Publications & Sites 
Showing appreciation a tougher task than it seems
Updated: July 15, 2012 2:40PM
Here’s Judy’s pick of coming community activities in the Northbrook area, spiced with a little commentary.
Works for us. The Northbrook Park District is hosting a Customer Appreciation Night from 6 to 9 p.m. June 22 at the Northbrook Sports Center Pool, 1730 Pfingsten Road, with games, raffles, giveaways and DJ entertainment. Customers can present a pool pass or purchase twilight admission to enter. For more information call (847) 291-2993.
Last evening at the dinner table, my hero and I decided that we would enjoy a “Spouse Appreciation Night,” in which no petty tiffs would interfere. However, as we both hollered “It’s all your fault!” when the coffee maker suddenly exploded, we settled for a Spouse Appreciation Night, Plus Blaming.
My gumbo’s great, too. The Kidworks Touring Theater Company presents a program, “The Food, Music and Stories of New Orleans.” from 10 to 11 a.m. June 16 at the Northbrook Public Library, 1201 Cedar Lane. Just drop in to cook Cajun and Creole dishes, celebrate Mardi Gras and dance to jazz, gospel and zydeco music. For more information call (847) 272-6224
I love Cajun cooking — jambalaya — oh, yum! However, whenever I make this dish (at absolutely no one’s request), it never ends up tasting like the New Orleans’ version (surprise!), so I throw in lots, and lots more, and more lots of hot pepper sauce, thereby assuring that when guests end up to the emergency room, they don’t even remember how I screwed up the recipe. Hot mama!
Nobody does it better. It’s not too late to register for summer fun at the North Suburban YMCA, 2705 Techny Road in Northbrook. There’s a wide variety of classes for kids and adults, including aquatic offerings such as Flying Fish, Swim Camp, Adult Learn to Swim, Adult Stroke Refinement and much more. For fees, more information and to register, visit www.nsymca.org/ or call (847) 272-7250.
Dear YMCA: In regard to your Adult Stroke Refinement swim class, I have totally refined a stroke called “The Splash.” The beauty of The Splash is that you never get anywhere, especially to the deep end of the pool, thus avoiding a major obstacle to aquatic fun — drowning. Instead, you just stand at the shallow (baby) end and keep smacking the water, thereby annoying absolutely everyone. I’m an expert — I’ll be glad to teach this tricky technique. Sincerely, Judy “Also Master of the ‘You Get My Hair Wet and I’ll Smack You, Kid’ Maneuver” Brinkworth.
It’s also a night light. The public is invited to North Northfield United Methodist Church’s “Once Again” rummage sale on June 23, 24 and 25 at the church, 797 Sanders Road in Northbrook. The hours are 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. June 23 ($2 admission fee); 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 24; and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 25. Great bargains will be featured; proceeds will benefit the church. For more information, or to make a donation to the sale, call (847) 272-2250.
I’m going to try to sneak in, er, donate, a treasured monstrosity, er, possession, of ours to this rummage sale — a miniature Statue of Liberty with a clock in its stomach that plays “America the Beautiful” when the alarm goes off. This charming bibelot was Judy’s wedding gift from Great Aunt Patricia, or Patriotic Patsy, as she was often called, who now flies the flag in the Great Red, White and Blue Beyond. We’ve tried to unload, er, part with it, for years, but — strikingly similar to Great Aunt Patricia when she was around - it’s awful.
Open to suggestions. A Writing Workshop will be held at 2 p.m. June 16 at the Northbrook Public Library, 1201 Cedar Lane. Author Kathleen Anne Fleming will discuss “Atmosphere.” Admission is free. To register, call (847) 272-6224.
Each of my novels (or “poorly written bombs,” as one publisher put it) reek (many say I should end the sentence there) with atmosphere. Anyway, I place all my characters in dense fog throughout my bombs, er, books, so I can continuously write, “Unfortunately, the dense fog made everyone stand absolutely still,” or “This denseth fog is a bummer,” Count Alphonso muttered, “I dasn’t do dastardly deeds today.” This way, I don’t have to think up any plot, which does get a tad boring after 2,637 pages, so I’ll go to this class for new ideas - maybe switch to blinding snowstorms.
