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May 31, 2012

What is PayPal?

We should be very careful using a credit card to pay for merchandise on the internet. One way help us do this is through PayPal, a service that enables you to pay for products and services purchased on many internet shopping sites, as well as send money to others and accept payments for items you sell on eBay or on other websites–all without revealing your financial information.

Debunking some common myths on credit ratings

I read a recent article in Forbes magazine entitled: “Top 6 credit score misconceptions.” I’ll provide a brief summary of the six misconceptions reported in the article.

Who to call when you need garden help

Lifelines. Who do you call when…? Besides the obvious answer: (Ghost Busters), who do you call when you need help? On a picture perfect day in the summer of 2006, my then 6-year-old daughter was picking flowers in our yard. She was simultaneously stung by seven bees. Who did I call?

How to fix almost anything

There are hundreds of things you may want more information on when it comes to home repairs. The answers to many questions are right on your computer if you know how to find them. Two sources are Google and YouTube.

Sometimes a dog is just a dog

I get asked all the time if certain behaviors are “normal.” Is it normal that my dog chases his tail incessantly? Is it normal for a dog to eat his poo? Or is it normal that my dog barks at anything that moves? My favorite was, I think my dog has a screw loose. Can you tighten it?

Cooking with the Geezer: May 31, 2012

Vince (Chuck) Maniscalco is my personal cooking guru. When we met in Sun City, we learned that both of us had grandparents born in Sicily, the island a short distance from the southern coast of Italy.

Laughter by Paul: May 31, 2012

Grandpa was celebrating his 100th birthday and everybody complimented him on how athletic and well-preserved he appeared. “Gentlemen, I will tell you the secret of my success,” he said.

Learn some tips with me from an expert in gardening

Experienced observer. I write this column not as a gardening expert or guru, but as one who has extensive experience observing gardening and landscaping successes and failures. As only a brother can, my brother Jim pointed out years ago that I garden by pointing.

Simple home tweaks that make a world of difference

If your 911 light switch – the one that flashes the outside light to help the 911 responders find your house – stops working, it may not be broken.

Cooking with the Geezer: Rhubarb cake

Today’s recipe comes from Carolyn Schachtner.

Laughter by Paul: May 17, 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.

Another resource for frugal ideas and how to save on gas

I am always looking for new frugal ideas. Sometimes the ideas come from conversations with friends and neighbors or from students in one of my classes at the university. But it never hurts to expand your horizons and keep looking elsewhere. Surfing the web is a pretty efficient way of finding what you are looking for.

How vitamin D works in our bodies

In spite of what has been said about the need for sunshine, people will not choose it for various reasons. These people will need to depend on a supplement. This needs to be D3, the same as getting sun.

The unique and funny Michael Franks

Next up is one of my favorite vocalists and songwriters, Michael Franks.

What makes dogs tick

How can you prevent ticks from getting on your dog? The truth is that you can’t, but there are ways to minimize the risk.

Ask an Angel: May 17, 2012

Q. I miss doing some of the gardening I used to do when I lived in my own home. I can’t move like I used to, but I’d don’t want to give up working in the garden. Any suggestions?

Taking Five with the Dave Brubeck Quartet

One only needs to hear the 5/4 strains of “Take Five” to immediately recognizes it as this group’s signature tune from their most famous album by the same name. For those non-musicians, the time signature of 5/4 simply indicates that there are five beats to every measure instead of the most commonly used 4/4 time.

A look back on the first Woodchucks repair day of 2012

This is the start of the eleventh year the Woodchucks have been working in the Millgrove Woodshop. We are very happy with our facility, and as a way to give back to the community, we open the shop twice each year and invite residents to bring broken wooden furniture and other objects to the shop that need to be repaired. Thirty to forty of our most experienced woodworkers volunteer a day to repair these objects.

Why can’t hockey just be hockey?

I’ve loved Stanley Cup hockey. Until now. After you read this, you’ll either say “Yessssss” or call me naive or a wimp.

The uses and cautions of a power of attorney

Q. My children want me and my husband to consider putting a power of attorney in place. What is that, and what do I need to do?

Cooking with the Geezer: Jewish Coffee Cake

Joan Anthony is a special lady. I first met Joan through her husband Nelson, who is one of the members of my tennis play group. We had dinner at the Nelsons one evening, and that’s when I discovered that Joan is a wonderful cook. I kept bugging her to share one of her heirloom recipes.

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?