MY SUN DAY NEWS
It was just about a year ago that I got rid of my old, crotchety microwave oven and got a whisper-quiet new one. The old microwave had served me for nineteen years, a long enough career I suppose for kitchen appliances and quarterbacks not named Brady. It still worked well enough, except that the handle had cracked and was held together by packing tape, and when turned on it whirred and sputtered like an asthmatic chipmunk riding a bike with a baseball card clothes-pinned to fan the spokes. (This is the microwave Iām talking about, not the quarterback, who may or may not whir or sputter when heās turned on. How would I know?)
It was just about a year ago that I got rid of my old, crotchety microwave oven and got a whisper-quiet new one.
The old microwave had served me for nineteen years, a long enough career I suppose for kitchen appliances and quarterbacks not named Brady. It still worked well enough, except that the handle had cracked and was held together by packing tape, and when turned on it whirred and sputtered like an asthmatic chipmunk riding a bike with a baseball card clothes-pinned to fan the spokes. (This is the microwave Iām talking about, not the quarterback, who may or may not whir or sputter when heās turned on. How would I know?)
I slid a slightly crooked hand-woven bookmark into the envelope before sealing it and mailing it to a friend. I attached a note:
āMy newest fascination is hand weaving on a loom. I made this bookmark for you. Itās one of my first, but Iāll send another one after Iāve had more practice. Hopefully youāll see my progress. Happy Reading!ā
Dog days usually come at the end of the summer, not at the beginning. The studios seem to have this all turned around as most of the fare in theaters have been lackluster. For all that we were promised for a big return, the five majors havenāt really given much to write home about it. In an attempt to wait out until more interesting films are released, I perused the streaming services to catch up on previous material I had messed over the past few months. And letās answer a question that is starting to plague me more and more: Do we really need superhero movies anymore?
My son, Mike, recently had a business trip to Palm Springs, CA. His wife accompanied him as she wanted to hike the desert and expand her photo library. Sounds great, right? Well, when they stepped off the airplane it was 100 degrees in the shade; a dangerous situation. The trails in the Joshua Tree National Park were marked but had major warnings regarding the situation. āDanger, if you attempt this trail, you may die!ā Basically, if youāre not prepared, do not attempt. One park sign insisted that you have liters of water and a full day of food before attempting the trail.
For years I was lucky enough to have a job that allowed me to work right next to my grandparentās home. Many mornings I would stop by to visit for a few moments while they were enjoying their breakfast. Each and every day my grandfather would be eating a grapefruit and each and every day he tried to convince me that I should also eat one. He was convinced that it was the key to his good health. Although he was never able to convince me to begin my days eating the bitter citrus fruit, I did adopt his habit of starting my day by doing something healthy. Before I drink any caffeine, I drink two bottles of water. This guarantees that I drink at least half of the recommended daily amount of water before 7 a.m. Although I make a point of hydrating myself, this summer, I challenge all of us to make a point of hydrating our plants.
Since prehistoric times, men have hunted for meat and cooked it over fire. Fire and meat, goodā¦ What better way to make Jim happy than to take him to a restaurant that serves meat, and meat, and even more meat. I thought of a place to take him, but upon checking the website, the dinner would cost $59.99 per person and lunch would be $32.99 per person. Making him happy is not worth the extra money, so I decided to take him there for a week day lunch. The name of this carnivoreās ādream come trueā is the Texas de Brazil Churrascaria at the Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg.
Now that Iāve entered my 70s, Iāve been spending more and more time reading about menās health. While Iāve mostly lived an active lifestyle, Iām finding that in retirement, I no longer have as much mental engagement as I was used to in my career. I read about early-onset Alzheimerās disease and other age-related chronic health conditions related to men, and it terrifies me.
A scene that is familiar here in Sun City: wives sitting on the bleachers watching their husbands play a softball game. Pat McKay, a player on the Adjusters softball team, said, āWhile we were playing the game on the field, our wives were talking and during their conversations, they found something that they all had in common. Their husbands all played an instrument and were in a band when they were younger. They encouraged us to get together.ā Thatās how Sun City residents John Toth, Dave OāNeil, and Pat McKay got together in the basement of the drummer (because itās difficult to move those drums) to play some tunes once a week.
A scene that is familiar here in Sun City: wives sitting on the bleachers watching their husbands play a softball game.
Pat McKay, a player on the Adjusters softball team, said, āWhile we were playing the game on the field, our wives were talking and during their conversations, they found something that they all had in common. Their husbands all played an instrument and were in a band when they were younger. They encouraged us to get together.ā
Thatās how Sun City residents John Toth, Dave OāNeil, and Pat McKay got together in the basement of the drummer (because itās difficult to move those drums) to play some tunes once a week.
I guess you might say I have an affinity for roadkill. Oh, itās not something Iām proud of. Itās just that over the years, roadkill and I have often crossed paths, and I guess you could say that I took the path less traveled by most people.
I guess you might say I have an affinity for roadkill.
Oh, itās not something Iām proud of. Itās just that over the years, roadkill and I have often crossed paths, and I guess you could say that I took the path less traveled by most people.
Dr. Meghan Bagby, Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Huntley High School, is asking for Sun City residents to consider volunteering in an important role for Huntley High School Students in their focused Global Academies programs. Bagby said, āWe are hoping to get residents who can transfer their knowledge and skills to our students. We offer programs in engineering, fine arts, global, and medical fields.ā
Dr. Meghan Bagby, Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Huntley High School, is asking for Sun City residents to consider volunteering in an important role for Huntley High School Students in their focused Global Academies programs.
Bagby said, āWe are hoping to get residents who can transfer their knowledge and skills to our students. We offer programs in engineering, fine arts, global, and medical fields.ā
If you grew up in the 50s and 60s, you might have enjoyed the challenge of developing an intense dark-tan look added to your skin. You probably even thought that this “healthy tan” made you look like Annette Funicello or Sandra Dee from the Beach Boys’ movies. Unfortunately, like the unhealthy aspect of smoking during those same years, there was “no warning sign” posted anywhere informing you otherwise.
Even though my school years are long behind me, I still expect that once the calendar flips to June, summer vacation is supposed to magically appear. Remember those delicious days of summer vacation as a kid? Sprinklers on the lawn? Dreamsicles from the ice cream truck? Long days at the city pool, counting out change at the concession stand to buy nachos and a slurpee while the grownups commandeered the pool during Adult Swim?
In a recent article in The Hollywood Reporter, it was confirmed that Martin Scorseseās latest film is going to be three hours and twenty-six minutes. For those who screened it in Cannes, I hope they took a long bathroom break and refrained from fluids. Running times have inflated even more than studio budgets of late. Christopher Nolanās Oppenheimer movie is three hours, which I plan to review next month. The question remains: can we still get smaller films made in the climate of spectacle? Have no fear, those still exist if one is willing to seek them out.
June is busting out all over. The weather went directly from a freeze warning to a heat warning. The flowers are in full bloom which means those orange cones are also in full bloom along all of our roadways. You canāt escape construction, not even in restaurants. This is the case with Jiangās Mongolian Grill in Algonquin.
The influence of others can help us in many ways. A glimmer of hope can be seen when before we only saw despair. Encouragement in the form of a smile can change the trajectory of oneās day. Others can help us see things from a different perspective. Annie, my puppy, has helped me see the beauty in darkness. We spend time each evening, well after the sun has set, outside. While in the past, I would have spent that time staring at a screen, I now stare at the beauty nature has to offer under the stars.
Iām writing to seek your expert advice on behalf of my beloved aunt. Sheās facing isolation and loneliness during the summer months, especially as her immediate family spends most of the summer at their lake home in Michigan. She has expressed feeling isolated and lonely, and not just because her family is away for the summer.
Letters for the week of June 15.
There appears to be a long-running contention between the Pickleball and Tennis clubs ever since the Pickleball Club was established in Sun City back in 2006. In its early days, the Sun City Pickleball Club had to share time on two of the eight tennis courts at the formerly named Tall Oaks Tennis Center with members of the Tennis Club. Despite negotiation efforts by past leaders of both clubs, there appeared to always be constant tension and controversy amongst pickleball and tennis players in Sun City, according to a My Sun Day News story from 2017.
There appears to be a long-running contention between the Pickleball and Tennis clubs ever since the Pickleball Club was established in Sun City back in 2006.
In its early days, the Sun City Pickleball Club had to share time on two of the eight tennis courts at the formerly named Tall Oaks Tennis Center with members of the Tennis Club.
Despite negotiation efforts by past leaders of both clubs, there appeared to always be constant tension and controversy amongst pickleball and tennis players in Sun City, according to a My Sun Day News story from 2017.
Sometimes itās hard to tell exactly when a house becomes a home. But sometimes you know exactly to the moment when it happens. The house where our kids grew up was in Schaumburg. It was ten years old when we bought it, so it had already been somebody elseās home, and as my wife and I toured it during their open house, we wanted to see what would make us feel that this house could be home to us.
Sometimes itās hard to tell exactly when a house becomes a home.
But sometimes you know exactly to the moment when it happens.
The house where our kids grew up was in Schaumburg. It was ten years old when we bought it, so it had already been somebody elseās home, and as my wife and I toured it during their open house, we wanted to see what would make us feel that this house could be home to us.
The National Council on Aging (NCOA), in its April article on older adults’ unique nutritional needs for health excellence, sites their choice of 8 superfoods. “The term (superfoods) refers to whole, minimally processed foods that are nutrient dense. Most superfoods are plant-based, but not all.” The NCOA continues, “What’s one of the secrets to aging well? It starts with the foods we put on our plate every day. A balanced diet, filled with superfoods, can help older adults maintain healthy cognitive (thinking process) function and strong bones, and even prevent chronic (long-lasting) disease.” These foods contain healthy vitamins, fats, minerals, antioxidants and other compounds that have been found to promote good health and prevent illness and disease.
The National Council on Aging (NCOA), in its April article on older adults’ unique nutritional needs for health excellence, sites their choice of 8 superfoods.
“The term (superfoods) refers to whole, minimally processed foods that are nutrient dense. Most superfoods are plant-based, but not all.” The NCOA continues, “What’s one of the secrets to aging well? It starts with the foods we put on our plate every day. A balanced diet, filled with superfoods, can help older adults maintain healthy cognitive (thinking process) function and strong bones, and even prevent chronic (long-lasting) disease.” These foods contain healthy vitamins, fats, minerals, antioxidants and other compounds that have been found to promote good health and prevent illness and disease.
As much as Iād like you to think that my Gentleman Friend and I have been married blissfully and perfectly happy for the past several decades, Iām going to take a risk and tell you that sometimes, we fight. Our fights arenāt typically the loud, plate-throwing variety. Weāve mastered the art of subtle tiffs, starting out as a tiny slight that grows into a stand-off āā and I am the half of us most guilty of this āā in an all-encompassing silence that can be louder than a freight train.
Have you ever listened to a song and been transported to another time in your life? The pull of memory is one of the most powerful tools on which media thrives. Every thirty years, a new phase is rehashed with goals of reeling generations with wistful longing. The allure of our past youth shoved in our faces in hopes of attaining our attention and our wallets. Some, though, are created by those who remember it and want to reflect on as we would but in art. While conglomerates utilize it in more shameless ways. Letās sort through some of these.
You have two or more sillcocks on your house even if you donāt know the name āsillcock.ā They are the outside faucets where you connect garden hoses, and they often leak.
You have two or more sillcocks on your house even if you donāt know the name āsillcock.ā
They are the outside faucets where you connect garden hoses, and they often leak.
Spring is here in Sun City and so is the fun.
Since we are retired and have the word āsuckerā tattooed across our foreheads, we volunteer for everything and have absolutely no free time. We checked our calendar and to our amazement, we found a day with no appointments. With this new found free time, what is the number one choice for a senior mental health day? Going for lunch and to a casino!!! Some of you may not realize that there is a new Hard Rock Casino being built a stoneās throw away in Rockford at the site of the Old Clock Tower Inn. While this in under construction, a temporary location is open in a strip mall right down the street. Upon further investigation, we discovered a restaurant which caught our attention while Googling restaurants near the casino and found the Stone Eagle Tavern.
For the past few days big black ants have been crawling on the floor of my office. I have been putting up with the presence of the ants because I thought they were needed to open the beautiful peony buds right outside my office window. It turns out though that it is a myth that ants are needed to open the flower buds on peonies. Ants, while can often be found on peonies, are not needed for the buds to open. Peonies buds can open on their own. This and several other gardening myths will be busted in todayās column.
Letters for the week of June 1.
I am writing to you today because I am an older adult who could benefit from home care, but I am scared because I don’t think it’s safe. I worry about letting strangers into my home and about the potential risks of having someone else help me with tasks such as bathing, dressing, and grooming.
Huntley Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for Dairy Mart May 20.
Shirley Kroot, Sun City resident, has raised over $120,000 for cancer research through the Komen Foundation, and currently, for the American Cancer Society. What prompted her to start fundraising? Kroot said, āI decided to start fundraising in 2003 when my cousin’s wife died of breast cancer. I sent out emails asking for donations. The first year, I raised $300 with little effort. I thought that with more effort I could raise more.ā
Shirley Kroot, Sun City resident, has raised over $120,000 for cancer research through the Komen Foundation, and currently, for the American Cancer Society.
What prompted her to start fundraising?
Kroot said, āI decided to start fundraising in 2003 when my cousin’s wife died of breast cancer. I sent out emails asking for donations. The first year, I raised $300 with little effort. I thought that with more effort I could raise more.ā
