Word of the Week

This week's word is:

BELIE

be·lie /bɪˈlaɪ/ [bi-lahy]

–verb (used with object), -lied, -ly·ing.

1. to show to be false; contradict: His trembling hands belied his calm voice.
2. to misrepresent: The newspaper belied the facts.
3. to act unworthily according to the standards of (a tradition, one's ancestry, one's faith, etc.).
4. Archaic. to lie about; slander.

[Origin: bef. 1000; ME belyen, OE beléogan. See be-, lie1]

—Related forms
be·li·er, noun

—Synonyms 1. refute, disprove, controvert, repudiate, confute, gainsay. 1, 2. See misrepresent.
—Antonyms 1. prove, verify, support.

Berwyn

My sister and I were at my parent's in Berwyn on Sunday and decided to do some shoe shopping. Where else but good old "Cermak Plaza". Before the North Riverside Mall opened, this was THE place to go. Sears used to be there as well as a "five & dime" store called Murphy's. Many new stores are now there (including the Shoe Carnival sans any Shoe Clowns).

When pulling into the lot, there it stood, the famous tower of cars, known as the Spindle. There has been controversy lately as to its demise, in order for the Walgreens to make its move into the middle of the lot to accommodate a drive through. We took a picture of the icon, forever taking it for granted since it's been around so long. But who knows, it may not be around for much longer.

In the picture's background you can see the big bank building that originally was a Clyde Bank. I can remember as a kid going to the grand opening and receiving a replica bank shaped like the building. The thing must have been made of iron because it was plenty heavy and if thrown at a sibling it caused mega damage. You can also spot the McDonalds that Morton West students would hang out at. I hear the girl's restroom is a good hiding spot in case you see somebody walking across the street that you want to avoid....you know who you are ! :)

Buyer BEWARE!!

Last weekend we celebrated my parent's 50th wedding anniversary. (Stay tuned for pictures of that event, they'll be posted soon.) For their wedding they had a heart shaped cake. I wanted to make them a similar one, so my project began. The cake part turned out fine and I made a purchase of a "new" icing from Pillsbury. Their Whipped Supreme, "the fluffiest and lightest" sounded like a winner to me, so I bought 4 cans. I was all set to do some awesome decorating with pink flowers and green leaf trimmings and lots of swirls and curls.



I made three layers of hearts and started to frost them using this new type of frosting/icing. And it was terrible. It would not solidify at all and kept dripping down. Even when I put it in my new fancy decorating tool with professional decorating tips, it all kept drooping and running down.



I knew that this was not working out, so I went to the Jewel to purchase a last minute replacement cake for that evening's festivities. I came home to find this:



The darn thing toppled over and the top layer looked like it came alive with an icing body and big old cake feet. It appeared to be making a beeline toward the front door to make its escape as the "Cake That Ate Glen Ellyn". I stopped it in its tracks (some via the mouth, alien icing and all, figured I'd take one for the team). Needless to say, DON'T BUY THIS TYPE OF ICING FOR A CAKE. Here is the store bought cake that we used, which turned out to be quite tasty, although it was not in the shape of a heart. The best laid plans....Oh well, lesson learned, I'll stick with the tried and true Betty Crocker next time.

Here's the Weekly Riddle

What has a head, a tail, is brown, and has no legs?

Movie Monday

LIONS FOR LAMBS is a decent movie. Star quality with Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, need I say more. The script was interesting, bouncing between three scenarios during an hours time. This includes flashbacks that become the heart of the story. Cruise plays a senator, Streep a reporter and Redford a college professor.

The movie explores issues of America's involvement in the current conflict in the mid-east. Directed by Redford, there is a very expected left-wing slant on things, but it does give the viewer, no matter what their political leanings are, a tremendous amount to ponder upon.

Quote of the Week

I don't know where this came from, but I've always liked it and would like to share it.

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1.. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay them.

2.. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3.. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4.. Enjoy the simple things.

5.. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6.. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7.. Surround yourself with what you love, Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge

8.. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9.. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10.. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.

Riddle #2 for the week because Kathy is too smart.

Three kids went for a walk. About a mile into the walk, they came to a deep, wide river. There was no bridge. They didn't have a boat or raft, or any materials to make one. None of them could swim. But they crossed the river.

How did they cross the river?

A Riddle For You

Here is this week's riddle. Let's see if the mysterious anonymous correct
guesser from last week can do it again this week.

With pointed fangs it sits in wait,
With piercing force its doles out fate,
Over bloodless victims proclaiming its might,
Eternally joining in a single bite.

What is it?

Monday Movie Review - 2 for the price of 1

The Bee Movie was a decent little cartoon. It had plenty of funny lines, some of which went sailing over the kid's heads, so waiting for the next adult inside joke kept my interest. Until about halfway through when it dragged a bit, and I nodded off. Niece K woke me up to tell me a good part is coming along, but not to be scared, that everything would be alright.

The animation was pretty good, but the story was a bit simplistic. So it wasn't the best that Dreamworks produced, but it's most likely entertaining for kids and adults that aren't too sleepy.



Lars and the Real Girl was a movie with a lot of heart. It moves along slowly, putting the pieces together one a time. The less you know about the movie the better it will be. I had read a lot about it and wish I hadn't as it spoiled some of the revelations. Ryan Gosling had another wonderful performance (he was nominated for an Oscar from last year's Half Nelson). He plays Lars, a delusional young man working out life long issues in an unconventional way.

The movie was well cast, with Patricia Clarkson doing an outstanding job as the doctor who helps Lars. Another performance to note is that of Paul Schneider (hubba hubba) who plays Lar's guilt ridden brother.

You need patience to watch this movie, but I found it well worth the time. I would have ended it differently, but I do tend to have trouble with excepting most endings of movies. If you are looking for high intense action, this is not the movie for you. But if you enjoy a character studies (and being a psych major helps too) this movie will be rewarding for you.

Quote of the Week

"You will always miss 100% of the shots you don't take."

--Wayne Gretzky

Word of the week

This weeks word from the list of "100 Words Every HS Graduate Should Know" is

OLIGARCHY

ol·i·gar·chy [ol-i-gahr-kee]

–noun, plural -chies.

1. a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few.

2. a state or organization so ruled.

3. the persons or class so ruling.

[Origin: 1570–80; < ML oligarchia < Gk oligarchía.

What a Wednesday

When my sister asked me to watch her 3 year old son J for the day, I don't think she knew he was going to the LO-down Health Spa.

He tried out my new treadmill.

He had an upper body workout with the free weights.


We took a walk in the "forest".

J took a jog around the Wishing Circle.



He wanted to swim a few laps, but the pool was closed. (Phew)

And there's nothing like a healthy day without a stop at a White Hen Pantry...

...to buy some Oreo Cookies to enjoy and partake in some....

...frozen chocolate cool whip with the ever popular Ready-Whip. Mmmmm.

I never claimed it was a GOOD health spa!

2nd Weekly Riddle

One of the LO-Down's best customers complained about this week's riddle and requested another one. We try to please our clients so here it is, for your riddling pleasure. And ABOSUTELY no hints...this mean you Moto :)

A box without hinges, key, or lid,
Yet golden treasure inside is hid.

WHAT AM I?

Monday Maddness

My blog hasn't been updated due to the writer's strike. Well, I'm crossing the picket lines today to post the WEEKLY RIDDLE a day early to accomodate those faithful readers leaving town tomorrow. (That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.)

Here is the riddle for your brain's pleasure:

What word starting with BR, that with the addition of the letter E, becomes another word that sounds the same as the first?

Riddle me Tuesday

Ready, set, go....

Four men sat down to play,
They played all night till break of day.
They played for gold and not for fun,
With separate scores for everyone.
When they had come to square accounts,
They all had made quite fair amounts.
Can you the paradox explain,
If no one lost, how all could gain?

Quote of the Week

There are many things in life that will catch your eye. But only a few will catch your heart....

-Ben Crenshaw

Word of the Week

This week's word is:

WINNOW

win·now [win-oh]

–verb (used with object)

1. to free (grain) from the lighter particles of chaff, dirt, etc., esp. by throwing it into the air and allowing the wind or a forced current of air to blow away impurities.
2. to drive or blow (chaff, dirt, etc.) away by fanning.
3. to blow upon; fan.
4. to subject to some process of separating or distinguishing; analyze critically; sift: to winnow a mass of statements.
5. to separate or distinguish (valuable from worthless parts) (sometimes fol. by out): to winnow falsehood from truth.
6. to pursue (a course) with flapping wings in flying.
7. to fan or stir (the air) as with the wings in flying.
–verb (used without object) 8. to free grain from chaff by wind or driven air.
9. to fly with flapping wings; flutter.
–noun 10. a device or contrivance used for winnowing.
11. an act of winnowing.


[Origin: bef. 900; ME win(d)wen (v.), OE windwian, deriv. of wind wind1]

—Related forms
win·now·er, noun

Have you seen my pumpkin top??

Here is the pumpkin I carved on Halloween.

The spiders attacked it, so I put it outside and went bowling.

And I came home last night to this...a pumpkin missing his top! I would think it was too heavy for squirrels, and not a useful item for a human. Unless I got myself tricked.......cause I didn't treat!