March 07 LinorStore.com Ezine

The weather is the top news story in the Midwest, where we have 30-mile-an-hour winds blowing snow across roads, making it impossible for snowplows to keep the roads clear. It's about this time of year when people get sick of winter and have cabin fever.

I heard a story today about a guy who is tired of plowing his driveway. On top of it all, his sister's car is in his driveway and she's been in Hawaii for a month. So, while she's having fun in the sun, he's slaving away during his busy season (tax time), and cleaning off her car to plow his driveway.

Travel to and from work took twice as long for several people on Fri., March 2, 2007. It reminds me of the different driving methods in the city. Since my husband and I moved the suburbs 17 years ago, I still cannot get used to drivers stopping completely to make a right hand turn. In Chicago, one did a "rolling stop" at stop signs.

The side streets are plowed faster and I'm grateful for the luxury of living in a townhouse and having snowplows plow our 3-car length driveway and shoveling our short walkway.

Another difference is country or back roads. When I visited friends who lived closer to the city, I never understood how they could navigate back roads without streetlights at 45 m.p.h. Now, I do it everyday myself. Guess it's just a matter of getting acclimated.

It also seems to me that driving lanes are wider out here and while I love visiting my city dwelling girlfriend and drinking coffee on her deck with a view of the city's back yards, gardens, and alleys, the suburbs are more spread out and less congested.

When we first moved out here, we could make a left turn without waiting. That's how light traffic was. And, there were corn fields a few blocks south of us. I knew the city was growing when I had to wait to make a left turn and when new homes were built where the farms were. Not coincidentally, where we live used to be a farmhouse also.

More people are moving further west or southwest to get more house for the money. Since my husband drives to the city for work, this is a good place for us. I'm hoping our next move will be our retirement move to a warmer state and that's a long way off.

Newsworthy
I don't get the big story about Anna Nicole Smith's death that's been the top news story for the past few weeks. America is involved in a war; our economy is slipping downward, unemployment is rising and elections are coming up. I'm sorry that a woman died but, let's move on already and let her lie in peace.

John Belushi, the comedian and actor has been gone 25 years this month. He brought us humor and belly laughs. I'm a huge Blues Brothers fan.

Chocolate News
I've discovered a new website: http://www.topix.net/food/chocolate. It has chocolate reviews, new products and healthy chocolate ideas. But please do your shopping for Katie's Old Fashioned hand dipped boutique chocolates at linorstore.com. If you're in the Chicagoland area, you can book a chocolate and jewelry show. Details coming soon.

Cat News
Does your cat walk on your computer keyboard? A friend told me about a gift she received from her friend, after her cat caused her computer to crash, losing hours of work. It's software that detects "cat-typing". I don't have it, but she said it locks your keyboard. I wish I'd thought of it. The link is: http://www.bitboost.com/pawsense/index.html.


Movie Review: "Dreamgirls"
Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, Eddie Murphy, Danny Glover, and Jamie Foxx made this movie truly enjoyable. The loosely based "Supremes" story is really the American dream come true after a bumpy ride for character Effie White (Jennifer Hudson). The 60s female singing group, "The Dreamettes", competes for a shot to fame, get a fast talking used-car salesman manager (Foxx) and end up singing backup for James Early (Eddie Murphy). Add love, drugs and payola to shake up the mix and Effie gets left behind because she's overweight and sickly (pregnant).

Murphy's act, with his wife standing on one stage wing and his girlfriend on the other, ending with him dropping his pants had me doubled over with laughter. Hudson's desperate action, swallowing her pride by asking Glover for help had me in tears for the wasted years of her outstanding voice, only to be rediscovered later as a soloist, and appearing with the "Dreams" at their last performance singing lead.

$9 rating. I love the music (R&B), the history, and the casting was superb. Get your copy now at linorstore.com/books.htm

CD Review: "Oh My Nola", Harry Connick, Jr.
I could listen to this CD all day long. It has strong jazz and past pop favorites, "Hello Dolly" and "Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey?" The title song is good, but my favorites are "We Make a Lotta Love" and "All These People".  

Harry Connick, Jr. gives back to his city, New Orleans with royalties from CD sales donated to The Musician's Village in New Orleans. One can tell when an artist is passionate about a cause and it comes through music. And, boy, is Harry passionate ... and I'm wild about Harry.   Get your copy now at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I2KNU2?tag=hotdogsncoolc-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=B000I2KNU2&adid=0T18HJTJJ8HJPWHK8AC3&.  

Read your March Horoscoops™ at http://www.linorstore.com/horoscoops.htm.

Send comments to me about this ezine or about LinorStore.com and you can win a candle. Tell a friend and you both win a candle. It's easy.

"March forth" - Martin Luther King, Jr. - with lovingkindness in your heart.

Linda Blatchford
Etailer, Chocoholic http://www.LinorStore.com