement (REM) stage and, consequently, the types of dreams you experience. While researchers can’t conclusively identify the relationship between sleeping positions and dreams, they have reached some research-based theories.
LATERAL (ON YOUR SIDE) Sleeping on your side, particularly in the fetal position, commonly leads to emotional dreams, possibly due to the sense of vulnerability
or comfort this position provides.
While sleep position can influence the frequency and nature of your dreams, it’s only one piece of the dream puzzle! Dreams remain a complex aspect of human consciousness, but it’s pretty neat to know that how you sleep may play a part!
SUPINE (ON YOUR BACK) Sleeping on your back allows for more unobstructed
... CONTINUED FROM COVER
Today, Ca’ d’Zan offers a glimpse into John and Mable’s taste and lifestyle, transporting visitors back to the glamorous age of the Roaring ‘20s. The mansion is located in Tampa Bay. Guests used to sail up to an elaborate marble dock and were ushered into an opulent ballroom from there. “The Great Gatsby” could have been filmed at the Ca’ d’Zan. We stayed at the Hampton Inn, which is within walking distance of the airport. The Ringling was three minutes down the street, and the wedding was on the other side of the airport at another mansion five minutes from the hotel. The wedding and reception were outdoors, which is not recommended in Nebraska at any time of year, but it worked in Florida. The bride was beautiful, the groom handsome, and my cousin set up a fantastic cigar bar! There were no ashtrays on the reception tables, so when I finished smoking my cigar, I made the mistake of flicking it out into the garden when the staff started delivering the food to the table. One of the attendants retrieved my smoldering butt and presented it back to me with diplomatic instructions that littering was not permitted on the grounds of the event site. Fortunately, it was dark, so the rest of the guests at the table didn’t see my face as red as the embers. I always dread these family affairs. I think of the time away from work as well as the expense, but when I’m there, I feel guilty I even contemplated not attending. In the end, these family times are
always fun, and I feel so much better after reconnecting with family members and meeting their family and friends.
As I write this, we are entering the final stretch of the Medicare Annual Election Period. Time to review your medications and change Part D prescription drug plans where necessary. On to the next email and voice message. –Christopher J. Grimmond
2 • OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com
We are entering the home stretch of the Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP), which ends Dec. 7. Which means now is the time to check your standalone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. While we can look at your Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy any time during the year, AEP is not meant for Medicare Supplements. Most Medicare Advantage Plans/Part C include drug coverage. AEP is when you can change your Medicare Advantage Plan/Part C. However, there is another time for Medicare Advantage plans called the Open Enrollment Period (OEP) from Jan. 1 to March 31, when you can change your Medicare Advantage Plan/Part C. The other thing about Medicare Advantage plans is their drug coverage is much more robust than Part D prescription drug plans. I rarely need to switch someone from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another because of medications. Part D plans, however, change from year to year and, in some cases, change drastically. So, even if your medications do not change, we need to double-check to ensure they are covered at a reasonable rate compared to the other plans. The Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP) is also a time when I lose clients because they get razzle-dazzled by a fast-talking licensed insurance agent who calls out of the blue or sucked in by advertisements that don’t explain the whole story. Sometimes I can fix the situation. Other times, I can’t. The licensed sales agent usually focuses on one aspect of a plan and hammers away, and the person forgets the bigger picture of plans and costs. They also forget I offer the same plans. In the end, I am appreciative of you as loyal clients. We get phone calls daily asking us to clarify and explain what is being said on the TV, radio, and internet. Most of the time, there are simple explanations. Sometimes, it requires more effort, and other times, the conversation brings to light situations that require a change. I also appreciate your patience as we get back to you on your questions. I will be hiring another assistant in 2024 so we can more quickly respond. One day, we had 100 voice messages on our phone system; I learned my limits that day. So, the extra hands HAVE YOU REVIEWED YOUR PLAN? AEP IS ALMOST OVER!
Homemade Eggnog
Inspired by AheadOfThyme.com
Better than store-bought, this flavorful homemade eggnog is perfect for the whole family this holiday season!
Ingredients • 3 cups whole milk • 1 tbsp vanilla extract • 3 eggs, room temperature • 4 egg yolks, room temperature • 1/3 cup sugar • 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 cups heavy cream • 1 1/2 tsp nutmeg
For topping • Whipped cream • Ground cinnamon • Extra nutmeg
Directions 1. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine milk and vanilla, swirling occasionally until it starts to steam. 2. In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, egg yolks, sugar, and salt for approximately 5 minutes until the mixture is thickened. Slowly add milk and whisk to combine. 3. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring for about 6 minutes. 4. In another large mixing bowl, place heavy cream and nutmeg. Strain egg mixture into the cream and cool in the fridge for at least 2 hours. When chilled, fill a glass with eggnog and top with whipped cream, cinnamon, and extra nutmeg!
on deck will help us to better serve you rather than be overwhelmed.
402-614-3389 • 3
11414 W. Center Rd., Suite 250 Omaha, NE 68144 402-614-3389 OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
Code 78017_113023_MK
INSIDE This Issue
1
The Ringling and a Wedding
2
Sleep Position Secrets
3
Stay Vigilant During the End of AEP
Homemade Eggnog
3
Discover the Most Enchanting Christmas Towns in the US
4
Explore America’s Most Magical Christmas Towns From Snowy Villages to Year-Round Holiday Cheer
It may be too late for less spontaneous travelers to start planning a Christmas vacation. But that shouldn’t stop you from planning next year’s holiday journey! The good news is you don’t need to venture to another continent to find a Christmas wonderland. There are countless picture-perfect Christmas towns across the country. Make your next Christmas trip feel like a Hallmark movie at one of these festive towns! LEAVENWORTH, WASHINGTON Many have dubbed Leavenworth the most Christmas-centric in the U.S., and it’s easy to see why. This Bavarian-style village experiences nearly 96 inches of snowfall every year, and they certainly don’t hold back when it comes to the holidays. The town lights up and decorates almost 21 miles, where you can find reindeer farms, carolers, gingerbread competitions, and Christmas markets. Every step of the way offers an Instagram-worthy photo opportunity! SOLVANG, CALIFORNIA A slice of Denmark right in sunny California, Solvang brings endless holiday cheer, especially with their annual Julefest. Pronounced “Yule-fest,” this month-long festival takes place every December and features picturesque events, including a ballerina-
filled tree lighting ceremony, visits from Santa, culinary delights, traditional Danish celebrations, and much more!
WOODSTOCK, VERMONT During Woodstock’s Wassail Weekend, you’ll find the town in peak Christmas mode, where you can experience parades, horse-drawn carriages, carolers, and the Billings Farm, a local favorite of the season. Stroll down Main Street to witness an idyllic Christmas spot filled with cozy small-town shops and restaurants. NORTH POLE, ALASKA If you ever feel like celebrating Christmas in the middle of summer, we know the perfect destination. North Pole, Alaska, offers Christmas decor and festivities year-round! Here, you can get up close and personal with Santa’s reindeer, meet the man himself, and enjoy the snow that covers the entire town. Be sure to check out their ice sculpture competition, which features artists from all over the world! Ready for the Christmas celebration of your dreams? Start planning your next holiday vacation at any of these destinations, and we promise your dreams will most definitely come true!
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