FOR WOMEN ONLY

if you've got little ones around, it's time to take them to a pumpkin farm. when i was a kid, it was a place called AMLINGS in melrose park where you could pick out your pumpkin and have a glass of apple cider but that was about it. today, it's much better for both kids and parents and GOEBBERT'S PUMPKIN PATCH in two locations--hampshire 847-464-5952 & south barrington 847-428-6727-- does it about as good as anyone with pig races, camel rides, corn maze, pony rides, animal land, wagon rides and the world famous pumpkin eating dinosaur in hampshire. call ahead because the locations have different features.

CAROL MOSELY BRAUN, who was once the shining beacon for all women in politics and was the first african-american woman elected u.s. senator in 1992 may have finally stepped in it big time. she has failed to account for $315,000 in expenditures when she ran that ridiculous campaign for mayor of chicago. the law requires an itemized list for all transactions over $150 and all the other candidates have all filed proper paperwork. braun turned in a sheet that stated "$315,000--various vendors."

when questioned, she tried to blame an 85 year old lady BILLIE PAIGE, who promptly refuted the accusation. "i told them on april 15th they needed to amend the report and that was my final day with her campaign." when reached by phone told of paige's statement, braun shifted gears and said, "well, i'm not in that world anymore and i'm no longer in politics so don't bother me with this." click. i'm thinking that will not be her last phone call on this matter.

the key word today for state senator SUZI SCHMIDT is ABUSE. in hot water and being urged to resign after several brush-ups with the lake county sheriffs and domestic ABUSE towards her husband, rumors are flying about extreme alcohol ABUSE and also ABUSING her powers as a state senator by asking for favors. i can guarantee you that if any of us had 4 visits from the cops in less than a year for domestic disturbance that someone would be sitting in jail. guaranteed.

i see the fine residents of the englewood neighborhood in chicago are blaming former cabrini-green residents for 'making the neighborhood dangerous' by relocating after cabrini was torn down this past summer. that's like blaming unemployment on the unemployed. those animals have had one of the highest crime rates for decade but all of sudden, it's the 200 new residents from cabrini causing ALL of the problems.

i see where the tollway management have accused 7 employees of stealing toll money from the booths. duh. my grandfather used to tell me 50 years ago that a toll collector job was a 'license to steal' on a regular basis. just make it all i-pass and credit cards and be done with it.

i see where michael jackson's personal physician, who made 1.8 million a year in that position, is in a wee bit of trouble. i think it will be guilty of manslaughter and 4 years d.o.c. and loss of his license forever. hope he saved some of that salary.

just plain weird. google 'cat with two faces' or check page 7 of today's sun-times.

i think it's cool that michelle obama went incognito and shopped at target.

finally, if you've been talking about re-financing your house, let me give you a hint.....NOW! 4% for a 30 year. example: you currently mortgage 150,00 @ 6%=900 a month. re-fi at 4% and it's 716.00. this is a no brainer because you save $184 a month which puts more than 2 grand in your pocket every year. NOW!

have a good weekend.