Publications & Sites 
Oak Brook Library swats away Judy’s offer
Updated: June 8, 2012 11:00AM
Here’s Judy’s pick of coming community activities in the Oak Brook/Oakbrook Terrace area, spiced with a little commentary.
Anchor’s Away: The Oakbrook Terrace Park District, in conjunction with the Chicago Sail and Power Squadron, will present a Boating Short Course from 7-9 p.m. Thursdays, April 26-May 24 at the Heritage Center, 1S325 Ardmore Ave. The course is designed for all boaters - from the person operating a personal watercraft to the skipper in a family cruiser. The cost is $7 for residents and $10 for nonresidents. To register, call (630) 627-6100.
Dear Squadron: Is it good seamanship for the skipper of a family cruiser to spew epithets at his comely first mate (ahem) just because she forgot her designated responsibility of securing the anchor, which later fell overboard never to be seen again (the anchor, not the skipper, although maybe that would have been preferable)? Because even if - by some stretch of the imagination - it could be called good seamanship, it certainly isn’t polite seamanship. Let me know. I am Judy “A grouchy skipper is noooo fun” Brinkworth
I’m so cute, aren’t I?: Fishing Flowing Waters - Learn techniques for fishing in rivers and streams at an intermediate-level clinic from 5:30-7:30 p.m. April 27 at the Graue Mill area at Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve, 3800 York Road, Oak Brook. The clinic is for individuals ages 12 and up; under 18 must be with an adult. Admission is free. To register, call (630) 933-7248.
I’m sure this intermediate fishing class will be wonderful for intermediate fishers; unfortunately, I am not one of them. To tell the truth (which I almost never do), the only fishing I do is fishing for compliments. However, I’m a pro at that, if I may say so, and I just did.
Judy’s unfortunate garden: Discover new ways to be ecofriendly and enjoy the outdoors during the annual Go Green! A Celebration of Conservation festival for the family from noon to 4 p.m. Monday at the Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center, 3609 Spring Road, Oak Brook. Among the activities scheduled are making a native-seed ball to scatter in the back yard. For information, call (630) 933-7200 or visit www.dupageforest.org.
This “Go Green! festival” is certainly on my family’s calendar! However, I’ll skip the making of a native-seed ball - why bother? Sure, I scatter seeds in my garden, but they immediately join the seed union of Never Bloom for Judy, Local 43. That’s ridiculous? Not so, because I would even welcome weeds, but the seed union regards them as scabs, and they are – poof! - eradicated. Not pretty.
Judy’s garden, unfortunately revisited: Place advance orders through April 27 for the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County’s annual native plant sale, featuring more than 130 species of native flowers, grasses, shrubs and trees. A catalog is at www.dupageforest.org/nativeplantsale. The sale itself will take place May 11-12 at the Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook. For details, call (630) 933-7208 or visit www.dupageforest.org.
First of all, see my comment immediately preceding this one. Second, as P.T. Barnum once said, “There’s a sucker born every minute” – and here I am. Oh yes, I’ll try to get the native plants to thrive, but I already hear them whispering, “Not for you, sucker, er, Judy.” But I’ll nurture these native plants. Heck, I’ll sing lullabies and send them to college because hope springs eternal, which is, coincidently, the only thing that ever springs up in Judy’s garden.
Come forward, oh wonderful one: Friends of the Oak Brook Public Library, 600 Oak Brook Road, will sponsor a Used Book Sale today through Saturday. There will be thousands of books available for purchase. For times and information, visit www.oak-brook.lib.il.us or call (630) 368-7700.
So I planned to donate my book - Bugs: Tell Me Why, God? - to this library sale, but an unnamed informant told the meanie librarians that “It’s both boring and blasphemous,” so it was rejected. Who snitched? Wait! That means someone, somewhere, read my book! I have a fan (well, maybe more of a malcontent) – but that’s one more than I’ve ever had and I’m not picky!
