Category: Uncategorized

How much penance for youthful follies?

As the long-ago misbehavior of public figures like Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has been exposed, maybe you’ve been recalling regrettable incidents from your own past. I have. Among them are a couple of misdeeds for which I wish I could apologize to two gay men. I can’t remember their last names anymore, and even if... Read more »
By Marianne Goss,
February 12, 2019 at 7:49 am
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When insurance will pay, why not?

Last week I wrote about a misunderstanding with an audiologist at the office that sold me hearing aids three years ago. When the hearing aids came back from a factory check, she asked me to get a referral from my primary care physician. I thought that was because the devices needed reprogramming; she thought I... Read more »
By Marianne Goss,
February 4, 2019 at 8:58 am
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Wandering in the health insurance maze

We all have stories to tell about hassles with medical practitioners and insurance companies. Stop reading if you don’t want to hear someone else’s. Humana Gold Plus, a Medicare Advantage HMO, has mostly served me well. It even paid $2,000 toward hearing aids. Those hearing aids caused a recent annoyance — not with them but... Read more »
By Marianne Goss,
January 29, 2019 at 9:50 am
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The difficult task of sentimental decluttering

Other than Donald Trump and Nancy Pelosi, the person whose name it seems we’re hearing the most at the start of 2019 is Marie Kondo, author of The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up and focus of a new Netflix series. Netflix’s Tidying Up with Marie Kondo began this month, inspiring people who made new... Read more »
By Marianne Goss,
January 22, 2019 at 7:56 am
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How a Chicago voter might narrow the mayoral choices

The feds did Chicago voters a favor by charging Ald. Ed Burke with attempted extortion before the February 26 mayoral primary.  It helps us eliminate candidates in a congested race. Now I feel okay about ruling out four top candidates, those with ties to Burke: Toni Preckwinkle, Susana Mendoza, Gery Chico, and Bill Daley. Burke... Read more »
By Marianne Goss,
January 14, 2019 at 4:45 pm
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Don't tidy your place for me

For the last few of my building’s monthly game nights, only two of us showed up. Before he moved out of town in mid-December, my game-playing partner invited me to his apartment for a meal and a last game of Scrabble. The invitation for that evening was issued spontaneously during his workday, so he had... Read more »
By Marianne Goss,
January 8, 2019 at 10:50 am
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Intrusiveness vs. showing interest: how to ask questions

In the December issue of Chicago magazine there’s a short piece on how to make small talk at parties. Anne Libera, director of comedy studies at Columbia College, suggests asking, “What’s the weirdest food your family eats on a regular basis?” or “Tell me about the most exciting thing you ever did as a teenager.”... Read more »
By Marianne Goss,
December 27, 2018 at 9:35 am
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Having an undecorated Christmas

Having an undecorated Christmas
December 18, the calendar says. Only a week until Christmas, and I haven’t put up any decorations. I may not.  Has a bah-humbug attitude overtaken me?  I don’t think so. I’ve happily gone to the Chicago Greeter and my building’s holiday parties. I eagerly read the cards that are arriving and will email holiday notes... Read more »
By Marianne Goss,
December 18, 2018 at 9:17 am
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For the elderly, giving effortless food is a winner

Christmas shopping for 90+-year-olds whose home is overflowing with stuff is a challenge. For years I gave my parents gifts from Omaha Steaks, but they still had to cook the meat, along with side dishes. As they’ve gotten older, it seems better to reduce their work. This year I decided to check into whether Omaha... Read more »
By Marianne Goss,
December 10, 2018 at 9:10 am
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Before moving on from the big 70 . . .

Since the last two posts were about turning 70, maybe I’ve milked the topic ad nauseam. But those posts mostly reprinted other people’s thoughts, and now that the big birthday is past, my own feelings are clearer. * Friends and family made it one of my best birthdays ever. The wishes via text, email, phone,... Read more »
By Marianne Goss,
December 4, 2018 at 8:38 am
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