Biking back to a memory of Kathy and the bullfrog

As summer peaks and edges toward autumn, and with winter not far ahead down the road, I cherish my morning bike ride more and more each day.

Early every morning, weather permitting, I ride out of Sun City southward along Sandwald Road all the way to Timber Creek and back, a roundtrip of a bit more than seven miles that lasts me the better part of an hour. I wish it were longer, but that’s as far as I can go in the countryside without too great a risk of being squashed like a bug by a truck or car.

Someone else’s house

She is practically my neighbor, but I don’t run into her at the block party or chat with her at garage sales. This mysterious woman was, until a few months ago, an elected public official—and she just happens to live down the street from me. Even though I know her by name, I’ve never spoken to her face to face. But she’s visible in other ways. I’ve seen her at ribbon cutting ceremonies, sports tournaments, and public meetings. I’ve read her Op-ed pieces; I’ve scoured countless news stories, tracking her role as a public servant. She fascinates me, this local quasi-celebrity.

Ask an Angel: September 21, 2023

I’m writing for advice regarding a situation that has arisen in my family. Recently, my parents started home care, and we welcomed a new caregiver into our lives. As their daughter, I’m eager to facilitate a positive and meaningful relationship between my parents and their caregiver.

An unexpected pleasure

It’s the end of summer which means the end of another bocce ball season. The championship tournament is over, and the winners are to be honored for all eternity on a plaque hanging proudly in a dark corner in Jameson’s Charhouse. The plaque must first be engraved, and since the name plate is as old as we are, there is only one engraver in this area that still has the necessary equipment to do the job. On the way to the engraver, we passed by a restaurant that one of our bocce buddies, Hank, recommended. We must admit we have passed by this restaurant time and time again and never gave it a second thought. We’re talking about the 3 Brothers Restaurant in Woodstock.

Festival notes

Hope you all had a great Labor Day. As I write this, cold rains stream down my window. This grand harbinger of Autumn is a far cry from the canals in Italy, which were a balmy 84 degrees. The Lido was a bit spare at the Venice Film Festival due to the Actors’ and Writers’ Strike. However, some films managed to break through. New features premiered by Wes Anderson, Richard Linklater and the final film by William Friedkin made their debuts. Netflix made a big splash due to a lack of big studio presence. Both Bradley Cooper’s Maestro and David Fincher’s The Killer lead the way; both of which I plan to look into later this year.

Sail on, Jimmy. Thanks for the memories

As I write these words, it is early Saturday morning, September 2. Just a few hours ago, my musical hero Jimmy Buffett died.

When I learned the news, I did the same thing I did when my musical hero John Prine died of covid three years ago: I pulled out my guitar and started playing as many of his songs as I knew, fighting back the tears before my throat choked each song to a premature end.

After WWII ended in 1945, it took 20 years before “Hogan’s Heroes” could crack jokes about life in a German prisoner of war camp. It took a similar number of decades before “Mash” could get us laughing about a Korean War triage medical hospital.

TA S T E E E E !

People often ask us how we pick out restaurants to review. There are three ways in which we do this. The first is simply “Googling” restaurants near me and hope the result yields restaurants that are still open. Second, we receive recommendations from our endless swarm of paparazzi. The third, and the most important criteria, is whatever Nancy has a taste for.

Ask an Angel: August 24, 2023

I’m writing to seek some advice and guidance regarding a situation with my mother. She recently moved into an assisted living facility, and while I thought this change would benefit her quality of life, I’m concerned about her well-being.

Late bloomers

We hit the pinnacle of culture in 2023, it would seem. The double feature media event has landed and still going strong in theaters. What else is there to look for forward to? As the actors and writers strike, studios keep threatening to pull titles off the fall and winter slate. I hope this is just conjecture in the tabloids, not an actual possibility; finally when things are looking up.

Water works: bringing another element into your garden

Last Sunday afternoon, my husband, myself and our puppy, Annie, headed off to the nearby Conservation District area. Spending time in nature is something that we all thoroughly enjoy and do as often as possible. What was different during this outing is that went to a park that had access to a stream. The addition of water meant our level of joy skyrocketed. Our English Springer Spaniel literally galloped on the banks of the stream as she seemed to smile with delight. We sat, talked, and watched in amazement as she swam, ran and bathed in the fresh water. Her joy at the addition of water to our outdoor activity was obvious to everyone who hiked by us.

It’s not easy saving the world, but someone has to do it

I am saving the world through my flower garden —a daunting task, but I embrace it willingly, especially when my Save the World Gardening Instruction Manual reads like this:

Rule 1: Do nothing.

Rule 2: See Rule 1.

The cosmic loophole of Pee-Wee’s Playhouse

The headline came to my phone while I was at work: “Pee-Wee Herman Actor Paul Reubens Dead at Age 70.” My heart sank. I waited for the world around me to take a collective moment to remember Paul Reubens. But in the office, phones kept ringing and computer keyboards kept clacking. My younger coworkers may not even know who Paul Reubens is. Was. But I knew.

BIG menu, BIG portions, sweet name

Every Friday after a taxing, strenuous round of bocce ball, a few of us seasoned athletes get together and go out for lunch. After playing three challenging games and being physically and emotionally drained from either the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat, we really needed to load up with a lot of food. One of our friends suggested we try a new restaurant that offers huge portions to match our huge appetites. We all jumped in our cars and made our way over to Randall Road to check out Sweet Basil Café in Algonquin.

Travel tips for 2023

Are you thinking about taking a trip? Will you be going to another country? Will you be checking bags? Here are a few tips based on recent input from travelers. First of all, know your abilities. A friend was vacationing in the Caribbean and decided to take a snorkeling trip; easy-peasy, right? Well, it turned out a little different.

Ask an Angel: August 10, 2023

Living far away from my parents has made it challenging for me to be actively involved in their day-to-day lives. I struggle with guilt knowing they are all alone. I have asked them to consider moving closer to me and my family so that I can be there for them, but they prefer the familiarity of their town and aren’t ready to say goodbye to lifelong friends and neighbors.

Meeting Gary and slithering back to childhood

I’ve only known my new neighbor Gary for a little while, but he brings a smile to my face each time I see him, because he reminds me of my childhood.

Well, I guess you might say that Gary is not my neighbor, but my tenant, because Gary is a garter snake living in my garden. I call him Gary because… well, he looks like a Gary to me.

Vactation, I’ve dreamed of this

It’s T-minus five days until vacation, and my legs and arms are restlessly pulsing along to the tune of the cicadas. It’s all I can think about.

My highly scheduled existence consists of work schedules, school schedules, and deadlines. My grocery lists are categorized into four columns where I systematically tick off each item as it lands in my cart. I write menu plans, fill out calendars, and make to-do lists: Lists of things I want to do. Lists of things I have to do. Lists of things I want other people to do.

Seven farmers markets you don’t want to miss

The season of summer brings many things: ample sunlight, conversations outdoors with neighbors, quiet time spent reading outside and recreational activities with family. For many of us, one special highlight of summer is eating farm-fresh fruits and vegetables. Farmer’s markets offer a very special experience of bringing people together in a fun, friendly environment.

Thankfully, our area has a wide variety of different options when it comes to Farmer’s Markets. Each market has its own personality. The markets vary based on their type, the array of offerings, number of vendors, location and hours. While not a comprehensive list, here are a few area farmer’s markets that you may want to check out.

Ask an Angel: July 27, 2023

I am a 72-year-old woman who is becoming increasingly concerned about my memory. I have a family history of dementia and I can’t help but worry about some of the changes I’ve been experiencing lately.

‘REAL’ onion soup

Every once in a while, the food gods smile down on the Dining Duo. Such was the case at our last neighborhood Christmas party where we won a $65 gift card to a local restaurant. We checked the menu prices online, and after seven short months, we finally saved up enough additional money to use our gift card. We put on our Sunday best, and headed off to Montarra Grill in Algonquin.

Don’t make ‘em like they used to

Two months down for the summer and we are finally getting some real blockbusters. As I write this, the actors guild SAG-AFTRA is on strike. Halting any future film plans, next year may not fare better than this one. A lot of crashing and burning has been going on. Low returns and attendance have CEOs scrambling. A warning was already on its way before the pandemic that a sea change was coming. Streaming can host more content than multiplexes can ever match. If the theatrical experience has any hope of thriving, it needs to bend to the will of the public and make some drastic changes. Let’s look at two such examples recently.

Yellowstone in winter

A few notes. Janie and I grew up on the same street and graduated in the same high school class so you could say we’ve been lifelong friends. She had fallen on ice recently and I mentioned that I had purchased a product, YakTrax, for my wife who had also fallen. They are elastic adaptations for your shoes that have tiny spikes to keep you from slipping. When it’s icy, she won’t leave without them. And, yes, they are available via Amazon. This is her travel story.

In case you were wondering about that flag on my porch

Every day until the end of her life, my wife flew a flag from our front porch, and she changed it often.

She was an avid gardener, so most of her flags were inspired by the season. Goldfinches and lilacs in April and May. Red cardinals and orange leaves in October. Turkeys and pumpkins in November.

Snapshots of the heart last a lifetime

After raising four children, I have certain mental snapshots I keep close to my heart. There was the day when my 5-year-old held my hand to cross the street. He paused to look up at me and said, “Momma, I love you so hard.”

There are those first few seconds when, after glancing over their shoulder, the realization sets in: Dad has let go of the back of the seat and they are, in fact, riding a two-wheeled bike.

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