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MY SUN DAY NEWS

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News & Features Columnists Editorials Hang Your Hat Obituaries My Huntley News

May 3, 2012

Columnists

Giving your garden a strong foundation

A solid foundation is the key to strong marriages, well built houses, and well adjusted children. As T. F. Hodge stated, “You cannot build a dream on a foundation of sand. To weather the test of storms, it must be cemented in the heart with uncompromising conviction.”

It’s a mouse, but don’t be afraid

This mouse is your friend and nothing to be afraid of. It sits there alongside your keyboard to help you do things easier and faster than with some key commands and does a whole lot of other things you could never even do before. Let’s get better acquainted with your mouse and learn how it can work for you.

What’s for lunch?

This week, it’s all about lunch. I will focus on a few of the options in the area, some new, and some old standbys. Rather than rate them, I will limit my comments to the menus. Let’s start with one of the best and a no-brainer.

Managing your utility costs

I recently received an email from a fellow Sun City resident indicating that every year they get a letter from Nicor asking them to enroll in a fixed bill gas program. They asked me what I thought of the fixed bill plans. This is an interesting question. Gas, like electricity and telephones, is a regulated utility service.

Laughter by Paul: May 3, 2012

A young man saw an elderly couple sitting down to lunch at McDonald’s. He noticed that they had ordered one meal and an extra drink cup.

A look at two artists who represent jazz’s past and present

First, a few words of explanation about this new column. Each edition will feature musicians from various generations and genres with a variety of styles, each talented and unique in their time. My primary objective is to introduce or re-introduce readers to some of the great musicians of our time. Secondly, I hope that I am able to assist readers who are unaccustomed to using the Internet to find and listen to music. I will also be calling your attention to local performances of jazz, rock, classical, and other musical styles at nearby venues.

A great dining experience you can ‘bank’ on

This week, Judy and I chose one of the mainstay eateries of downtown Elgin, Al’s Cafe. We walked into Al’s not knowing what to expect. The restaurant is on Dupage Court, which has been turned into a pedestrian-only block. The 2-story building and its small entrance really provide no clues as to what was in store for us. This was a Saturday night about 6 p.m., so we were surprised to be able to walk in and get seated immediately.

Getting old has its advantages

This was the first year that I realized that getting to 65 has its advantages. I got my reduced fare permit and have enjoyed traveling on the Metra and CTA transportation at significant savings over my rides at 64. Although I am quickly reminded by my elder neighbors that I missed out on the last few years when it was “free” for seniors. That’s okay. I knew that wouldn’t last forever and getting older faster wouldn’t be worth it.

How seniors can spring clean in a safe, effective way

Doing the spring cleaning in my home always made me feel good. Now I notice I can’t do as much as I used to. How can I safely clean my home?

A spring gardening to-do list

In 1968 Spencer Silver accidently invented what I would consider the greatest invention of the 20th century. Any ideas? Anyone? Post-it Notes! They are the single biggest factor behind the efficiency by which I run my company. Without to-do lists, forms, and Post-it Notes, I think I would just cease to function.

Cooking with the Geezers: Strawberry Pie

Jean Williamson offers a pie that is sure to be a hit at your next gathering. But first, there’s a story behind how Jean’s recipe found its way to my column this week. Last month, while we were in Florida, Joyce and Larry Fik of Sun City invited us to dinner at their Bonita Springs home. They also invited another Huntley couple, Jean and Ron Williamson, whom we had never met.

Patio Paver Sanding

If you have a paver patio, walkway, or driveway and the sand needs to be replenished between the pavers, there are two alternatives. The best alternative is to use polymeric sand, which bonds the pavers together, keeps out weeds, and is less susceptible to ants. Before you go out and buy a bag of polymeric sand, read on so you know what is involved in getting the sand into the joints properly.

Laughter by Paul: April 19, 2012

A man is talking to the family doctor. “Doc, I think my wife’s going deaf.”

Ask an Angel: April 5, 2012

How do I really assess if I need help at home? My family keeps insisting I get outside help. I really don’t want a stranger in my home.

Food so good, you’ll think it was just a dream

This week, we enjoyed a family gathering at our favorite Chinese restaurant, Yu’s Mandarin in Schaumburg. We have been coming to Yu’s for a number of years since it opened in 1982, and it has consistently remained a favorite of ours and many other diners in the northwest suburbs. On the weekends, you have to expect to wait to be seated because of the popularity of this establishment.

It could be worse

As I write this column, gasoline prices at the nearby pumps are at $4.37 per gallon. In 2008, we were in shock because the price of gas broke through the $4-per-gallon barrier. Here we are again setting record highs.

Some tips on classifying and protecting plants

Daffodils, Magnolias, forsythia, Oh My! Spring’s beautiful blessings graced us early this year. The bountiful array of flowers and colors are almost overwhelming. We have hyacinths blooming at the same time as serviceberry. The delicate purple flowers of redbuds are occurring at the same time as the large red flowers on the quince. The white and purple flowers of crabtrees bring back memories of our childhood. (My Grandmother told Tom and I not to eat those apples…)

Cleaning Garage Floors

Spring is finally here, and there is a rather lengthy list of traditional spring cleaning tasks that must either be done or avoided. Winter has a way of making a mess in the garage. The concrete floor has an accumulation of sand with salt residue mixed in. If your car has any leaks, there may be some oil spots. Another problem may be rust stains.

Buying new on eBay can save money

Most people are aware that eBay is the equivalent of an online garage sale where people can buy and sell used items. Actually eBay is much more than that. There are many great buys in new items as well as used.

Laughter by Paul: April 5, 2012

Jane had just become a widow and needed to put an obituary in the paper about her late husband, Bubba. She called the newspaper and asked, “How much does it cost to put an obituary in the paper?”

Securing Your Home, part 2

As most of you know, there have been a number of break-ins in Sun City. These have been daylight events where the front door was forced open, and money and jewelry were taken. On many of the homes, there is a double pane window the full height of the door on one or both sides of the door. Since the deadbolt on the doors of these houses is a single cylinder, i.e. there is no key lock on the inside, a burglar can break the window, reach in and turn the knob on the deadbolt to open the door.

Cooking with the Geezer: Apple Pan Walnut Cake

This week’s recipe comes from N-33 neighbors, Eileen and Dave Liebhart. Here’s what Eileen wrote to me.

A restaurant that lives up to the name of Alexander the Great

This week, Judy and I were joined by Canary Lane neighbors Jerry and Joan, Steve and Diane, along with Ron and Diana, who live on Oakwood. We headed out to Alexander’s Restaurant in Elgin, just north of the I-90 on Rt. 31.

Sharing my gardening roots and upbringing

“Look!” My daughter exclaimed. “They‘re blooming.” Sarah had just spotted a cluster of purple-and-yellow crocus flowering on the south side of our home. She saw something beautiful in the landscape and wanted to share. Sharing, that is what this column is all about.

Battling Inflation one small purchase at a time

A recent article in MSN Money reviewed a report issued by the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER) on the EPI Index, an index of everyday prices. The EPI index measures the changes in everyday prices people pay for food, gas, electricity, child care, and personal care items like shampoo and toothpaste.

The real causes of skin cancer

Studies have shown that the lack of sunlight increases the risk of skin cancer. Skin cancer is more likely found on parts of the body covered up or not exposed to sunlight. It is also found among people with indoor jobs or who sit under fluorescent lights.