Ask an Angel: November 21, 2019

For the past fifty-five years, my elderly parents have always hosted a large Thanksgiving family dinner. Including everyone, there are over four nuclear families represented and nearly forty people in total. Everyone looks forward to this event and everyone chips in something, regardless of my mom’s insistence to take care of it all.

American democracy in the crosshairs

As frightening as it is to imagine a madman with an assault weapon targeting indiscriminate victims, it is even more harrowing to imagine a weapon like that in the hands of a madman who views himself as a patriot.

Someone, for example, like major league umpire Rob Drake, who on October 22 tweeted this threat: “I will be buying an AR-15 tomorrow, because if you impeach MY PRESIDENT this way, YOU WILL HAVE ANOTHER CIVAL WAR!!! #MAGA2020.”

Movies 2019 year to date

A combination of a publication break and some personal travel plans conspired to keep me away from the movie theater in time for this edition of the Sun Day. So, I thought I would take an early look at the year in movies so far.

Volunteering, it’s in our nature

The butterfly population in Northern Illinois is growing! It was recently reported on the radio that volunteers who spend time monitoring butterflies on public lands had seen an increase in butterflies this summer compared to previous years. While of course, I am thrilled that the efforts to support the butterfly population are working, I am more interested in the volunteers and their efforts.

Let the flame of a candle light the way to change

Mary pulled a kitchen knife on her father. She couldn’t think of any other way to stop him from choking her mother. Mary doesn’t remember how she rationalized her action almost 30 years ago but she recalled going to school the next day. She aced her math test and put on the perfect smile.

“No one else outside the walls of my home suspected anything. After all, how could the girl with straight A’s and awards for citizenship, leadership, and perfect attendance raise suspicion of a problem at home,” Mary said.

But things change.

Rake to the finish

My mom and I enjoyed watching my daughter participate in cross country meets throughout her middle school and high school years. After the start of the race was announced we would yell ‘Go Sarah’ repeatedly until she was out of site. We would then anxiously pace around, silently willing her on as she battled heat, other runners, uneven running surfaces and hills. After about 20 minutes, we would see her approaching the finish line.

Ask the Woodchucks: Humming noise

Several Woodchucks have reported hearing a humming noise in their house that was hard to pin point. Some thought it was electrical while others thought it was in the plumbing. With some careful questioning and a little experimenting, we were able to identify the problem. The hum went away in each case when a faucet was turned on in the house. The problem was a faulty flapper valve in the toilet tank. Don’t panic, if you can make toast you can repair this problem in fifteen minutes with no tools.

Ad Astra — outer space, country music and the Oscar watch begins

The review of Ad Asta starts a little further down. First and foremost I need to tell you about the greatest piece of entertainment I have ever seen, hands down, or thumbs up whichever you prefer. I am talking about the PBS TV production of Country Music, an eight part series produced by Ken Burns. I’m not necessarily a country music fan, but this historical look at the beginning and evolution of that genre, absolutely mesmerized me.

A pretzel und a schnitzel

Nancy and I were sitting in our screened in porch the other day smoking cigars – yes, Nancy smokes them too. We looked around and noticed the season is now changing to fall. The leaves are turning brown, just like Nancy’s roots, and there was a chill in the air, much like the look I just got from Nancy. Being the Dining Duo, our thoughts immediately turned to Octoberfest and German food. After one last puff on our cigars, and with our stomach’s growling, we headed off to Checkers II in Union.

A Way With the Census

The 2020 U.S. Census will not contain a question on citizenship, but is this enough to engage the Latino population? This is just one of the questions that face the McHenry County Complete Count Committee in striving for a complete count.

Ask an Angel: October 3, 2019

My teenaged son was over at my parents’ house visiting when he called me in a panic. My mom had mistaken the glass that contained her Efferdent denture cleaning for her glass of Alka-Seltzer and drank it. Both were tablets that fizzed, and she had put them side by side on the kitchen counter. My son didn’t know what to do, so I quickly called poison control.

On the road again

Jim is having his midlife crisis at age 70, oh lucky me, that means he’ll probably live to be 140!!! Time to go out looking for a small fun car to boost his ego during his crisis. He always wanted a Smart Car after seeing them in Europe, and it would be a perfect fit in our garage since we want to get a golf cart also. Our first goal was to see if Jim, being 6’4″ tall, could fold himself into this miniscule vehicle. To our dismay, we learned that they are no longer sold in the United States.

Downton Abbey – splendiferous

If you are a Downton Abbey fan this movie is a must see. When it ended the audience (almost a full house) applauded and cheered. On the way out the “buzz” exceeded that of any movie I can recall. And rightly so; the total production was amazing from beginning to end.

A weekend’s jaunt in the way-back machine

I took a time-machine trip with a friend a couple weeks ago.

Well, to be honest, the machine was actually a 2012 Subaru Outback. But it had no trouble carrying us back into the past.

Tips and tricks for National Indoor Plant Week

Happy National Indoor Plant Week! Yes, it really is a thing. Kind of a made up holiday like the recent Grandparents Day or the upcoming Sweetest Day. That being said the benefits of having indoor plants are most definitely not made up. They are very, very real.

Ask the Woodchucks: Door Problems Resolved

Last week I opened the “inside” garage door to our house and heard a loud pop. It sounded like a balloon burst. Now the door doesn’t close by itself. There are 2 large cylinder type hinges on this door. Are these spring-loaded? Did one or both of them snap? How do I go about getting the door fixed?

Ask an Angel: September 19, 2019

My dad is approaching his 80th birthday. While he is in somewhat good health for his age, my mom worries about his health. He hasn’t had a physical exam for a few years now. He claims he feels great, aside from a few aches and pains that come with age. When he has a cold, he refuses to see a doctor, saying he’ll just take it easy.

Quality Programs Define NAMI-McHenry County

A call for improvements in the world of mental health may seem a natural one after the recent mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton.

The reaction to mass shootings in general seem to be based on the status of gun control regulations and perceptions that mental illness leads to violent behavior. The responses are two-fold; tighten laws for access to guns and improve the mental health system.

It’s time to take an adult look at our childish toys

When I was a kid, Mom had a little pearl-handled pistol that she kept in her top dresser drawer. I wasn’t supposed to know where it was — but I did. And sometimes when Mom and Dad were in the yard I would sneak into their room, take the gun out and play with it because it was prettier than any toy I owned.

I don’t know if it was loaded, because I never pulled the trigger. It may have had a safety that would have kept it from firing if I had pulled the trigger, but I don’t know. I just pointed it here and there and pretended I was shooting bad guys. I squinted one eye and stuck my other eye into the end of the barrel to see what it looked like down there.

Ask the Woodchucks: September 5, 2019

Many new people have moved to Sun City in the last ten years. I am taking this opportunity to review ten items that you should address to keep yourself safe and avoid costly repairs.

Come Again? Best new perennials to keep around

Gardening is said to add years to your life and life to your years. In order for those years to pass more beautifully and easily for gardeners, the Perennial Plant Association has developed a Perennial Plant of the Year (PPOY) program. For the past 29 years, members of this non for profit organization have met each summer and voted on which perennial flower they best exemplifies certain characteristics. Characteristics of past PPOYs include low maintenance, disease and insect resistant, have interest over several seasons and are hardy. Here is a summary of the past 10 years’ worth of what could be considered the best of the best perennial flowers.

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Columnists

Ask an Angel: November 21, 2019

American democracy in the crosshairs

Movies 2019 year to date

Volunteering, it’s in our nature

Let the flame of a candle light the way to change

Ask an Angel: November 7, 2019

Ask the Woodchucks: November 7, 2019

More than one way to skin a … cantaloupe?

A “hair” raising experience

Ask the Woodchucks: October 17, 2019

Judy – a walk down the yellow brick road to an Oscar

Can do: preserving your fall harvests for the colder months

Ask an Angel: October 17, 2019

You would cry, too, if it happened to you