Monthly Archives: January 2006

Spicy secrets

When my husband and I moved from our rental duplex into our first house a couple of years ago, we were appalled at the food items we had accumulated during just two years of marriage. Embarrassed, we tossed too many expired cans and boxes of convenience dinners, taco kits, rice mixes and canned veggies.

Now that we’ve been in that new home two years, there’s no telling what’s in the back of the pantry. I vow never to be as bad as one unnamed relative, who is famous for hoarding outdated food and unknowingly offering it to her guests. (You know it’s not a good thing when young visitors say, "I never knew Pepsi cans used to look like that," especially when that can is in your fridge and not part of a collection … )

What’s the oldest item you’ve found in your pantry, kitchen cupboard or spice rack? (If you need help when deciding what to keep and what to toss, use this handy guide, which appeared last week in WichiTalk.)

Post your comments here.

Posted by Lori O’Toole Buselt

Avalanche, indeed

The fun little piece we ran Monday on what to do with your old magazines stirred up quite a few responses from our readers. Yay! That’s exactly what we like, and all of the suggestions were fantastic.

Here’s what you had to offer on how you can rid your coffee table, closet or attic of  mounds of magazines:
-Send them to our soldiers in Iraq
-Take National Geographic, Smithsonian and other magazines of that sort to senior centers
-Call your doctor’s office and see if they need some new material for patients to read
-Give your women’s and children’s magazines to a women’s shelter
-Sell crafting and holiday magazines at online auctions
-Recyle!

Thanks to everyone for all of the great feedback! Keep it coming, ‘cuz we love hearing from you. If you have other suggestions, comment here!

Posted by Missy Good

Ooops!

This N That isn’t the only one who noticed - in some copies of today’s WichiTalk, Pages 3 and 14 are repeats of Monday’s issue.

We goofed. We apologize. And we’ll try not to let it happen again.

Posted by Karen Shideler

(And Suzanne Tobias shamelessly adds: If you’re looking for my column today, click here.)

It DOES make me stop and wonder

Heard Sheryl Crow’s "Good Is Good" again this morning on the way in to work. It’s a song I always find myself singing along to. Until I get to these lines:

"And everytime you hear the rolling thunder
You turn around before the lightning strikes."

The next line is "And does it ever make you stop and wonder."

And the answer is "Yes." What I wonder is, Where is Sheryl Crow from, that thunder comes before lightning?

Maybe it’s just Lance’s influence?

Posted by Karen Shideler
 

How casual are your casual Fridays?

Casual Fridays. Does your workplace have them? If so, what are you allowed to wear? Jeans? Hooded sweatshirts? Pajama pants? What’s the most outlandish thing you’ve ever seen someone wear to work?

Don’t be shy. Post your comments here.

Posted by Lori O’Toole Buselt

Happy rainy Friday!

I love rainy days. Especially rainy Fridays. They seem romantic, nostalgic and conjure up thoughts of a good book and a soft blanket. They’re perfect for hosting game nights, ordering pizza, cooking homemade soups, taking indulgent naps.

But if it were a Monday morning and I forgot my umbrella, I’d be singing a different tune.

Posted by Lori O’Toole Buselt

Review before reservation

Do you ever read "user reviews" before buying a product, planning a trip or reserving a hotel room? User reviews are everywhere online, including at Expedia.com, Travelocity.com, etc.

I am a tad skeptical of them. Why stops a hotel owner from hopping online and anonymously giving his own place a glowing review? But when my husband and I traveled to the Bahamas last year, I soaked up tons of great advice from such reviews, which helped me save time and money. (They often include tips on where to eat, places to avoid and great places to see when you’re in town.)

I’m planning a weekend getaway and decided not to stay at one surprisingly low-priced three-star hotel after several reviews on different sites rattled off problem after problem with cracked drywall, faulty plumbing and poor service. Hopefully the other slightly more expensive place with better reviews will make our trip more enjoyable. Unless the reviewer was a dishonest hotel owner, that is …

Posted by Lori O’Toole Buselt

Button talk

So it’s finally happened. The River Festival button price has gone up. Gone are the $3 days. Starting this year, it’s $5. What do you think of this change? Is $5 for nine days of River Fest fun totally outrageous? Or is 55 cents a day a pretty good entertainment deal?

Also, the festival folks say they’re raising the price to give people more of what they say they want — like brand-name entertainment. The festival hasn’t signed any act yet, so here’s our chance to tell them who to go after. If the Festival could bring any musical act to town, who would you like to see?

My vote is for Neil Diamond, but Sweet Caroline, that doesn’t seem likely.

Your turn.

– Posted by Denise Neil

Tell the truth about regifting

Christmas is long gone. If you haven’t returned those slippers you detest from Aunt Helen, they’re likely collecting dust in your regifting pile.

Apparently eBay found in a survey it commissioned that nearly 60 percent of US residents received a gift they didn’t like during the holidays. And more than half of those surveyed admit that they regift.

I do it. But I make sure the person who gave it to me last year isn’t the same person I’m giving it to next year. And I make sure the item is in good condition and that the person receiving it actually will like it (rather than wanting to regift it themselves!).

Here’s an example of a successful regifting: My brother-in-law received an ’80s trivia board game that he didn’t love. He it gave it — unopened and unused — to my husband and me for Christmas. We don’t care whether he bought it or received it. We’re game board fanatics and were thrilled to add it to our collection.

Do you regift? Did you receive something for the holidays that you plan to give to someone else? If so, what is it?

Posted by Lori O’Toole Buselt

Idol twins in trouble

If you’ve been watching "American Idol," you likely were impressed with the singing of twins Terrell and Derrell Brittenum. But did you hear that they’ve been charged with forgery and theft? Check out this story.

Posted by Lori O’Toole Buselt