Publications & Sites 
Interested in owning a piece of Judy’s past?
Updated: September 10, 2012 1:59AM
Here’s Judy’s pick of coming community activities in the Oak Brook/Oakbrook Terrace area, spiced with a little com mentary. To suggest an event for her weekly column, send an e-mail to clafortune@pioneerlocal.com.
Coffee, tea or Judy?
Join Laura Bruzas as she explains ways to make money by de-cluttering no longer wanted items in “Clutter to Cash” at 7 p.m. July 16 at the Oak Brook Public Library, 600 Oak Brook Road. To register, call (630) 368-7700.
“ … by de-cluttering no longer wanted items …” Well, the latest of no longer wanted items in my life is, evidently, the scrapbook I kept back when I was an airline stewardess (no, not on the Wright Brothers plane), because when I mentioned to my daughter that I knew she would want to keep this treasured memento of her mother’s life, she said, “Why?” So, if anybody wants a tarnished Million Mile Pin or a postcard Judy sent h erself from Barcelona, let me know.
Language loopiness
The West Suburban Lapidary Club will demonstrate stone-cutting and polishing from noon to 3 p.m. July 15 at Graue Mill and Museum, 3800 York Road in Oak Brook. To register, call (630) 655-2090.
I thought “lapidary” was the name of an animal in Lapland, but, noooo. Lapidary means stone cutting and polishing, from the Latin word lapid, which means stone or rock. OK, I also looked it up on Google … you got a problem with that? I betcha didn’t know that “problem” is Greek in origin. “Betcha,” however, is a made-up word, in case you’re wondering. Which I know you’re not.
Chur, Church,
whatever
A Divorce Care Group meets from 7-9 p.m. Thursdays at Oak Brook Community Chur, 3100 Midwest Road in Oak Brook. For more information call (630) 986-0310.
What, exactly, is a “Chur,” as mentioned in the above listing? According to my exhaustive research (Google, again), “Chur is a colloquial term used predominantly in New Zealand,” meaning “Cheers.” So does this mean the Divorce Care Group meets in New Zealand on alternative Thursdays … what? It’s a typographical error — it’s “Church” — Oak Brook Community Church — not Chur? Oh, whew. ‘Cause flying to New Zealand every two weeks could get pricey … OK, run away, go book your flight to Wellington, I don’t care.
I wonder, did Mrs. Shakespeare nag?
First Folio presents “The Merchant of Venice” at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, through Aug. 19, at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St. in Oak Brook. William Shakespeare’s most controversial play is a complex tale of hatred, love, revenge and betrayal set in 16th century Venice. To purchase tickets, call (630) 986-8067 or visit www.firstfolio.org.
One of the few (only) lines from Shakespeare that I can quote is the beginning of Portia’s famous speech in “The “Merchant of Venice” — “The quality of mercy is not strain’d. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven”— which I sometimes recite to my children to impress (ha!) them. However, it’s usually followed up with, “But if you kids don’t clean your rooms, call me Merciless Mom and forget the gentle rain bit. Expect a tornado! “ Which I’m sure Portia’s proge ny would have heard too, given the situation.
Times were a tad tougher then
Spots are still available in a variety of summer day camps offered by the Oak Brook Park District. PeeWee Playground Camp, for ages 3 to 5, for example, provides a well-rounded recreational experience, fostering self-expression and featuring social play, arts and crafts, storytelling, music and outdoor activities. Children will be divided into groups based on their age level. For fees and to register, visit www.obparks.org or call (630) 990-4233.
It says this PeeWee Playground Ca mp fosters self-expression. I am so jealous because growing up in my neighborhood in Chicago, the only self-expression kids were allowed was saying yes to everything your parents said, from, “You’re gonna eat everything on your plate, incl uding the liver, right?” to “Your brother’s crying, it’s all your fault, isn’t it?” Self-expression, no; self-preservation, yes.
