tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65623427469509629352024-02-29T19:20:39.855-06:00Debra L. Karplus, MS, OT, freelance writerSPECIALIZING in TRAVEL WRITING, tips for affordable and safe travel to interesting destinations
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1156125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562342746950962935.post-23110711918418157792024-02-29T19:03:00.001-06:002024-02-29T19:03:43.017-06:00"Squirrels in Antarctica" -- by Sari Karplus<p> <i>Squirrels in Antarctica</i></p><p>is the 4th published article</p><p>by children's author Sari Karplus.</p><p>It is marketed to ages 4 - 8 and </p><p>is now available on amazon.com & other sources.</p><p>Check it out!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562342746950962935.post-60894143124169420152024-02-29T07:30:00.003-06:002024-02-29T07:30:28.423-06:00Mackinac Island -- Prime Life Times<p> "Making Memories on Mackinac Island"</p><p>is my latest published article in the</p><p>print only March 2024 edition (Page A-15) of </p><p><i>Prime Life Times.</i></p><p>I welcome your comments.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562342746950962935.post-18635371620673396282024-02-28T16:28:00.002-06:002024-02-28T16:28:28.546-06:00Wondering about Wheelchairs? -- Prime Life Times<p> "Wondering about Wheelchairs?"</p><p>is my latest published article in the</p><p>PRINT ONLY March 2024 edition of</p><p><i>Prime Life Times</i></p><p>on page A-14.</p><p>I welcome your comments.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562342746950962935.post-74293670196404968182024-02-11T15:06:00.004-06:002024-02-11T15:06:57.536-06:00Superbowl & Dad Essay -- Steven Doppelt<p> https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dad-dying-son-super-bowl_n_65afff07e4b0d65b024e40b3</p><p>A beautiful piece!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562342746950962935.post-41932049373449069962024-02-10T09:39:00.002-06:002024-02-11T15:07:31.362-06:00Debbie Does Date Bars! -- News-Gazette<p> "Debbie Does Date Bars: Adventures in the Kitchen"</p><p>is my latest published article in the</p><p><i>Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette</i></p><p>PRINT (Saturday February 10) &</p><p>ONLINE (Sunday Voices Guest Commentary) February 11, 2024.</p><p>www.news-gazette.com</p><p>I welcome your comments.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562342746950962935.post-83652852121028962232024-02-10T09:37:00.001-06:002024-02-10T09:37:09.473-06:00CU: Best places to live!<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">C-U voted #1 Best Places to Live for 10<sup>th</sup> consecutive year!<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">By Debra L. Karplus<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kiplinger’s Personal
Finance</i> Magazine’s August 2023 cover article, “Great Places to Retire (for
renters<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">)”</i>, caught my eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d hoped to find Champaign-Urbana somewhere
on this list, but nope; Tallassee, Florida was listed first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Columbus, Ohio was listed, as was Ann Arbor,
Michigan but not C-U or any other Illinois city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kiplinger writes these lists regularly. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">USA Today</i> (<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/">www.usatoday.com</a>), in their recent list of
150 cities of Best Places to Live in the U.S. listed Green Bay, Wisconsin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Forbes</i>
(<a href="http://www.forbes.com/">www.forbes.com</a>) in their 2022 list named
Fort Wayne, Indiana as number 1. AARP in 2021 named Cedar Falls, Iowa. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In 2021, the CBS Sunday Morning show did a feature about
scary weather, specifically near the oceans, deducing that Madison, Wisconsin
was an ideal place homestead.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Many of these “best cities” I’ve never visited. But, I’ve
been to Fort Wayne, Ann Arbor, Madison and Green Bay for short stays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These Midwestern cities are lovely, scenic
with much to do, housing major universities not unlike C-U; Fort Wayne has Purdue,
Madison and Green Bay have two University of Wisconsin campuses, Ann Arbor has
University of Michigan.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For years, I’ve wondered why Champaign-Urbana never seems to
make it onto these best places to live lists! I’ve even discussed with my
friends operating the Champaign County Visit Center, currently called
Experience Champaign, formerly Visit Champaign County.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re all perplexed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I did some exploring to learn how these best places lists
are assembled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Data from the US Census
bureau related to population and demographics is collected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The FBI provides statistics about crime. The
US Department of Labor has numbers about careers and employment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And other information is thrown into the mix
such as happiness scales and air quality numbers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are some formulas that combine all this
and more and creates best places lists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is an oversimplified version of how best places lists evolve.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are some online quizzes one can take to provide
guidance on where one might want to live based on questions related to need for
a nearby airport, hospital, mountains, ocean, and so on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I answered one of these quizzes about a
decade ago and learned that San Bernardino, California was my ideal spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I visited there once for a very short time,
but I’m not at all ready to hire Two Men and a Truck to haul my stuff there!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With the University of Illinois and also Parkland College we
have ample spectator sports and culture in addition to all that’s going on in
our two vibrant downtowns and outlying towns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Cost of living here is decent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have family in Southern California, Boulder Colorado and the Chicagoland area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re shocked at the relatively low price
to buy a comfortable sized house for a family in an upscale neighborhood in C-U.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And though they tout their beautiful scenery
and/or culture, ours is typically more affordable and a reasonable drive to get
there, to get anywhere!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our local bus
system is phenomenal as are our parks and libraries.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let’s talk weather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Champaign-Urbana, like most Illinois cities has four distinct
seasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me that’s great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve vacationed in Santa Barbara, California
in December and January, and yes, it’s sure tough to believe it’s winter then while
swimming laps in an outdoor pool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But,
frankly, I think I would get bored with twelve months a year like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Personally, I enjoy an outdoor walk at
Urbana’s Meadowbrook Park on a crisp 35 degree day, but maybe that’s just
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worry here about wildfires here in
our lovely twin cities are rare, as is the occasional, essentially harmless
earthquake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overall the air quality here
is safe, unless Canada happens to be having wildfires!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m happy with the health care system here, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Granted, I’m overall in excellent health,
though I did acquire a cadre of three new Christie Clinic specialists for
relatively minor health problems.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m uninformed about local crime statistics, but I try to
avoid pop up parties at 2 am in certain parts of town.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What about taxes?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well,
wherever you live, you either pay them either via high real estate taxes, high
sales tax, or high state income tax.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So how do we get some of these Best Place collaborators to make
notice of Champaign-Urbana?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could
“Champaign-Urbana voted #1 Best Places to Live for 10 consecutive years” become
a headline somewhere?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Champaign County
residents, let’s brainstorm on this and position our amazing twin cities onto a
few best places lists.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562342746950962935.post-58402380867568524222024-02-06T19:24:00.002-06:002024-02-06T19:24:40.017-06:00Where will you live as you age? -- Prime Life Times<p>"Where will you live as you age?"</p><p>is my latest published article </p><p>in the PRINT February 2024 issue of</p><p><i>Prime Life Times</i></p><p>on page A-13.</p><p>I welcome your comments. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562342746950962935.post-239404593571263922024-01-07T10:08:00.001-06:002024-01-07T10:08:07.796-06:00Dear family & friends -- News-Gazette<p> "Dear family and friends..."</p><p>is my latest published Voices Guest commentary</p><p>in the Sunday January 7, 2024</p><p>print and online edition of the </p><p><i>Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette</i></p><p>www.news-gazette.com.</p><p>I welcome your comments.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562342746950962935.post-89932706662783732242024-01-07T10:06:00.000-06:002024-01-07T10:06:00.622-06:00Working with a Personal Trainer -- Prime Life Times<p> "Working with a Personal Trainer"</p><p>is my latest published article </p><p>in the</p><p>January 2024 PRINT edition of</p><p><i>Prime Life Times</i></p><p>on page A-3.</p><p>I welcome your comments.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562342746950962935.post-3874804266523572822024-01-07T10:04:00.001-06:002024-01-07T10:04:11.911-06:00I've Rediscovered Books!<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I’ve rediscovered books!<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">By Debra L. Karplus<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I see the look of surprise when people ask me “what have you
been reading lately”, and I nonchalantly reply, “I’m not much of a reader, I’m
more of a writer”; I’ve often heard it said that good writers are good readers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what does that imply about me?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As a kid I didn’t read much; admittedly I spent much time in
front of television.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TV was relatively
new in the 1950s, and then, cowabunga, color TV emerged!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why read Nancy Drew mysteries when you could
watch <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Beverly Hillbillies</i>?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">During high school, one of my greatest joys was using free
period to visit the library and peruse magazines, mostly browsing, though
reading some more thoroughly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With my
sometimes short attention span, I find magazine reading in sync with my style.
(It would have been beyond my wildest imagination that some forty years later I’d
be writing articles for magazines!)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It wasn’t until my children were school-age, c.1981, that I
really started reading for pleasure, mostly light reads, such as Erma Bombeck, as
there were the many interruptions that busy mothers face. I became a very regular
borrower at the nearby Champaign Public Library, often walking there.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My Columbia Avenue neighbors can tell you that I was
frequently sprawled out on the swing on my sheltered front porch of my home
built in 1907, most any time of year, immersed in a good book, though I’d stop
and chat to neighbors passing by when approached.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then around 2015, it seemed I suddenly just stopped reading.
That was around the time my parents began showing their age, with deteriorating
health, though they lived near Chicago and not here in Champaign-Urbana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My focus and priorities changed; frequent Amtrak
and Metra trips north followed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But something else happened around that time also.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I moved to a low-maintenance one-story townhouse
built in 2002 in southwest Champaign that really meets my needs as I get older.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But a house of its vintage and design
typically lacks an old-fashioned front porch. People in my new neighborhood
often sit on their backyard patios overlooking the beautifully landscaped ponds,
or sometimes even sit on chairs in their driveways to enjoy the outdoors and
get out into the fresh air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But, that was just <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not
</i>the right space for me to embrace reading.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I discovered numerous Little Free Libraries around town; they’re
“open” 24/7; one can swap out an already read book for an unread one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve discovered several good reads that way,
but it’s a very labor-intensive process. Some Little Free Libraries are more
inclined to have the kind of books of interest to me.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then Covid hit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
tech skills weren’t up-to-speed, but with assistance, I learned to utilize
Libby and other online resources so that I could read on my IPad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was able to download and read a huge
variety of magazines, even some from other countries such as the Australian
version of Prevention Magazine, puzzled at first by their summer edition in
December! I could sit comfortably on the living room sofa listening to my
favorite classical music while searching through virtually hundreds of titles
to find the right e-book. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’ve heard many people say they’d much rather read a “real
book”, and once the Covid risk lifted, I found that, I, too, found minimal
pleasure sitting with a small screen and reading a book electronically.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Recently, a Zoom “friend” of mine wrote a memoir, and much
out of character, I purchased her book, and read it cover to cover the day
Amazon delivered it. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For a time I’d been feeling like something was missing from
my life, and though I seem to “have it all”, the nurturing from reading that I’d
received in the past was badly needed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Having a good book around is a little like having a puppy,
only you don’t have the responsibility of feeding it, walking it, cleaning up
after it or vacuuming a lot of fur off the carpets.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I especially enjoy well-written biographies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I just finished <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Spare</i> by Prince Harry, not exactly “literary”, but interesting to learn
about those whacky Royals!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Reading a biography is a great antidote for loneliness; it’s
like getting to know a new, low maintenance friend, get inside their head a bit
without giving anything back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reading
about someone’s life is a great way to learn more about yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am still searching for the ideal spot at home to devour
some good books. Outside or inside, it must be super cozy.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562342746950962935.post-47932839341313894922023-12-01T14:43:00.005-06:002023-12-01T14:43:47.153-06:00Delightful Door County -- Prime Life Times<p>"Delightful Door County"</p><p>is my latest published article (cover story) in the</p><p>December, 2023 PRINT edition of</p><p><i>Prime Life Times.</i></p><p>I welcome your comments.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562342746950962935.post-62416971584191285622023-11-19T07:06:00.000-06:002023-11-19T07:06:02.073-06:00Plant-based diet -- News Gazette<p>"Why some people choose a plant-based diet" </p><p>is my latest published article in the</p><p><i>Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette,</i></p><p>www.news-gazette.com</p><p>Sunday November 19, 2023</p><p>Voices Guest Commentary.</p><p>I welcome your comments. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562342746950962935.post-46751108768753309812023-10-01T06:32:00.001-05:002023-10-01T06:32:07.960-05:00Closet skeletons in sepia -- News-Gazette<p> "Closet Skeletons in Sepia"</p><p>is my latest published article in</p><p><i>The Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette</i></p><p>www.news-gazette.com</p><p>Sunday October 1, 2023</p><p>Voices Guest Commentary.</p><p>I welcome your comments.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562342746950962935.post-5991594215391984022023-10-01T06:29:00.004-05:002023-10-01T06:29:37.510-05:00No Place Like Niagara Falls -- Prime Life Times<p> "There's no place like Niagara Falls"</p><p>is my latest published article in</p><p>October, 2023 PRINT ONLY</p><p><i>Prime Life Times.</i></p><p>Cover article!</p><p>I welcome your comments.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562342746950962935.post-21335434760452757872023-07-29T20:06:00.002-05:002023-07-29T20:06:19.151-05:00Meet me in St. Louis -- Prime Life Times<p> "Meet me in St. Louis"</p><p>is my latest published article, </p><p>cover article in the print only</p><p>August 2023</p><p><i>Prime Life Times.</i></p><p>I welcome your comments.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562342746950962935.post-87255753945800644922023-07-29T20:05:00.000-05:002023-07-29T20:05:05.990-05:00Minding my own busyness -- News-Gazette<p> "Minding my own busyness"</p><p>is my latest published article in the</p><p>print and online</p><p>Sunday July 23, 2023, Voices Guest Commentary</p><p><i>Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette.</i></p><p>I welcome your comments.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562342746950962935.post-76484482782968854812023-07-01T16:13:00.002-05:002023-07-01T16:13:45.697-05:00Sensational Springfield -- Prime Life Times<p> "Sensational Springfield"</p><p>is my latest published article in the</p><p>July 2023 PRINT edition</p><p>cover article on page 1</p><p><i>Prime Life Times.</i></p><p>I welcome your comments.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562342746950962935.post-57512295491870842122023-06-18T07:51:00.000-05:002023-06-18T07:51:00.426-05:00They serve and protect -- News Gazette<p> 'They serve and protect"</p><p>is my latest published article in </p><p>the<i> Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette</i></p><p>www.news-gazette.com</p><p>Sunday Voices Guest Commentary</p><p>June 18, 2023.</p><p>I welcome your comments</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562342746950962935.post-91841976407523591202023-05-31T08:16:00.003-05:002023-05-31T08:16:23.869-05:00If I ruled the word -- News-Gazette<p> "If I ruled the word"</p><p>is my latest published article in </p><p><i>The Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette</i></p><p>www.news-gazette.com</p><p>Sunday May 28, 2023</p><p>Voices Guest Commentary.</p><p>I welcome your comments.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562342746950962935.post-22411813312591323582023-05-31T08:15:00.000-05:002023-05-31T08:15:03.097-05:00Amazing Arkansas -- Prime Life Times<p> "Amazing Arkansas"</p><p>is my latest published article in</p><p>JUNE 2023 PRINT edition, page A-8 of</p><p><i>Prime Life Times.</i></p><p>I welcome your comments.</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562342746950962935.post-90597873499752862942023-04-30T14:03:00.001-05:002023-04-30T14:03:12.377-05:00Distant Doctors -- Prime Life Times<p> "Destination: Distant Doctors for your Disorder"</p><p>is my latest published article in the</p><p>May 2023 print only edition of</p><p><i>Prime Life Times.</i></p><p>I welcome your comments.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562342746950962935.post-14439842762914514702023-04-09T17:01:00.004-05:002023-04-09T17:01:23.696-05:00Postcard from Anywhere -- News-Gazette<p> "Postcard from Anywhere USA" is my</p><p>latest published article in the</p><p><i>Champaign-Urbana News Gazette,</i></p><p>www.news-gazette.com</p><p>Sunday April 9, 2023</p><p>Commentary Sunday Voices.</p><p>I welcome your comments.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562342746950962935.post-18907419261918445122023-04-09T16:59:00.003-05:002023-04-09T16:59:23.282-05:00Robotastic Sleep Mode by Sari Karplus<p> The new Robotastic book, (number 3) by acclaimed children's author Sari Karplus is now available for purchase on amazon.com and other vendors. Check it out! </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562342746950962935.post-47599975890719755352023-02-28T11:15:00.001-06:002023-02-28T11:15:06.201-06:00Greetings from Vermont -- Prime Life Times<p> "Greetings from Vermont" </p><p>is my latest published article in the</p><p>March 2023 PRINT edition of</p><p><i>Prime Life Times, </i></p><p>the cover story on page A-1.</p><p>I welcome your comments.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6562342746950962935.post-4740758985719144032023-02-19T07:37:00.001-06:002023-02-19T07:37:15.414-06:00When life gives you lemons, make applesauce -- News-Gazette<p> "When life gives you lemons, make applesauce" </p><p>is my latest published article in the</p><p><i>Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette</i></p><p>www.news-gazette.com</p><p>print and online</p><p>Guest Commentary Voices</p><p>Sunday February 19, 20923.</p><p>I welcome your comments.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0