Category: Humor

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Lolli, You’re Not in Bolingbrook Anymore!

deborahloi

My First Non-working Vacation Ever – Part 3 – Finale Aunt Debby and I awoke on Day 2 and had a disappointing breakfast at Imaginations Dining Room. The coffee was pretty good though. I fit easily into a much too big red swimsuit (looking ready to burst through a brick wall demanding artificially flavored fruity drinks), and covered it with a bright white top buttoned crooked. I dropped my shades over my glasses, unpacked my bright red cane (for balance when walking on sand) and we headed down to deck 3 to disembark in Freeport, Bahamas. We met the family … Continue reading Lolli, You’re Not in Bolingbrook Anymore!

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What’s This… What’s This? I Can’t Believe My Eyes…!

deborahloi

My First Non-working Vacation Ever – Part 2 The JAXPORT Terminal So yeah… this is one of the oldest and smallest ships in Carnival’s fleet. It has 15 decks and, for this trip, accommodated more than 2800 guests and almost 900 staff. It has several bars and nightclubs, a good-sized theater, a smoky casino, a relaxing spa, and more and more! I don’t have a passport (don’t worry, I’m getting one!), so a week or so before the trip, I ventured to the county courthouse to get copies of my birth certificate and marriage license (you don’t need a passport … Continue reading What’s This… What’s This? I Can’t Believe My Eyes…!

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Preparing to Step All Up Out of My Comfort Zones

deborahloi

My First Non-working Vacation Ever – Part 1 So… last Monday, the 10th, my son agreed to drive me to the train station to begin my journey to the JAXPORT dock in Jacksonville, Florida. He was then shocked and appalled to learn that I was going to the Amtrak terminal at Chicago’s Union Station… in downtown Chicago… and hour away. We took my car that had half a tank of gas. His phone was at 13% and he didn’t have his charger… and he refused to turn it off cuz he needed GPS to get to the station. MY phone … Continue reading Preparing to Step All Up Out of My Comfort Zones

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2025 is Here

deborahloi

… another year… another WTF… So yeah… Happy New Year has taken on a new meaning in my world. A year ago this week, I felt like all hell was breaking loose. I was having trouble breathing and eventually hospitalized twice in the first two weeks of 2024. This year, on the 27th, my baby brother was riding his bike to work in Chicago and he got hit by a bus. He’s banged up and has a slight brain injury, but he’ll be ok. Then on the 30th, I decided I should check on that 4-day sore throat and took … Continue reading 2025 is Here

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Me & Christmas…

deborahloi

… and the Terran High Holidays in general Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! Whoa… where do I begin? Last year I wrote about gratitude, and bread, and The Bakening, and my annual holiday rituals; and if you’ve ever followed my personal Facebook profile, you surely got a glimpse of my psycho manic holiday mania. I give a play-by-play of my process… literally every single step… so the whole world knows that yeah… I do too much. Of course, it all starts in October… immediately after Halloween. I make a list of all the tasks I need completed by Christmas eve. … Continue reading Me & Christmas…

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My Favorite Halloween Memory…

deborahloi

…and other stuff… (sorry, long post) Photo by Taylor Foss on Unsplash So earlier this week, Monday the 29th to be exact, the question in WBEZ’s The Rundown asked “What is your favorite Halloween memory?” I sent in my answer and received a 4-word response on the 30th “Thanks for sharing, Deborah!” Later that day, I’m skimming the afternoon edition of the newsletter and guess what’s posted…my Halloween memory! It’s way at the bottom… the last thing on the page, actually; and there’s no byline, just my first name; but yeah… it’s my story! My favorite Halloween memory is also … Continue reading My Favorite Halloween Memory…

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Happy New Year

deborahloi

Starting the year off… somehow… So, Tuesday, January 2nd, I went in to the office (I go in weekly…it’s fun). I was a little winded but I attributed it to my usual fat and laziness. When 5:00 came, I was a little more winded, but I let that go too. By 8:00 I started feeling tightness in my neck and shoulders and remembered that women’s heart attacks present differently than men’s. I told myself I was being silly and dramatic. I sat down at my computer, took my Klingon lesson on Duolingo, then took my meds, and went upstairs for … Continue reading Happy New Year

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The “Bakening” Continues

deborahloi

Last weekend I made chocolate peanut clusters, caramel popcorn, peanut brittle, and cinnamon sugared almonds. It took all day, but in the end, I had enough of everything (a 5 gallon bucket of caramelcorn) to pack and ship 12 goodie boxes with quite a bit left over. I left town for 2 days and came back to an empty bucket and no more peanut brittle. Sigh. I got up this morning and after a quick 7am trip to the store and an agonizing decision about sausage, I started the pound cakes. It takes 30-40 minutes to mix. Given the size … Continue reading The “Bakening” Continues

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Happy 4th of July CC! – Wherever You Are.

deborahloi

The crowds at the beach grew quickly as the days grew longer and the weather grew warmer, and on the 4th of July, the beach was packed.  The drummers camped on the sidewalk and as the sun went down, the pounding African rhythms filled the air.   A few yards away, the bikers camped in the parking lot.  In the twilight, the motorcycle running lights sparkled like tiny diamonds, washing out the stars in the night sky.  The wailing of classic blues and soul blending with the beat of African drums.   Beyond the bikers were the kids.  Big cars and … Continue reading Happy 4th of July CC! – Wherever You Are.