Living the American Dream: March 2010

In Depth With Tanya Lysacek

Click on the link to read everything you could probably want to know about what it's like to be the mom of an Olympian.

Golden Boy

At last someone realizes I deserve a medal for putting up with Grumpy for so long!
Fortunately that person was Steve Vukasovic, ace photographer from Glancer Magazine!
Don't really think Evan is going to give it up quite so easily...

Hold the Front Page!

To commemorate my third anniversary of moving to Naperville, I'm finally granted my wish. Here's today's Chicago Sun Times. Sure I have to share my by-line with a colleague, but I'm happy to share my success.

Evan's Above!

Come join us on our whistle-stop tour of Naperville with Olympic gold medalist Evan Lysacek. First stop Hotel Arista at 7.30 a.m.

All aboard the magic bus.

We even had our own motorcycle cavalcade.

Last time Evan took the bus to Neuqua it was a rickety yellow one.

School prize days have improved a little too.

Although the kids are a little more unruly these days.

I know Americans like large portions, but this is ridiculous.

Room for one more on top? Maybe not.

Sorry, but you'll have to wait for the next one.

Park District head Ray McGury wins first prize in the Be A Body Guard for A Day contest.

Anyone can win an Olympic Gold Medal (apart from me, obviously) but there can be only one winner of the very first Distinguished Alumni Award from Neuqua Valley High School.

"Ooh goody," exclaims Tanya Lysacek. "The April issue of my favorite magazine is out."
Tanya unwinds with a little light reading in the middle of a world record attempt to see how many people you can cram into Rosebud restaurant.

On the Road with Evan Lysacek

Naperville’s Olympic Gold Ice Skating medallist Evan Lysacek returned home to a hero’s welcome on Friday, March 26th and who was with him every step of the way? Me!
I've written more stories about him over the past 24 hours than even a writerholic like me could wish to. What follows is my article for the Glancer, plus a few additions especially for blog readers. Pix to follow.

Thursday, March 25th 11.30 p.m. Evan flies in from L.A.
7.30 a.m. Hotel Arista.
Evan is interviewed by Sarah Knight Adamson. He’s already appeared on NBC 5 news at 6.30 a.m. After meeting Sarah he heads to the phone for a radio interview with Eric and Kathy of 101.9fm THE MIX. I start to panic, realizing a) I hadn't booked a spot with him. b) If I did have a spot, I had nothing prepared to ask him.
8 a.m.
Evan boards his state of the art tour bus, provided by Naperville transportation company E3Axess, with his mom Tanya, dad Don, Dancing with the Stars partner Anna Trebunskaya and members of team Glancer.
As the bus moves off he’s already talking to reporters.
This bus is bloody amazing! It's all anyone can talk about. Forget the fact that I'm touring with an Olympic superstar - this bus is not only comfy, it has WiFi and electrical outlets!! I'm may be sitting with the mayor and State Representative Darlene Senger, but have you seen the leather in here?
8.20 a.m. Arrival at his alma mater Neuqua Valley High School.
Until you enter a hall of 4,500 screaming kids cheering "U.S.A, U.S.A" you haven't lived. Unfricking believable. Is that a swear word? Well, not in England it isn't.
9 a.m. Press conference. Anna tells the Glancer: “Evan and I hoped we would be able to find five minutes to practice today.”
Ha ha, she'll be lucky. Actually a lovely girl. We talked a lot and she charged something on my netbook so I feel like we've bonded. Try to blot out any thoughts she might be a Russian spy.
9.30 a.m. Evan enters the school gym, welcomed by 4,500 screaming Wildcats. Mayor George Pradel tells him the road outside the school is to be renamed Evan Lysacek Parkway in his honor. Receives school’s first Distinguished Alumni Award.
10.30 a.m. Leaves Neuqua and heads to NCTV for interview with news anchor Dolly McCarthy. No time to rest, Evan is interviewed all the way. He tells the Glancer: “It’s exciting. My schedule has been really busy. I am so fortunate to have so many opportunities, so I am trying to say yes to as many as I can.”
Got my interview, even though I was sat in swively chair and had trouble sitting still. Evan really is very nice. Didn't seem to notice I had no idea what I was doing, but then he had already done 300 interviews that morning so I think he was on cruise control. Still I did get to touch his medal! In fact the first thing I said to him was "Can I stroke your medal? I've never said that to a man before." It was very heavy. Hope it doesn't give him neck strain.
Mom Tanya adds: “It’s very surreal, but a lot of fun.”
11.50 a.m. Arrival at White Eagle Club for Chamber of Commerce lunch. Evan is honored with gifts from many local organizations including a Paul Harris Fellowship from Naperville Rotary Club. He receives a special Cheese cake from Eli’s – shaped like a giant slice of cake atop another cake decorated with edible Gold medals. The real icing on the cake is when the mayor presents Evan with the key to the city.
Finally met with the latest editor of the Naperville Sun. (It's not easy being a freelance you know). Think he knew who I was.
2.30 p.m. Back on the bus for more interviews.
2.40 p.m. Gregory Middle School. More wild cheers as Evan returns to another former school. “I’m on a very busy schedule, but I’m wanted to make sure I stopped by and say hi to you guys,” he told them.
God, you have to be an Olympian to keep up with this pace. Absolutely exhausted. Start pretending when I jump off the bus and enter the venues people are cheering for me.
3 p.m. Springbrook Elementary School. Evan attended 4th and 5th grade here. He told the children how important reading is and told them his favorite book growing up was Where The Wild Things Are.
The teachers here are amazing. They control an entire hall of screaming kiddies with hand gestures, and not the ones you might imagine....
3.45 p.m. Public rally at Rotary Hill. Evan and Anna demonstrate some dance moves.
Me to Evan's dad Don as the bus pulls up:
"That man in the crowd looks like Drew Peterson." (Local villain for foreign readers)
Don: "Actually he's my brother in law."
5 p.m. Leave Rotary Hill.
Given huge piece of the special cheesecake. I know I'm on Weight Watchers yet again, but you can't turn down cake made especially for an Olympic athlete, especially when you are sitting opposite him. Worth every calorie.
5.10 p.m. Rosebud restaurant. Fundraiser for the Stephanie Joseph Memorial Fund attended by 125 people. Stephanie was Evan’s childhood skating partner who died tragically from cancer when she was just 21. Since then Evan has been working with her family to raise money to provide scholarships and grant wishes for young people in need.
Grumpy appears on the scene to help me take photos since I'm so tired my eyes are crossing. Editor of Glancer magazine's 6- year-old daughter asks why he is called Grumpy. So young, bless her. She'll learn.
I give Evan a big handshake and wish him well as he says goodbye.
6 p.m. Evan waves goodbye to Naperville and heads back to LA for more rehearsals for Dancing with the Stars.
I collapse into a well deserved glass of wine.
Huge thanks to local PR Veronica Porter for organizing the event and more importantly allowing me on the magic bus.

Third Year Lucky?

This Saturday marks the third anniversary of our moving to Naperville. Thanks to this blog I don't have to write a sentimental recap of what's happened to me since then; if you have a few hours you can read the previous 886 entries yourself.
My main focus here, apart from living happily after and providing a wonderful holiday location for our kids, has always been my career. As someone with workaholic tendencies everything I have done here has always been directed at one thing - gaining paid employment.
Anyone else would do this by going to an unemployment agency, answering ads on the Internet or in papers, asking friends etc. I, of course, like to be different. I've had to reinvent myself and seem to have got caught up in an endless quest to let every individual person living in Naperville know who I am. I've done everything apart from knocking on doors to introduce myself. My name is, or has been at some time, in every local publication we have here. I volunteer for various local organizations and spend any free time I have promoting myself all over the Internet.
I've attended countless events,been interviewed on the radio, written thousands of words about local people, probably even more about myself and even written a musical.
Alas I forgot to wish for fame along with the fortune. Don't tell Grumpy, but I fear I'm always going to be a starving artist, which is the only way I'm going to lose any weight here in the land of the fat and home of the burger.
As you might imagine, sometimes the whole quest overwhelms me. Then a complete stranger will tell me how much they enjoy my work and it spurs me on. Tomorrow, the day before our anniversary, is actually destined to be the most fun work wise I have had here.
I'm running around all day after Evan Lysacek as the city throws him a party to celebrate his Olympic win. This is the kind of thing reporters dream of, especially local ones tucked away in the heart of the American Mid West. Finally an attachment to a national story, especially now he's appearing in Dancing With The Stars.
Knowing my luck, I'll be the only person in the entire city who doesn't actually get to speak to him. But what I have realized is this:
I'm going to be attending three major Naperville events tomorrow. All the movers and shakers will be there, I know them all and they know me. This isn't because I spend my days in a newspaper office and they know where to find me if they want publicity. It's because I've made it my business to find these people, let them know who I am and most often befriend them. Not because I want their local 'celebrity' to rub off on me, but because I have this bizarre calling that means I cannot stop trying to get under the skin of this place.
Everything about Naperville fascinates me, apart from possibly Ogden Avenue. As regular readers will know (often from reading between the lines) I obviously don't agree with everything that happens here. But you can't like everything.I try to be tactful but however much you reinvent yourself, sometimes that cynical old journalist in me will escape.
Most of what happens here is great, and tomorrow should be an extreme example of that. Naperville is genuine in its love for its home town Olympic hero. Our cartoon character mayor is going to present him with the key to the city. I don't know if the municipal band will be playing, but if they aren't, they certainly should.There should be colourful flags decorating the streets and free popcorn for all!
Of course I not so secretly hope one day they'll put on a special day for me, but I think I'll have to do more than a bit of writing for that particular honour! But if you'd have told me three years ago that tomorrow I would be covering a major event for not one, but two major local publications I wouldn't have believed it. I'd have been disappointed that I wasn't covering it for the Chicago Tribune. Still, you have to start somewhere...

Skating On Thin Ice - The Evan Lysacek Effect

It really is fascinating how success breeds success, or to look at it another way, how so many people can profit from another person's success. This evening I attended a viewing party for Dancing with the Stars at a local restaurant. The party was organized by a local podiatrist and the owner of a hairdressing salon in support of Naperville's Olympic golden boy Evan Lysacek. This meant that they got some free publicity for themselves, as did the owner of the restaurant. They thoughtfully used the event to raise money for a local charity, so they got some publicity also.
I'd like to make it clear at this point, that I am not scorning these people's self promotion. I'm guilty of the same thing myself. I filed copy on the event to my newspaper from the restaurant. By the time I returned home it was already on their website. As soon as I'd read it, I copied links onto facebook, including one on Lysacek's own fan page.
This week the entire thing is likely to escalate. On Friday, Naperville celebrates Evan Lysacek Day, when all sorts of local organizations will be cashing in on the young Naperville native's success. Everyone is very excited that our lovely city will be featured on the program next week as ABC are sending a film crew to cover the event.
Even though I'm doing the same thing myself, I don't feel entirely comfortable with it. We're not anything special, Evan is. By attaching ourselves in this way, does it not simply turn us into leeches? I'm really looking forward to some real reporting. It was thrilling tonight relaying the news as it happened, and I'll be doing the same thing at three events on Friday. But it's Evan we should be focusing on, not the others pushing for fame and fortune on his back. If we're not careful, we'll all be skating on thin ice.

Con Census

With all the mountains of red tape we foreigners have to face in this country, I was surprised when I finally got a look at my census form last week. I couldn’t believe how simple it was – in fact it was so simple I’m not sure how much use it will actually be to anyone. Of course the census is a nationwide survey, but it got me to thinking about the kind of census we might use in Naperville in the event anyone would think it was a good idea to have a local one.

First of all the census form wouldn’t arrive in a boring old envelope. It would be hand delivered to your porch in a little paper (recyclable of course) bag with a string handle and a pink ribbon. As well as the form, which would be perfumed to help you relax as soon as you opened it, the bag would contain a cup of Starbucks and a little muffin.

The form would go something like this:

How many people live in your house?
If Person 1 has a nervous breakdown at the thought of filling in a form, Person 2

may fill it in while he is out, seal it up and throw it in the mail box when he’s out at work.

Yes, you may open the envelope and reseal it after realizing you have filled in your fax number instead of your phone number.
If Person 12 doesn’t help you fill in the form, he/she has no business living with you.
What race are you? The correct answer is white. If you are Asian we really don’t mind. We welcome people of color too, but being Naperville we aren’t providing a box for you to tick as this would be a waste of ink. Alaskans and Hawaiians are fine because you’re still American although the chances are you won’t be living in Naperville. If you’re Hispanic, you must move to Aurora immediately.

Come Away With Norah

Last night we went to see another of my musical heroines, Norah Jones at the Chicago Theatre. For someone with such a sophisticated sound, she actually bore a striking resemblance to Minnie Mouse, but still sounded great. Hope you enjoy these highlights....

First Day of Spring

After a beautiful week of sunshine and warm temperatures it was only fitting on the first day of Spring in Chicago we should wake up to this...

Nape O'Ville

Continuing the St.Patrick's Day theme this week, here is this month's column from the Glancer magazine.

March 13th in the little Irish town of Nape O’Ville meant just one thing. The annual West Suburban Irish St. Patrick’s Day parade, but no one knew why.
“Why do we march on March 13th?” asked Mayor O’Pradel. “To be sure St. Paddy’s Day is March 17th, is it not?”
Mayor O’Pradel was enjoying a Guinness at Quigley’s, his favorite downtown watering hole.
“It’s the time difference yer see,” said Nancy, the lilting Irish bar maid. “We’re six hours behind the ole Emerald Isle, so that means we celebrate four days before.”
Confused at her Irish logic, the mayor scratched his head. He turned his attention to the menu.
“What d’you recommend?” he asked.
“Only two items on the menu today,” Nancy replied. “Take it or leave it.”
“Ok, I’ll have the take it to start and the leave it for pudding,” replied the mayor. “Hurry it up, I’ve got a parade to get to.”
Nancy leaned over the counter and stared straight into Mayor O’Pradel’s eyes.
“Never bolt the door with a boiled carrot,” she told him knowingly. Nancy was always coming up with little Irish words of wisdom like that. Pity her customers were too daft to understand them, she mused.
Once he had eaten, Mayor O’Pradel made his way to the start of the parade route.
As he walked past the Dandelion Fountain he saw a group of girls in green velvet dancing their socks off.
“Wonderful,” said the mayor, picking up a sock. “You must be the McNulty Irish Dancers to be sure.”
“That we are,” said Bridie. “We’re practising our Riverwalk Dance.”
“Begorra me dear, surely you mean River Dance?” said Mayor O’Pradel, anxious not to seem like an eejit.
“Well it’s like River Dance,” replied Bridie, pulling on her sock.
The penny dropped.
“Oh,” said the mayor. “But River Walk because we’re in Nape O’Ville d’ya mean?”
“No,” said Bridie. “If you ever troid to Oirish dance your way through the town, you’d want to walk a bit too.”
“Well, the luck o’ the Oirish to ya all,” said the mayor. “I must get to the start of the route. To be sure the parade will be starting any moment now. Top a the marnin’ to ye.”
Five minutes later, everyone was ready. The townsfolk lined the streets, eager not to miss a thing. There were floats and bands, bagpipers and dancers. For one day at least, Nape O’Ville was so green the only thing missing was the Wizard of Oz.

Dancing With The Mayor

Follow along as Mayor Pradel teaches us some new moves....

You put your right leg in (being careful not to fall over)

"My heart's doing just fine, honestly".

"Thank you, thank you."

Time for a joke...a German, a Japanese and a Chinese student went to a fancy dress party...

Up With The Mayor

This weekend Naperville was treated with a visit from Up With People, an American institution since 1965. They consist of 90 global volunteers aged 18 - 26 who travel the world performing feel good songs and volunteering wherever they go. Obviously it's not the same volunteers as in 1965, each groups tours for about six months spreading goodwill wherever they go. Here's a little snippet featuring a special guest, our esteemed mayor. Not bad for someone recovering from a recent heart attack!

When Irish Eyes Are Dancing

Napervillians do nothing by half. Dolly McCarthy entertains the entire troupe of Trinity Irish Dancers in her kitchen!

The Luck O' the English

What could be better after the parade than a St Patrick's Day party at the home of local news anchor Dolly McCarthy? At last I got the photo I wanted after almost three years in Naperville,
me with Mayor George Pradel. Of course he still doesn't know who I am, but you can't have everything...

Dolly and Councilwoman Judith Brodhead - and a glass of green beer....

Rain on my (St Patrick's Day) Parade

St Patrick's Day came early to Naperville this year, which was a bit of a shame as the weather was pretty much the same as it would be in Ireland at this time of year. But never ones to let the rain spoil a parade, Napervillians turned out to celebrate.