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March 10, 2022

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Confessions of a library lover

My childhood library stood directly across the street from the church where my father was a minister. When I wasn’t helping Dad in the church folding bulletins, or sharpening the pencils in the pews, I was across the street, exploring our local library. I spent hours there. Each time I entered the front doors and heard the soft trickle of water coming from the fountain in the lobby, I felt as though I’d walked into a space just as sacred as the sanctuary across the street.

Drowning under a zero-tolerance wave

It started with an innocent question from a high school student: Why did the Washington Football Team have to change its name? The answer, it turns out — at least in the judgment of some— w as less than innocent.

Mary DeVoto, a Mother McAuley High School teacher of 41 years, was fired for violating a zero-tolerance rule of ever speaking a word that I assume I can’t print here for the same reason. (I won’t test that theory and put my editor in the uncomfortable position of deleting the word — or its writer — from this publication.)

An alley worth checking out

Hope you had a good Valentine’s Day. Movies about love lost and found abound. My go-to picks are usually Richard Linklater’s Before Trilogy and Wong Kar-Wai’s In The Mood For Love for instance. Even with the holiday out of the way, dear readers, you can check them out. However, the Oscar nominations are in, ready to be fomented over by pundits and neophytes of film alike.

Roll out the barrel

We have been writing this column for over ten years. In that time, we have received our share of letters, both good and bad. These range from very complimentary letters, restaurant recommendations, and letters telling us, in rather unflattering terms, what we can do with our column. These letters are often peppered with comments about our taste and intelligence. We must admit we were apprehensive when we received a letter in the U.S. Mail. We nervously opened it up and were relieved when we discovered the contents were handwritten and didn’t have words pasted from a newspaper like you see on detective shows on TV.

When cleaning is all the rage

It never fails: I’ll walk into a room to see my husband hunched over, vigorously cleaning something: scrubbing grease splatters on the stove, attacking some muddy footprints on the entryway rug, or coaxing out the ginormous dust bunnies that collect in that little space between the oven and the refrigerator, peppered with stray popcorn seeds, or, if you’re lucky, some pocket change. He becomes so completely absorbed in the task at hand, that I’ll slowly, carefully approach him from the side. Align myself squarely in his peripheral vision. Avoid making sudden moves.

“Are you … mad?” I’ll ask him.

From binge watching to buffalo robes

Just yesterday I got to the end of yet another binge-watched TV series — this one “Shameless,” on Netflix, an 11-season romp through Chicago’s South Side, with a title that describes all the characters and their behavior perfectly. If you haven’t seen it, tune in only if you have a high tolerance for vulgarity, sex, nudity, bodily functions and disfunctions of every stripe.

Because if you’re OK with all of that, this show is a don’t-miss gem.

Ask an Angel: February 10, 2022

My husband and I are exploring care options as we plan for our future. We’re approaching our 70s and are having difficulty wrapping our minds around the terminology. We prefer to remain home and are willing to hire help should we need it. A good friend of ours recently had his knee replaced. After surgery, he received care in his home. A nurse looked after him, a caregiver helped give him a shower, and he had therapists work with him in his own living room. We were surprised to learn that this was all covered by Medicare. Yet, as my husband reviewed our Medicare benefits, it seems like Medicare will not cover home care should we need help as we age.

Comedy and tragedy

When scrolling endless catalogs on streaming services, it would seem that every film and show is broken neatly into categories. On further inspection, however, the case just isn’t so. See my reviews last year of I Care A Lot and Annette as examples of what I mean. A good movie, sometimes, defies easy genre confines. Here are two recent releases that do just that.

To travel or not to travel?

To steal from the Bard, “To travel or not to travel, that is the question?” Will 2022 be the time to travel again? Well, that depends. In some cases, YES, others NO, the rest – MAYBE.

2021! One more year! 2021! One more year!

In case you haven’t noticed, the lamestream progressive media are at it again, spreading their lies to make America un-great again. They’re trying to tell you that the great year of 2021 has come to an end, and that we have to welcome a new year in its place — 2022.

Missing my forest retreat

When we bought a little teardrop camper in 2019, we had no idea how much we’d love it. And, much to our surprise, our winter camping outings became even more cherished than in the summer: something about the near-vacant campsites, the icy glare of the moonlight reflected in the snow. With fewer humans around, we became more intensely aware of the hooting of an owl, or the skitter of deer as they ran to a stand of trees.

Disney 2.0

Chilly winds are setting in. It’s a good time to bundle up on the couch with family. And the best way to enjoy is with some escapism. With Disney hitting it out of the park, let’s check out what going on over at their streaming service.

Chillin at Chilo’s

The hustle and bustle of the holidays is done, and we are left with nothing to do. The Midwest has now plunged into the dull, gray, deep freeze of winter. On the plus side, we don’t have to see our relatives for another year. On the minus side, Jim and I are together in a 1,200 square foot home with nothing to do, and it’s getting ugly.

The tales an old turtle shell can tell

I have an old turtle shell, bleached white by the sun, that I found near a canal in Florida and now sits displayed on a shelf in my home. Larger than a football, it must once have been a whopping snapping turtle, the terror of the canal that could relieve you of a finger if you ever messed with it.

My word of the year

As much as I love the idea of New Year’s Resolutions, I rarely make them.

Many folks choose a word of the year, and I’m one of those people. I choose a word rather than making a goal that I know, at a cellular level, that I can’t reach. Behind me, I leave a trail of unrealized New Year’s resolutions.

A hair-raising ‘egg’sperience

There are several skills that all seniors must master in their “Golden” years. The first one is arriving at a restaurant five minutes before the senior’s early bird special ends. The second is collecting and managing coupons and gift cards, so along with your senior discount, the restaurant ends up owing you money when the bill arrives.

Absurd to the Max

Well, a new year brings new entertainment. But with all the options, it is good to have help sifting through them. Well as a resolution for 2022, my pledge is to be a guide to the world of film. So let me be your Virgil through the plethora of divine comedies and tragedies coming your way. And this is anything but funny.

Ask an Angel: January 13, 2022

I celebrated my 70th birthday this year. Leading up to it, I’ve taken drastic steps to get my health back on track. I’ve lost over 40 pounds this year. I exercise regularly. I no longer need to take my blood pressure medication and have reduced my risk for type 2 diabetes. I feel amazing, even at my age. However, I’m concerned about the holiday season sabotaging my healthy lifestyle.

Trouble with that whole ‘free will’ kerfuffle

In the Beginning, I am told, God created man from a lump of clay — which may explain why men are prone to dirty thoughts.

Then, as an afterthought, He yanked out a rib from the man and created woman. I have no idea how that in any way explains the way that women are, but then who understands women anyway? Many have tried, but every time men think deeply about women, they get dirty thoughts. I blame God.

As a further afterthought — or maybe as a way to escape blame — God gave man and woman free will. “What could possibly go wrong?” I imagine He might have said.

Wading in the Stream

As the bustle of the holiday season and the chilly winds start to blow, we all can use a break for a while. On my first idea for this final review my plans were dashed by, unfortunately, release dates. Some of the more hyped features like “Spiderman: No Way Home” and “The Matrix Resurrections” among others aren’t out until later. That being said, there is a smattering of good films not in theaters but at a screen for home viewing. Some of which may be just the ticket.

Best eateries near Huntley 2021

EVERYBODY SING ALONG… “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.  With the restaurants open, and appetizers flowing, and drinks of good cheer, it’s the most wonderful time of the year…”

This is the column that we know you all have been waiting for with baited garlic breath and grumbling tummies.  We are referring to the semi-finalists in our Top 10 list of “BURPS” (Best Unknown Restaurant Picks) culminating in the big “BELCH” (Best Eating Location Close to Huntley) of 2021.

Imposter syndrome

Ever feel like a phony?

I have been feeling like an imposter for the last few days. I pride myself in being a minimalist, talk about simplifying life, and blog about wanting less…yet, if you were to come to my house today, you’d see that a corner of my bedroom has overflowing stash-and-dash boxes filled with who-knows-what miscellany, and I have laundry in various stages of dirty, clean, sorted, unsorted, folded, and yet-to-be folded throughout my house. There’s a suspicious-looking potato lurking in the very back of my fridge. I’m overdue to go through my closet and drawers to get rid of clothes I don’t want/need anymore.

Ask an Angel: December 16, 2021

It has been a long-standing tradition that we all gather for Christmas dinner. Last year, we forwent this tradition considering the COVID pandemic. This year, however, many are planning to participate. My elderly parents have hosted Christmas dinner for this group since my siblings and I moved out of their home as adults. As I was helping my mom make plans for Christmas, I sensed she was feeling stressed and anxious.

Time’s fun when you’re having flies

Thanksgiving morning, as the turkey breast roasted outside on the barbecue grill, I picked up my cell phone and sent a few “Happy Thanksgiving” texts to people who make me thankful that they are in my life.

My son and daughter, of course, and old friends like Bill and Mike with whom I worked for more than 30 years. And Alejandra and Margaret, loving stroke caregivers I haven’t seen since my wife died almost four years ago.

Singing my Hallelujahs

On a whim, I signed up for a community choir audition. My voice trembled for the entire audition. I struggled to reign in my voice, which doesn’t respond the way it did in my younger days. My voice now is weaker, and sometimes even raspy. To make matters worse, I had to sing the Star Spangled Banner. Unless you have a multi-octave range with a penchant for belting, the Star Spangled Banner is very difficult to sing. Our national anthem is, in my humble opinion, one of the most unsingable songs ever written.

Will is king

Hope you had a good Thanksgiving. And now we’re in the thick of holiday season. But if we could tear ourselves away from retail discounts and Prime deals online, maybe we can find time to gift ourselves a good movie.

“King Richard” is now available in theaters and HBO Max. Based on the life of the Williams sisters but from a different angle, we follow Venus and Serena through the eyes of their father. An odd trajectory for a sports film, in hindsight it’s clearly the most compelling.

A lesson in breathing, rather than bait-taking

I’m sure you’ve felt it as I have — that feeling that maybe, just maybe, we can begin to breathe again.

Sure, it has something to do with ripping off that smothering facemask, but it has to do with way more than that. It has to do with watching more and more of our friends, family and neighbors get life-saving vaccines, and then boosters. It has to do with watching covid infections, hospitalizations and death rate rates plummet as a result.

Heading off to hibernation

Experiencing the seasons is what many homeowners enjoy about living in Northern Illinois. We have very distinctive time periods, and each is filled with equal parts beauty and corresponding chores. While we are winding down our gardening chores, we know that snow and ice will bring their own challenges. There is some comfort in knowing that nature is ever-evolving while it surrounds us with its beauty. As Arthur Rubinstein so perfectly stated, “The seasons are what a symphony ought to be: four perfect movements in harmony with each other.”

A coal-fired SLYCE

Jim and I were sitting around watching cartoons one morning. Suddenly, Jim’s cell phone went crazy asking us to confirm our online purchase of a very expensive entertainment system. He promptly replied “no” and then proceeded to call the credit card company. This turned out not to be a big problem since the card was immediately cancelled and a new one was on its way the next day.