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MY SUN DAY NEWS

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Sun City in Huntley

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

October 18, 2012

Enriching the life of homebound friends

Q. I have two neighbors who are homebound, and I worry about them. One has a caregiver that comes to help her, but my other neighbor does not have a support system in place. Her family is not in the area, either. How can I help without over-extending myself?

How the Count made great vocalists greater

Any study of the history of jazz music would be incomplete without the inclusion of another royal member: William “Count” Basie. Born in 1904, he lived for 80 years as one of the most revered American jazz pianists, bandleaders, and composers. His first piano lessons came from his mother, and he was performing in his teens.

How our lovely leaves get their colors

This afternoon, my daughter Mary and I will make our second trip to Milwaukee in three days. We will drive up there again next Wednesday. When the kids were younger, a drive in the car was peaceful. We would listen to books on tape (The Jungle Book was our favorite), Spanish music (to promote language learning), or if I needed some adult conversation, they would read books and I would listen to WGN Radio.

An important discovery

It was 1964 that I left the hospital field about ready to deliver my first child. In my heart I knew that I could never return to dietetics the way it was practiced. For a short time, I kept up my registration as a dietitian, going to all the required seminars. In 1959 I had become a “born again Christian,” accepting Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior.

Beaten to the draw by the fastest grump in the west

While taking a quiet walk around Wildflower Park the other morning, I bumped into a grump. The sun was shining, the temperature was balmy, the breeze was soft, and I greeted him as I greet most fellow walkers — with a smile and a “Good morning! Beautiful day today!” He nodded, but his grumpitude quickly kicked in.

Gone fishing at a homely Wisconsin grill

On a recent fall Sunday evening, neighbors Bob and Roberta Langham invited Judy and me to join them for dinner at Fitzgerald’s Restaurant & Gift Shop in Genoa City, WI. They had high praises for their fish broil set in a unique octagon-shaped home. Mike and Emma Burns also joined us for the 45-minute trip to the historic restaurant.

Let automation take care of tasks for you

Mention home automation and thoughts of the Jetsons and their robot maid “Rosie” comes to mind for many of us. We are not quite there yet, but there is automation out there that you can implement in your home today.

Canine trivia and Fydo fun facts

There are so many great things about dogs! I thought I would share some fun trivia with you that you can use to impress your friends! Try answering the questions first without looking at the answers on the bottom. Enjoy!

Fall maintenance and Q&As

The master gardener in our neighborhood advises that because of the severe drought we had this summer, the trees and bushes in your yard are highly stressed. They could easily be lost over the winter if they are not well-watered before winter sets in. You should run your hose at about half flow on each tree for about an hour once or twice a week until the first freeze. The bushes will need one-third of that amount.

My hospital experiences

My responsibilities as a hospital dietitian included taking the diet prescription from the doctor and making it into a menu specific for that patient, such as low calorie, low salt, low fiber, diabetic, etc, making rounds visiting patients, giving outpatient instruction on their specific diets when they went home, and various other duties.

Fees have replaced Free

Oh for the good ole days when some things were free. I remember running home from school to turn on the TV which still had the test pattern showing because “Howdy Doody” and “Buffalo Bob” hadn’t started yet. I wondered why we had rabbit ears on the top of the TV in those days. Today those rabbit ears would be worth about $75 a month in satellite or cable fees. It is truly amazing when we consider what we pay in fees today for stuff that used to be free.

Make the most of fall in your garden

Fall may be considered nature’s last Hurrah! A spectacular show of color prior to a period of hibernation during the winter. Fall is a superb time to work in your yard. The days are a bit cooler, the sun isn’t as bright, and the mosquitoes and beetles are gone. What better way to spend the day than in your yard? Whether you have a small area that is in need of a little attention or a whole lawn that needs renovating, here are some ideas of what can be done.

Ask an Angel: October 4, 2012

Q. My children are always worrying about me. They think I am having issues keeping my balance. I think I am doing fine, but they insist I use a walker. I just can’t imagine myself doing this. Any suggestions?

Laughter by Paul: October 4, 2012

Jim was on vacation, playing the slot machines. It was his first time in a casino, and he was unsure how the machines operated.

How pretending can lead to a new appreciation of jazz

I’ll bet I can get you to read the rest of this column by just posing this question: Do you remember using the expression “let’s pretend” when you were a kid?

European-trained chef brings authentic taste to Mariano’s

This week, Judy and I were joined by neighbors Stan and Esther for a classic Italian meal at La Trattoria Mariano, a new restaurant in Algonquin Commons that was previously in Lake in the Hills. This new location should be a boon to their business, as it is much more visible and closer to both Del Webb locations in Huntley and Elgin.

Choosing the right dog to share your life and home, Part II

You’ve decided to purchase a dog from a breeder. Before you choose a breeder, here are some facts that you may want to consider first. First and foremost, never buy a dog from a pet store! Pet Stores are not breeders.

Smoke alarm tips will help to keep you safe and sure

If the smoke alarms in your residence are more than 10 years old, there is a good chance they will not warn you of a fire. There are parts in the alarm that wear out, and all smoke alarm manufacturers warn on their websites that their alarms should be replaced after 10 years. The National Fire Protection association also urges replacing home smoke alarms after 10 years.

Ask an Angel: September 20, 2012

Q. I am new to the area, and I decided to visit a few senior centers to get acquainted with the area and meet new friends. I could really use help in knowing how to navigate all the personalities. I felt like I was in high school again and didn’t know how to be myself!

Taxation without representation

Whenever I meet new acquaintances and tell them that I live at Sun City, I get the same reaction. They always ask, “How do you like it?” It is usually a fairly long response as I share with them how pleased we are with the community, the amenities, and the facilities. I usually sum up the conversation by describing Sun City as the Adult version of Disney World.

Make this fall special with a scenic country drive

Fall is the favorite season for many. My husband, Chris, pointed out recently that in our life, we will only experience, at most, 100 seasons of fall. Get-togethers with family, dinners out with friends, hugs from grandchildren—all things we will experience more than 100 times. Fall is, as they say, a “limited-time offer.”

Duke Ellington, the man who gave American music its sound

There are two “Dukes” I revere: John Wayne, of course, and Duke Ellington. Since this is a column about jazz, let’s look at the legend that is the Duke of Jazz. Surely there aren’t too many people in the world who haven’t heard of him or heard his music.

Laughter by Paul: September 20, 2012

A tornado hit a farmhouse just before dawn. It lifted the roof off, picked up the beds in which the farmer and his wife slept, and set them down gently in the next county. The wife began to cry.

College and a career

In 1951 I was off to college at the University of Iowa. By my junior year I had decided to enter the medical field. I thought I might take up nursing, but the sight of blood made me faint. Since my mother always talked about eating a carrot for its vitamin A and orange juice for its C, I decided learning about what we put into our bodies might be interesting.

How to choose the right dog for you part 2: shelter/rescue Dogs

There is a huge misconception that there is something wrong with dogs at shelters or rescues. That statement couldn’t be further from the truth. Most dogs are given up because of transitions in their humans’ lives, like moving into a new place that doesn’t allow dogs, having a baby, a new boyfriend is allergic to dogs, getting a divorce, or more.

Garage Access to Your House

Did you ever want to give temporary access to your house to a visitor or a service person? If you have a keyless entry keypad on the outside of your garage, chances are it can be programmed to activate a four digit PIN for a programmed number of hours or number of accesses, after which it will expire and the PIN will no longer open the door.

A taste of Italy in Sun City

Recently, my wife Judy and I had dinner at the Burns’ home, and Emma served a wonderful chicken dish. I asked her if she would share the recipe with the community and, of course, she agreed to do so. Here’s your chance to try Emma’s special recipe.

Expand your mind with free online tutorials

Anyone interested in learning something new or expanding an already existing knowledge base can find information in the form of online tutorials. Our topic today is free tutorials on a variety of subjects and ways to learn. Following are some websites that provide training courses or programs to meet your interests, and they’re all free.

Another trip to the Islands, Greek, that is!

Whenever Judy and I are going to be in downtown Chicago, we try to work in dinner in Greek Town. Previously, the only restaurant we patronized was The Parthenon, but this time we decided to give another restaurant a try. We had heard good reports on Greek Islands, which is just a block north of the Parthenon. So here is a review by comparison of the two establishments.

Get to know Living Out Loud before they become famous

It’s time to put the spotlight on a local group – a very young local group. This week, it’s all about Living Out Loud (LOL), the grandchildren of Kay and Lou Beugnet of N.33. The kids are triplet boys, Andrew, Steven, and Jason, age 12, and sister Kaela, 14.