This year’s must-haves are next year’s garage sale junk

PHOTO: Lee Ann age 5 years old.



By Lee Ann Schutz
Published Prior Lake American December 2001
Let the refrain begin ... “Tis the season of a lot of gadgets, whir, and whir and whir, whir, whir.” Every year it’s something new - gadgets guaranteed to make life easier, peeling potatoes a breeze and food more healthy.The snake oil sales force is on the prowl with TV ads and infomercials that inform and entice us to buy the latest, the newest and the most improved.This year’s must-have item under the Christmas tree will more than likely find its way to the back of the cupboard or onto next spring’s garage sale. I’m not a gadget person. I am embarrassed to say how long I’ve been able to get by with a few no-name pots and pans, a good set of knives and a manual can opener. Don’t misunderstand me ... I love convenience. Just try to take away my garbage disposal and dishwasher. But please, no salad shooter, Chop-o-matic, Fry Daddy, hamburger-maker or latte machine.I have even resisted the temptation to buy a juicer, food dehydrator, foot massager and ice tea maker. Lately, though, I can feel my will breaking. I have looking longingly at breadmakers. Now, I would really use that, I tell myself convincingly. But if I’ve learned anything from my personal gadget history, it’s this ... the mood will pass as soon as I’ve baked my third loaf of bread, and the contraption will end up in the garage along with my 1970s fondue pot, (which I understand is once again the latest must-have entertaining item.)I’ve come up with an idea that I hope a budding entrepreneur will grab onto. I think we should have a rental place for all would-be-gadget buyers. Here’s how it would work. Let’s say I have a yen to buy a stationary bike (I get that craving every year right after Thanksgiving.)I would rent the item until the yen passed, and if the gadget worked its way onto my necessity list ... well, then I could buy it!Remember when the microwave first came out with all the options and the hope of easier, faster meals? Yeah, and how long did it take before that expensive gadget was used only for warming coffee and microwave popcorn?So, a word to anyone else thinking of buying me a present this year - If you’re thinking juicer, think again.

Ring in the new with a deep breath

PUBLISHED PRIOR LAKE AMERICAN 2000:

PHOTO - 1999 (Chris, Molly, Nick , Lee Ann)

By Lee Ann Schutz

From start to finish, it’s been quite a year ­– this year 2000.

The TV commentators and newspaper opinion writers have had their say on events of this year. Now it’s the historian’s turn to mull it all over and, with time, help us develop some perspective.
Remember how the year 2000 began? The Y2K scare was just the first of a succession of media events. Now we end the year with a presidential election that has left many of us questioning the legitimacy of our vote.

In this look-back over the past year, we can’t forget about the economy. The high-ride of confidence that bolstered our attitude and spending took unexpected dips and turns this year. The “new economy” shows that the simple law of physics – what goes up, must come down- still applies.

It’s just that some of us forgot to wear our parachutes.
Before closing the book on 2000, a respite, a breather, may be in order. That’s right, take a deep cleansing breath to get rid of all the negative. We do have the promise of a new year.

Our president-elect, George W. Bush, has a tremendous challenge before him. Instead of partisan bickering, what if our political leaders actually rise to the challenge, move forward in unison with the interests of the country in mind.
Maybe too, the slowing economy will force us to take a hard look at our consuming and place greater value on saving and stewardship. And while we’re taking a deep breath, think about our community and the residents who give of their time and talent to make our hometown a better place.
How about our young people – our kids, their friends? Sometimes we don’t acknowledge positive attributes of our young residents. But they have vision for which we can be proud. They show us committed involvement to school activities and to various community efforts.
As with previous New Years, we have the decision of whether we’ll be bystanders and complainers or part of the solutions.
May 2001 bring out the best in who we are.