How Being A Loser Can Make You A Winner

Regular readers will notice I have not updated George Hood's Guinness World Record attempt at endurance spin cycling. The reason for this is because he lasted a lot less time than I imagined. Here's my column from today's Naperville Sun..

Until I met George Hood I thought spin cycling was something only my washing machine could do. Then I discovered it was a sport, and he was planning to break the Guinness Book of Records endurance test in it. Full of bravado before the event started, he told me he was going to cycle for 300 hours, that he was doing it because “he could” and he was going to raise $200,000 for two charities. I thought he was interesting, but probably insane. He spoke about the attempt as if the record was a given, and it was just a matter of time until it was his. I thought he was probably doing it as a publicity stunt. As he started the record attempt, the whole thing seemed a little ridiculous. Here was a man trying to drum up as much publicity as he could, and all he’d managed to get was a handful of faithful helpers to hang around inside a disused store in Aurora at 8 p.m. on a Sunday evening. What a loser!
A few days later I popped back to see him again. He was still cycling, but the bravado had gone. This was a struggle. He looked beat and he was no where near the end of his challenge. Sure I felt a little sorry for him, but it was his own fault. Who cares about spin cycling anyway? Surely he’d have had more fun if he actually drove the thing out of the building and kept going down Route 59!
On Monday I had a call to say Hood had failed in his attempt, because he literally could not keep up the pace. In all my mocking, it never occurred to me that he wouldn’t achieve his goal. The only reason I wasn’t impressed was because he’d made 300 hours cycling sound like a trip round the park. How could have possibly failed so soon?
On Saturday I went back to speak to him. His body was just as fit and muscular as I remembered, but mentally he was a different person. He was philosophical and vulnerable having decided that perhaps riding for 300 hours was never a goal he was meant to reach. Now he technically was a loser, he suddenly appeared to be a real winner.
What Hood achieved was something more special than having his name written down in a book. During the course of his ride he had pulled together people who would never have met otherwise. Doctors, nurses, dads, volunteers - ordinary people who were inspired by someone prepared to follow his dreams.
Everyone’s dreams are different. It doesn’t matter if you’re not inspired to ride a spin cycle. It doesn’t matter if we think people striving for impossible goals are a little nuts. What matters is that people like George Hood keep trying, because ultimately that’s all any of us can do.

Dancing On Thin Ice

I'm still living life vicariously through Olympic gold medalist Evan Lysacek. Last night we attended the second screening party for ABC's Dancing With The Stars at a local restaurant. By 'we' I mean, Grumpy, me and my four inch kill-her heels.
The first party had taken place on the first night of the competition. I knew no one and was only there in my capacity as a local reporter.
By yesterday I knew half the room and some people were under the impression I had actually organized the event myself. This wasn't true, of course. I just nudged things a long a little to make sure the it took place. The fact that my name took top billing in an article in my newspaper ahead of Evan's parents may have had something to do with this misunderstanding, but I didn't write it quite like that. Honestly.
We all had a great time and the event raised $5,000 for a local charity, so whoever actually decided to press ahead with it wasn't wasting their time!
There was only one little fly in the ointment. Last night Evan received his worst ever score from the judges. We'd all been so confident he was going to win we were already talking about a final night party. (No, I'm not organizing that either, but thanks for thinking I could).
Evan's foot doctor, Robert Weil and I talk about Evan as if he was our love child. We're so keen for him to do well, and only a teeny weeny bit because he's helping both our careers. The idea that he may be thrown out of the competition tonight is hardly worth thinking about it. We're behind him all the way. But just in case, I don't suppose anyone knows where Jake Pavelka's parents live, do you?

From Our Civil War Correspondent

The year was 1861. President Abraham Pradel was sitting in the oval office of City Hall, meeting his generals.

“We have a tough battle ahead of us,” he warned them. “It’s giving me a headache, I can tell you.”

“Your headache has nothing to do with the battle,” replied General Brodhead. “It’s to do with your head. You’re supposed to be wearing a stovepipe hat, not an actual stove pipe.”

President Pradel reached up and took off the stove pipe, which landed with a clatter on the desk in front of him.

“D’you know you’re right,” he said. “I feel better already. Now, let’s make plans for the battle.”

The problems between North and South Naperville had been raging for many years. It started when settlers turned their farmland into strip malls and beautiful sub divisions.

The North Napervillians were very unhappy about this. People could get more for their money down there and there were even threats that the shiny new stores could take business away from the downtown area.

“Are you sure we need a battle?” said General Furstenau. “Wouldn’t it be easier to hit them with a law suit?”

“I’m a peace loving man myself,” agreed General Miller, pulling out some pieces of parchment. “I propose we settle this over a game of Battleships.”

“I’m sorry, but we can’t be expected to win a Civil War without a battle,” said President Pradel. “Besides, it will make a very exciting addition to our history books in years to come. Children always love a good battle.”

“You could have a point there Mr President,” General Wehrli agreed. “We could re-enact it every May at the Naper Settlement.”

“I like the way you’re thinking,” said General Fieseler. “No one is going to watch volunteers play Battleships. I vote for a real battle!”

“As long as no one gets hurt,” President Pradel interjected. “No need for that. Besides, Edward Hospital won’t be opened for nearly 100 years. Casualties would need to wait for treatment nearly as long as the English do in a National Health hospital emergency room.”

“Ok, so just a tiny battle,” General Fieseler agreed. “But you do need a really stirring address. You’re so good at them.”

“Well thank you General, I’d be happy to oblige,” said the President.

So it was on November 19^th, 1863, that President Pradel made his historical address from Gettysburg Court, Naperville, the battle was won, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Jersey Shore: Why Atlantic City Is Just Vegas On Sea

The Promised Land

It's all too easy to be an immigrant these days. Somehow simply getting off the plane at O'Hare didn't do it for me, so this weekend I returned to New York to try the Ellis Island experience instead. It was interesting to see that it hadn't changed at all.
People of all nationalities desperate to be in America still line up to board the boats....
The crossing can be rough. Days with nothing to eat but overpriced unhealthy snacks..
Land ahoy - we were all full of hope as we reached Ellis Island.
And very grand it was too.
We bundled into the Registry to have our names taken and papers checked.
This is what I suspected all along. In order to become an American citizen, you have to eat a burger.

Solving the case of the Dick Tracy statue :: Naperville Sun :: Local News

Solving the case of the Dick Tracy statue :: Naperville Sun :: Local News

Riverwalk gets permanent crime fighter :: Naperville Sun :: Local News

Riverwalk gets permanent crime fighter :: Naperville Sun :: Local News

George Hood Spin Doctor: Ready, Steady, Go!

What with Olympic gold medalists and Oxford University coxswains, it came as no surprise to me to find out we have a Guinness World record breaker in our midst too. This evening George Hood set off on a 300 hour endurance test on a spin bike. He's already achieved the record twice, but it just keeps being broken, so this time he told me he's going the extra mile (!) to make sure he holds onto it.
The attempt began at 21.00 hours tonight, with his 16-year-old son Andrew setting the timer.

Of course George won't actually be going anywhere, but if he did he'd be able to reach L.A.!

"Hey George, this English woman's offering to take over if you get tired."

I'll be following George's attempt in the Naperville Sun and here on the blog over the next 12 1/2 days so keep checking in. As well as the world record, he's also hoping to raise $200,000 for wounded marines and the United Way. If you'd like to donate visit www.ridegeorgeride.org. For those of you in the area, stop by and cheer him on at Aurora Marketplace Shopping Center, on Route 59 and 75th Street.

Making Crime Pay - Dick Tracy Revealed

The big news in Naperville this weekend was the unveiling of the latest piece in the Century Art Walk - a statue of super sleuth Dick Tracy. I've been doing a bit of super sleuthing myself, so here I am with Dick Locher, the cartoonist who draws Tracy for the Chicago Tribune. He's also the man who designed and help make the impressive nine feet high statue which now looks over the Riverwalk.
Unfortunately some of Tracy's arch adversaries turned up for the occasion...
But Tracy saved the day as he came out from under cover.
Not that I'm one to hold on to anyone's coat tails, but there's nothing like being right in the center of a wonderful Naperville event like this one!

Western Suburbs Side Story Photos

Here are some then and now pictures. I'm not really trying to be cruel. They've actually aged very well bearing in mind the movie celebrates its 50th anniversary next year!

Western Suburbs Side Story

It seems almost every week I'm getting the chance to see some of my all time heroes from the entertainment world in person, and this weekend was no exception. Actually, it's been a pretty extraordinary weekend altogether. Yesterday I interviewed Dick Locher, the artist behind Dick Tracy and a Guinness World Record breaker who is going for a new spin cycling record. But in my spare time (!) we went along to Hollywood Palms cinema to not only see West Side Story once again on the big screen, but to hear George Chakiris, Rita Moreno and Russ Tamblyn talk about their experiences making the movie.

It was like watching an old time chat show live. One with where real stars showed everyone they were actually real people after all. Not like today's where the interviewees are lucky to get a word in, and when they do you find they have nothing of interest to say. This was a real class act.
Here's some of what they said:

On choreographer Jerome Robbins...
Russ: He was a perfectionist and very hard to satisfy, but when you did, you were thrilled. Everybody worked really, really hard and he wasn't happy with the dancers until their feet bled.
Rita: I had never done jazz dancing. Before I was a Spanish dancer and I felt I wasn't up to standard, so I worked my butt off. You would die for him. I was a genius. He was the first to use choreography to show the character.

Would you ever see yourselves on Dancing With The Stars?
George: Hey, it would be fun.
Russ: I'm waiting for a show called Stumbling With The Stars.

Favorite number in West Side Story?
All agreed Cool.
Rita: It was a spectacular dance sequence that had dramatic content and enormous energy. It pushed the story forward.

How about Officer Krupke?
Russ: Steven Sondheim had been in psychotherapy in New York when he wrote the lyrics.

Who was the real star of the movie?
Rita: Natalie (Wood) had some celebrity, but there were no real stars in this movie. You want to know who the star of West Side Story is? West Side Story.

I have a little confession here. I had a huge crush on Russ Tamblyn. Of course now he's a lot older, and although seemed likable enough, wasn't quite how I remembered him. But the minute he was back on the big screen clicking his fingers, boy did I remember!

(Come back later to see photos)

An experience like no other :: Naperville Sun :: Local News

An experience like no other :: Naperville Sun :: Local News

Oarsome! Scoop Decent Does It Again!

It's a small world after all...On Saturday I was at home chatting on the phone with Abi when I received a text from Robin. Turns out he was on the Thames preparing to watch the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. Not only that, but his friend Matt had learnt that the Oxford cox was from Naperville!
We all grew up watching the race. For some unknown reason I always supported Cambridge, (not because I was ever likely to study there, alas) and we'd cheer and shout at the TV until the finishing line was crossed. Somehow the two narrow rowing boats always looked like fish bones swimming along.
I rushed to the TV, where Grumpy had already switched to BBC America who was showing the race live. So with a phone in one hand, my eye on the screen and Grumpy googling as if his life depended on it, we tracked down the cox's family on the Internet.
It took until Monday to be able to speak to Adam Barhamand's mom because I could only find an office number for her. I was thrilled, especially when she told me she'd been in a launch racing behind the boats. Then she said something I wasn't expecting.
"Adam's back in town, you know. Would you like to talk to him?"
By Monday afternoon I had the story, an interview with mom and a great interview with Adam, plus photographs organized.
Then something else happened.
On the strength of my recent success at the paper (after nearly three years of working for them they're beginning to see just what I can do) I asked the news editor if I could be included in the list of reporters who write opinion pieces.
He agreed, then astonishingly an opening came up for yesterday, on the very day I was to be all over the paper with this story.
As regular blog readers will know, I'm someone who never has an opinion about anything (!) but fortunately with all the stuff I've been covering about a certain Naperville Olympian lately it wasn't difficult.
So in today's paper my story is the front page, I have two pages of story starting on page three and my opinion piece is on page two.
What all this has taught me is this: Sometimes you work so hard in life looking for the next best thing, that you might miss the fact you held it in your hand all along.

Why Being Homeless In Naperville Is No April Fool

I was a bit worried when I saw the date on the email. "Can you come and help serve breakfast to homeless people in Naperville at 6 a.m. on April 1st?"
Was it an April Fool? First of all the e mail was from my synagogue, it's Passover and I'd be required to make toast. Secondly, homeless people in Naperville? Does that mean anyone living in a house worth less than $500,000?
The temperatures are forecast to be nearly 80 degrees today (unless the meteorologists are having a joke too) so I thought getting up so early wouldn't be such a terrible thing. I wasn't required to eat the toast myself, and unfortunately I know that there are indeed homeless people in the area who rely on charities like Du Page PADs to help them.
The homeless people of the county are required to register, which then gives them the right to shelter in various churches over night. What this means is they turn up at 6 p.m. in the evening for an evening meal, spend the night sleeping on mattress pads on the floor, get up at 6 a.m. for breakfast and a shower and are then off on their way by 7 a.m.
The problem is the shelter is held at a different church every evening, so clients spend their days traveling from one to another.
Today was a quiet one, only 25 people, both men and a couple of women. Apparently same days the figure increases to 40 including little children.
"Where are you from?" one man asked me.
"London," I replied.
"You came here all the way from London to do this?" he joked.
"Sure, and they paid my fare specially," I said.
One woman, who I first thought was a volunteer, was beautifully made up, but had spent the night on the floor herself. I did hear a few complaints that there wasn't any crispy bacon this morning, but in the circumstances they were lucky to get toast!