Some things to check before you downsize to the retirement condo you think might be perfect:

• Check if the condo association dues have increased from year to year
• Determine if most of the units are owner-occupied and not rentals
• Ask about any plans for any big infrastructure projects planned for the future – and how they’re supposed to be paid for
• Ask if they have a reserve fund and how that fund is invested

Gluten-Free is all the rage now, but doctors warn it might not be s healthy as you thought.

If you’ve been diagnosed with celiac disease or other symptoms of gluten sensitivity, then go the gluten-free route. But if you don’t, going gluten-free can actually raise the risk of heart disease.

As always, consult your doctor before you decide to drop glutens from your diet.

Here's a real nuclear threat...

Doctors are saying that taking fish oil tablets may be doing you no good! One of the reasons is that over-the-counter supplements are not regulated at all.

Doctors recommend eating fish, not the pills.

AmIright?

One of the most unlikely of pop stars was Shelley Fabares, who parlayed her role on The Donna Reed Show into a #1 record!

Shelley had been acting since she was 3 and made her first television appearance at age 10. Four years later she was tapped to play Mary Stone, Donna Reed’s daughter on the long-running sitcom. Producers of the show noticed the success Ricky Nelson of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet was having on the record charts. What they didn’t notice was that Ricky had genuine musical talent, with a big band leader for a father and a singer for mother.

Ms. Fabares and her TV-sibling, Paul Petersen, were quickly rushed into a recording studio. Petersen went enthusiastically, even continuing to record for Motown (!) after The Donna Reed Show ended. Shelley was much more reluctant. She felt she couldn’t sing, but the show’s producers gave her a choice: record or be replaced as Donna’s daughter. So, Shelley recorded.

The initial result was a #1 record in 1962 that surprised everyone – “Johnny Angel.” The success led to Shelley releasing an album, “Shelley!” that also sold well. Later the same year, she released a second album, “The Things We Did Last Summer,” which included two more songs that had chart success: “Johnny Loves me” and the title track for the LP.

Just one year later, Shelley left the show in search of other acting opportunities. She co-starred in not one, but 3 Elvis Presley movies (Girl Happy, Spinout and Clambake) and one Beach Party knock-off, Ride the Wild Surf.

She is also known for playing Craig Nelson’s girlfriend/wife on the long-running Coach. She has been married to Mike Farrell (M*A*S*H) since 1984.

While she never returned to the recording studio, “Johnny Angel” has become one of the best-remembered songs from that era and her albums are still available on CD and digital download.

In 1952, 19-year old Lloyd Price was just another poor kid in New Orleans who dreamed of making it big. His mother owned a sandwich shop where Lloyd liked to hang out and play the piano. He had been working up a little song that combined a phrase one of the DJs at the local R&B radio station used (“Lawdy, Miss Clawdy”). He had recently broken up with his girlfriend, so that went into the lyrics as well.

He was playing his little song in the restaurant one day when one of the customers came up and asked if he’d like to record the song. The man was local band leader Dave Bartholomew. It seemed L.A. record label owner, Artie Rupp, was in the Crescent City looking for local talent to add to his label, Specialty Records.

Lloyd, of course, jumped at the chance and met Bartholomew and Rupp at a local recording studio a few days later. There was only one problem. Price had only composed one verse for the song. Told he’d have to do better, he composed a second verse on the spot. Then, he was asked what song he might have for the record’s B-side. Price had nothing. So, he and the musicians improvised a song they eventually called “Mailman Blues.”

Lloyd never even heard a playback of his songs that day. Instead, a few weeks later, he was helping his father replace a septic tank at the family home when he first heard his record being played by the same local DJ who had originated the Lawdy Miss Clawdy phrase!

The song rocketed to #1 on the R&B charts and is cited as one of the first black songs that crossed over to a white audience and helped launch rock ‘n’ roll. Price went on to a long successful career that included multiple Top 10 hits including “Stagger Lee,” “Personality” and many more.

One other interesting note. The day that Price recorded “Lawdy Miss Clawdy,” the session piano player was another local musician who had already had a taste of national success – a young New Orleans singer/songwriter named Fats Domino.

Here's a money-saving tip for your furry frends.

Vetrinairans mark up the drugs they sell by as much as 100%. Experts recommend that you first try to locate these same pet prescriptions through other sources - online or through human drug stores like CVS or Walgreen's.

You can also visit humansociety.org. Type "afford" into the serach functionthere and discover more tips that can save you money on all kinds of pet supplies.

Research has shown that not only is eating the right food important, but it also matters when you eat them. Here are some helpful tips to get the most out of your meals.

Start Your Day With Protein – A donut may be tasty or you think starting with a high-fiber cereal may be healthy, but research shows you’re better off starting the day with protein. So think eggs, meat and/or nuts.

Make Your Big Meal Lunch – Loading up in the middle of the day instead of dinner may help with weight loss. Studies show your body burns twice as many calories after a big midday meal than a later one.

Fiber Near the End of the Day Can Help You Sleep Better – Avoiding after-dinner snacks cam also help you sleep better (as well as being better for your waistline).