Daily Herald film critic Dann Gire and I host special screening of SPOTLIGHT February 22

My colleague Dann Gire is on the Chicago Headline Club board of directors.
I'm on the Chicago Headline Club Foundation board of directors.

Dann founded the Chicago Film Critics Association and leads it.
I founded a non-profit and have led a bunch of organizations and initiatives.

He cares about the health and welfare of journalism and journalists.
So do I.

He writes and critiques for the Daily Herald.
I worked at newspapers. Now I write and shoot pictures for clients. I critique occasionally.

He remembers us meeting in person a long time ago.
I don't, but take his word for it.

We like Egg Harbor.

Now we are friends and seeing what we can make happen for the sake of journalism.

To discuss distributing scholarships and fundraising, we met for lunch in late January and things picked up speed.

Quickly we planned the special February 22 screening and discussion of the Oscar-nominated film SPOTLIGHT to raise funds for scholarships and further the conversation with the public about journalism's role in our society.

You are invited, friends and neighbors.

We'll be meeting at the storied Lake Street Screening Room, known as Siskel and Ebert's screening room. It's intimate with only 55 seats.

After watching the acclaimed movie about the Boston Globe investigative team's work that shined a light on the sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests in the Archdiocese of Boston, Dann will lead a discussion which will include Fr. Jim Swarthout* and Sarah Karp.

Wise, funny and an expert on addiction and mental health, Jim is a former Catholic priest and currently an Episcopal priest.

Key in uncovering the fact that Chicago Public School's chief Barbara Byrd-Bennett accepted kickbacks in exchange for hiring a principal training firm, Sarah is an investigative reporter focused on education, children and families in Chicago.

We'll talk about how to wrap our heads around news of the violation of children by clergy, plus journalism's responsibility to pursue to truth and transparency, and anything else participants deem worthy.

I hope you can come. This is a great chance for "civilians" and journalists to meet and discuss what we can possibly make happen for the greater good.

Refreshments will be served.

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*Jimmy is my cousin. Our grandfathers grew up in Evanston. He and I are both Rotarians.

Bernstein, Brahms, Berlin, Bruch: Skokie Concert Choir's Winter Concert January 24

For more information, see the concert's Facebook event page.

✿*•.¸¸.•*✿*•.¸¸.•*✿*•.¸¸.•*✿

Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, 

wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and 
charm and gaiety to life and to everything. ~ Plato

Diversion: How many plants can you name?

Global warming, problems affecting women and girls the most, poverty, healthy eating and other vital issues are not getting enough attention. Donald Trump and other entertainment is getting too much. In the meantime, maybe it is time to take a break and think about plants and what you know and don't know about them.
(Count to 20 and a quiz will appear.)

Thanking and Thinking on Thanksgiving

I invite you to embrace two ideas in your mind at the same time during Thanksgiving and into the new year:
There's lots that sucks right now. 
There's lots that is very good right now.

We humans are designed to recognize what sucks, what is wrong, what is dangerous quickly--and then react to that. That's how we've been able to survive over millennia.

To thrive, we're challenged to recognize what is going right, what is working, what makes surviving worthwhile--and who lights us up.

Tis the season to recognize all of the above. I invite you to actively engage it.

People LOVE to be acknowledged for their wonderfulness and positive contributions. Start there. Write a note, send an email, make a call, send flowers, whatever. If you're concerned about seeming to be sappy, risk it. Dare to use some flowery words. Dare to use some words you don't use commonly.
Live it up.
Carpe Diem, baby.
Let it all hang out.

Hmm. What to do about suckiness? How does one actively acknowledge or engage that in a thoughtful, worthwhile way?

If Mahatma Gandhi were here, he might suggest being the change you wish to see.
That's good. I suggest starting where you're at with whatever you've got. What you've got is your energy, savvy, compassion and surely more. I also suggest if you don't know enough about the particular suckiness you're focused on, find a way to learn more and dive in in some way that works for you. This might take you out of your comfort zone, but what I suspect is that you'll find it less scary than you thought it would be. I also suspect you'll learn something and gain new perspective.
Don't worry about "making a difference". You will.

I invite your thoughts about this.

~ * ~

In case the weather, your family or something else is getting on your nerves, here's Peggy Lee singing a song she wrote, It's a Good Day, which I dedicate to my sister-in-law Pam...and here's Darlene Love singing It's a Marshmellow World, for you.

Mr. Blue and Dating a Slob

From the mind of comedian, author, columnist and Skokie neighbor

Debbie Sue Goodman

I hope everyone is having a wonderful end of the summer. I had a great time at my last couple of comedy shows in Chicago and Evanston. Many readers have asked questions about, how to search for the right man or woman. I find that if you’re engaging in activities you enjoy, sometimes you’ll find Mr. or Miss Right. Go dancing; bowling, golfing whatever you’re interests are and perhaps your soul mate will be there. If not, at least you’re doing an activity you enjoy. About 5 years ago, I had a date with a guy I met at the health club. I enjoy walking and working out everyday.

I found out you can meet someone single, in a fun way. I met a guy while walking the track at my health club. We made plans to meet for dinner at a restaurant in a shopping mall.
We met inside the restaurant. He wore a BLUE shirt, and BLUE jeans. We sat at a table, talked and waited for our food to arrive. He showed me his BLUE cell phone holder. He told me he bought a new condo. He put in BLUE carpeting. He painted his bedroom BLUE. He talked during dinner about his condo. He asked if I would join him while he went to a store in the mall that carried kitchen items. I went with him.

We entered the store and he yelled, “I see what I want!” I followed him. He pointed to BLUE silverware, BLUE plates, BLUE napkins and BLUE glasses. He bought everything!

While the salesgirl was putting it in the bag he asked, “Where would you like to go now?” I replied, “How about a BLUES bar?”

Dear Debbie Sue: "For the past 5 weeks I've been going out to dinner & social events with a man that keeps wearing the same dirty jeans, sloppy shirts and his car is a mess! He's in his late 50's. I'm a bit younger then him. I enjoy being with him, our conversations are great. But, I can't look at his clothes. He doesn't care how he dresses. Nothing matches. He doesn't always comb his hair. He picks his teeth when we eat out together and sometimes burps and is uncouth. But, yet for some reason, I still hang out with him! I've dated other guys that cared how they looked when they went out with me. They wore clean shirts & their car was clean. But yet with those guys, we didn't have much to say to each other. Don't know why I'm going out with this new guy, but he is kind and seems to care about me very much. He brings me candy & flowers. He's kind to his friends and family. I don't know what to do. Should I break up with him and find someone else that doesn't have these traits?"  
'Dating a slob.'

Dear Dating a slob: You mentioned that you enjoy his conversations and his kindness. You don't sound like you want to break up with him. But, on the other hand, you are upset about his hygiene, sloppy clothes & messy car. Perhaps you can give him a 'hint' and tell him you would like to see him in a 'new' shirt. Then, if he wears a nice clean shirt on your next date tell him you think he looks great. He'll enjoy the compliment. Then, give him another 'hint' and suggest that he use floss in the men's room instead of picking his teeth at the table. Ask him to say 'excuse me' if he burps in front of you. You can tell him you both can go to the car wash together because you like a guy with a clean car. I think with these subtle 'hints' your new guy will come around and he'll want to look good for you and make you happy. I would give this relationship a chance. Since it sounds like he cares for you a great deal.

Until next time.

'Keep Smiling!'

Debbie Sue  
www.stillsingle.org

Send comments & questions to debrasue-60076@msn.com.