Some Liked It Hot

Today I'm reposting an entry from March 22nd, 2009. I've never done this before, but it's in memorial to Tony Curtis, one of my all time favourite actors who died yesterday evening.

Friday we joined Spike and Divine for an evening of Hollywood glamour (or so I hoped). Hollywood Boulevard cinema in Woodridge was holding one of its celebrity events - Tony Curtis was in town for a screening of Some Like It Hot.
We arrived at 8 p.m. for a 9 p.m. screening of one of my favourite films. We decided not to pay $40 (!) for a signed autobiography, but waited patiently while we watched the line crawl by.
Just after nine we were told the showing would be a little late, and we ushered into another part of the cinema to wait. And wait.

"Are you sure this is worth it?" moaned Grumpy. "It's not like we haven't seen the film on TV a hundred times."
"But Tony's going to speak to the audience first," I said. "I've always like him." (Course I liked him slightly more when he was a drop dead gorgeous 30 year old rather than an about to drop dead 83-year-old in a wheelchair, but we all get older, I guess).
As the hours ticked by, Grumpy became more and more ticked off. The area we were waiting in was like some sort of sweaty holding bay, and quite a few of us definitely didn't like it so hot.
Eventually we got in at 10.40 p.m., way past Tony's bedtime I would have thought. However, you had to be impressed when he finally entered the auditorium, like Rocky after his final fight. The audience rose to their feet and he stopped and hugged fans. Not having any real royalty in this country, Hollywood stars are still the nearest they have and it was very touching to see. We've been to many book signings since we've been in the U.S, and usually the stars or authors will dash off a signature with all the warmth of someone writing a laundry list, so it was kind of gratifying to see how much time Tony had for the 600 or so people waiting in line.

No Yolk, George Is At It Again

Back in April I wrote about a local sports trainer and ex marine who was attempting the Guinness World Record in endurance spin cycling, George Hood. Hood fell short of his goal then, but he is a supreme example in two things: One, never giving up on your goals, and two, not caring if people think you're a little crazy.
This morning at 6 a.m. Hood was back in the saddle. This time attempting to complete a 60 hour training ride to raise money for a fallen soldier's family. He's really doing two things at once here, raising money while practicing for his next world record attempt at the end of October.
I popped in to see George this morning, to be greeted by the same mix of wonderment and insanity. Last time his attempt was in a huge empty store. This time he's peddling away for all he is worth at the back of one of my favorite local breakfast restaurants, the Eggsperience Cafe, Naperville.
Imagine the scene. The restaurant is busy with customers all chatting away enjoying their food. In the back corner, just in front of the toilets, there's a 52-year-old man peddling away on a spin cycle. It has to be one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen. No one was even looking at him.
Hood, who is nearly as shameless a publicity seeker as I am, was thrilled to see I'd managed to get a piece about his latest ride in today's Naperville Sun. (See photo)
He told me he had learned a lot from his previous failure. There was just too much going on around him at the time and he couldn't stay focused. It was a bit of a three ring circus, so this time things are certainly quieter especially once the breakfast rush is over.
All being well, Hood will be pedaling away until Friday evening when the ride will be marked with a fundraiser reception at the cafe. I really can't work out the pull that draws me to this strange man. While I was there his support was a single woman who had met him on his previous crusade. She couldn't have been more caring than if she was a nursing him through his final hours.
I'd recommend anyone in the area pops in to say "hi" over the next couple of days and cheer him on. If nothing else, you can be assured of a good meal.

Election Selection

Much like road construction, political campaigns seem to be an almost permanent fix here in Chicagoland. The TV is full of ads where politicians never tell viewers their policies, but simply trash the opposition. Of course here in sunny Naperville, politicians would never stoop so low. Our beloved mayor, George Pradel is hoping to win his fifth term here. He's been mayor for 17 years, but I suppose it's never a given that he will win. (Although I wouldn't be prepare to lay any bets against him). His main opponent this time will be one of our esteemed Naperville councilmen Kenn Miller. Just in case he needs it, here's a free ad for him to use against our beloved mayor, dishing all the dirt Naperville can handle.

"Are you ready for 4 more years, Naperville? Four more years of the same honesty, goodwill and care? Do you really want the man who has done more for this city than any other person alive to get in again? No you don't, and I'll tell you why. We do not want a man who stops and talks to everyone he meets. And smiling? I'll give you smiling! How can you vote for a man who can address crowds of thousands without a microphone? How can you vote for the man who not only plays Santa Claus, but rumor has it actually IS Santa Claus? This is a man who thinks more about others than himself, and I for one don't like it, although to be honest, I'm not sure why.
I'm Kenn Miller and endorse this message."

And because politics is always fair and honest in this neck of the woods, here's one Mr Pradel can use against Councilman Miller.

"Good morning Naperville! Welcome to our wonderful city, it's great to see you all here today. Sorry, wrong speech. Here's why you shouldn't vote for Kenn Miller. First of all he claims he's a famous band leader, yet I've never heard him play a note! He's done some pretty dishonest things I can tell you. Once he tipped 19% instead of 20% in a restaurant. I know, shocking! Quite frankly I think you shouldn't even think of voting for him. Just a minute, that's not very friendly, so scrap that. Vote for Kenn. He Kenn do it! I'm George Pradel and I endorse this message."

As One Door Opens - It Closes

Since I've made such a fuss on here about my new gig, I thought I'd better mention that it's over almost before it began. I always thought if you were a freelancer it meant you could work anywhere that would have you. Not so. Today I was forced to make a choice between my new job and my old one so no more Patch work for me.
The reason I'm staying with the Sun Times group is largely sentimental. They've provided me with work since I arrived in Naperville and any fame, for want of a better word, I've had because of them. They are pivotal in my story, however that ends up.
I'm not sure why I'm on this relentless quest to make a career out of writing. God knows its not for the money. I can have fame doing this or fortune doing something else, but not both. I think the reason is probably this. Much as I love Naperville, its a town of winners and high achievers. No one is ordinary here - the birds sing opera, the garbage men have to speak at least five languages and every child receives Mensa membership with their birth certificate.
I've torn my family apart by following the American Dream, so it would be pointless if I had come here just to be ordinary. Writing is the only thing that makes me extra ordinary and now I'm in the hamster wheel I can't get off.
So for now I'm back to square one writing news for the Sun, Grumpy for Glancer Magazine and this blog for you.

Patch Work

This evening I'm delighted to announce the launch of a brand new local publication
www.naperville.patch.com The reason I'm so excited is because for the first time since I arrived in this city, I've been offered a position without having to beg for a chance over and over again.
Naperville Patch is part of Patch.Com, AOL's new revolution in local news. More than just a newspaper, it's also a local directory, a place where anyone can post events, but also a place for experienced writers, and some trainees being given their first shot. It goes live tomorrow (Wednesday) at 6 a.m.
After three and a half years of writing here I've amassed several volumes of cuttings and I must admit I'll always prefer to hold a newspaper or magazine in my hand. But I know the writing is no longer on the paper, it's on the wall. In years to come my cuttings books will be on a museum shelf because the Internet is the way forward. Ironically my main publication, the Naperville Sun, has also just announced a new e version.
Despite that, the benefits of being on line are numerous. Stories will be splattered with hyperlinks to give you more background information than you could wish for. As well as photographs which change as you run your cursor over them, they'll also be videos.
And the best thing of all is that as far as Patch is concerned, it's all absolutely free.
Of course as I get more work I have to keep diversifying. No one wants to read the same story in every publication, and certainly no editor wants to pay for something someone else is using.
So, in addition to writing Naperville Women, news and opinion pieces for the Naperville Sun and Funny Side Up and Happy With Grumpy for Glancer Magazine, I'm delighted to say I'm going to be the arts, entertainment and event correspondent for Patch.
So blog readers, you know the drill. If you enjoy what I write, please visit me at Patch and leave a comment. The site is very interactive and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be able to have a spin off from my blog on there very soon.

Fun at the Fling

Looking back at the blog, I see I was less than complementary about the Last Fling when we first arrived in Naperville. I was dismayed to see my new hometown overrun by strangers. One year we even left town to avoid it!
What a difference a few years makes. This is now our fourth Fling, and co-incidentally the 30th run by the Naperville Jaycees. How do I know this, well now I'm right in the thick of it. The visitors are no longer strangers. I know half the people there, well six anyhow, because I'm covering the event for the local press. Who knew it was so interesting? Do you know bed races and spaghetti eating contests didn't die out in the 1950s? They're alive and well and living right here in Naperville.
If I meet out of towners I'm so proud to say I live here, but I haven't got too much time to chat because I'm hob nobbing with the mayor (if only I had packet with me British readers) or mixing with my media colleagues.
I've some new excitement in my career to announce this week, which should be of particular interest to my blog followers so watch this space.
But if you're looking for news on the Last Fling, you'll have to read me in the Naperville Sun.