How to write a story, how to get published, and how to pursue creative dreams were all part of the GCHS Writers Week 2013. The inaugural event was billed as "a week-long celebration of writing." I was honored to be asked to speak at the event on April 2 at Grayslake Central High School, organized by teacher Carl Hauck. I spoke about Patch and the future of digital media. The students asked great questions. I hoped to instill in them that everyone has a story, and writing those stories is a pretty cool privilege. The amount and the variety of other speakers was impressive. It included writers …

Two years ago, I began a new adventure as editor of Grayslake Patch. I had never heard of Patch before. Most of you never had either. Patch.com is owned by AOL, and has grown from just three sites on the east coast to now more than 850 sites across the country. Locally, Grayslake Patch launched September 30, 2010 with a party at The Vine. And it has been a great privilege and honor to cover my hometown, its businesses and its residents ever since. Now, I will still be involved with Patch but at a different level. I recently was promoted to an assistant regional editor where I will manage …

Want to get "dirty"? Join in the fun at the Dirty Girl Mud Run. The Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake will be transformed into a muddy, crazy obstacle course when the Dirty Girl Mud Run takes over on June 30 and July 1.  So far, 7,174 women have signed up for this wild 5K run through a muddied obstacle course - including ME! What was i thinking?!? It should be a crazy good time. The Dirty Girl 5k Mud Run is designed for women of all ages and athletic abilities, according to their website at http://www.godirtygirl.com/. (Be sure to include the word "go" in this url to get to the proper …

While on a walk in Rollins Savanna, my friend Becky and I saw this deer out for his exercise, too. We also saw turtles and her husband saw some coyotes.  What have you seen while out enjoying nature? Post a photo here, or leave a comment telling about it.

Patch wants to know what you think. Have you checked out our Local Voices section recently? It's full of bloggers from the area who are sharing their thoughts about a wide number of topics. You Might Be a Blogger If... You're passionate You've got an opinion You're a community expert What Do You Want to Read About? Bloggers can write about anything. Still, let's give some concrete ideas to our potential bloggers—what topics do you most want to covered? Tell us in our poll what you'd like to see, and if you're a reader who thinks they can fill a popular spot, let me know and I'll show you how …

We are down to Crunch Time in the Lose 20/40 Pounds in 10 Weeks program at The Fitness Pusuit in Grayslake. We are just starting the final two weeks of the program and Coach Lauri Robinson wants to see us all put in the effort to get the most results out of this session. Everyone in the class is at a different fitness level, from the very fit working to improve performance in a triathalon to those of us who are...not so much fit. But we are all still working on getting better. I think that is the key. Start from wherever you are. Don't wait until you lose 20 pounds before you join a gym to …

As we continue on this journey, here are some things I've learned: 10 Lessons I Am Learning About Weight Loss Be Prepared - It isn't easy. Especially if you are a busy working mom who is over 40 and diabetic. (Or whatever your situation is). No Excuses - There are no excuses for not getting healthier. (Including those in #1). Start Off Active - Morning workouts are the best, in my humble opinion, because they start the calorie burn early in the day. It also helps me to not feel like I have to catch up late in the day, resulting in an angry treadmill march at 11:30 p.m. Start early and get it …

This was a much better week. I lost 3.2 pounds, bringing my total in the first month of the program at The Fitness Pursuit to 8 pounds down. My body fat percentage is down 3 percent. My water levels, measuring how hydrated I am, have increased, which is good. You may not be that impressed with these numbers. There is no "15 pounds in 7 days" results here. But honestly, I am thrilled. I am changing my thoughts about what constitutes success. I am not interested anymore in short-term, quick but short-lived results that come back as soon as you go off the program. This is a new mindset for me. I…

This was a really good week for the whole group in the Lose 20-40 Pounds in 10 Weeks class at The Fitness Pursuit in Grayslake. Overall, Coach Lauri Robinson said the group lost 20.8 pounds this week, and has lost a total of 59.9 pounds in the first three weeks. For me, I lost 2.6 pounds this week, so it is moving in the right direction. I've lost 4.8 pounds in the first three weeks. I'm happy with that. Of course, I wish it was a huge, incredible number like "14 pounds in one week" as advertised on late-night infomercials. It would be great if that were possible or long-lasting, but I know …

This was a much better week for me on the weight loss and fitness journey. I tracked my food daily, I worked out for an average of an hour a day, and I thought about what I was eating before I ate it. Those are all common sense things, I know, but also are big steps on the way to getting better. And it worked - I lost 2.2 pounds. That was even on a week that I wasn't feeling the best, and my family went out to Iowa for a belated Christmas celebration. Traveling and eating right was challenging, but not impossible. I kept in mind a fellow class member who frequently travels internationally. If…

I learned a lot this week in Week Two of my quest for health and fitness. I had my class last night at The Fitness Pursuit in Grayslake. Here are the highlights: The good news: Almost all of the 12 people in my class lost weight. The bad news: I was not one of them. I maintained, OK I actually gained 0.4 pounds — ugh — but I know why it happened. It was because I tend to hang onto my old, bad habits whenever I start a new health and diet plan. I tried to estimate what I ate (instead of weighing and measuring it) and I dislike tracking everything so I did not write it all down. The Fitness …

Weight loss comes down to simple math, I am told. Calories in must be less than calories burned. While this is a surprise to no one — not even me — it still can be difficult to put this formula into play in the real world with real lives. That is why so many Americans struggle with their weight as I do. So, I started my big new plan to be smaller. I joined the Lose 20-40 Pounds class at The Fitness Pursuit in Grayslake. I am very excited and a little overwhelmed. It is always hardest at the beginning, until you actually understand what you are supposed to be doing. Last night, our first group…

As the food festival that is the holiday season is over and the New Year is just about to begin, I have decided to do something big — in pursuit of getting smaller. I am making a change. Instead of just making my annual (usually short-lived) resolution to eat less/exercise more/lose weight, I am committing to it. I will make it happen. But I need some help. So I signed up for a Drop 20-40 Pounds Weight Management program at The Fitness Pursuit in Grayslake. The class meets from 6 to 7 p.m. Mondays starting Jan 2, 2012. It runs through March 5. The Fitness Pursuit, 1186 E. Washington, …

The holidays can be the hardest. You can be going along just fine, getting through the days with little problem, and then the holidays hit. That is when the loss comes home again. If you have ever lost someone very close to you, you know what I mean. If you never have, (1) count your blessings and (2) you can stop reading now. You won't get it. How could you? For those who have lived through the loss of someone so special, you know. You are a member of the club that no one wants to belong to. You know about loss, and about getting through it fairly well, until the holidays roll around again. …

In this season of giving thanks, I am grateful for so much related to this job. Grayslake Patch launched just one year and one month ago on Sept. 30, 2010. And, oh, what a year it has been! Here are some of the highlights: Thanks to you, the readers: You have tuned into Patch, have commented on stories, have voted in contests and have shared what matters most to you. You embraced the site from the beginning, and that has continued to grow. Thanks for sharing your stories: I have had the pleasure to post 2,101 (now 2,102) articles, photos galleries and videos this year. I love sharing your …

Three weeks, as it turns out, is not nearly enough. When 15 students from Malaga, Spain arrived three weeks ago at O'Hare, they were met by families from Grayslake through the Share America program. Everyone was friendly and excited, but a little nervous and awkward. We met our 15-year-old student, Juan Bosco Bascon Ortega, at the airport and starting trying to communicate. He spoke English very well and we quickly bonded. We learned about Spain and he learned about Grayslake and Chicago. We took Bosco to Ed Debevic's and a White Sox game where he saw a grand slam win. He became fast friends …

Ten years. It is incredible to think that the horrific and shocking attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 were 10 years ago. The images of that day, etched so clear in our minds, have barely dulled 10 years later. What is even more incredible is the response of people to this anniversary. People wanting to connect with one another. To remember who we lost, to pay tribute to those who serve, to express thanks for what we have. People across Grayslake, across Lake County and across the country are gathering together this Sunday to recognize and reflect. Something special has happened in Grayslake. It …

Tomorrow, our family is expanding by one--a 15-year-old boy from Spain, to be exact. And we can hardly wait. We volunteered to host "Juan Bosco" from Spain for three weeks. It is part of the Share America program. He will live with us, and go to Grayslake North High School classes a few days per week with our kids, Lauren and Kyle. We plan to take him to a White Sox game, Tastee Freez, Dog 'n Suds,  Mitch's and other Grayslake hot spots. We'll bring Bosco to the American Heroes Community Celebration on 9/11 to show him how the community rallies and remembers its heroes. His sister is also …

Patch is working on a project to welcome summer in Grayslake, and we want you to be a part of it.We'll be putting together a series of stories we're calling the Patch Passport to Grayslake to help readers become tourists in their own town.As we work, we'd love your input! We'll be featuring local hot spots for shopping and dining, fun kid-friendly places and historically important landmarks. We'll capture them through stories, photos and videos.Here are some of the things we are starting with, but this is just the beginning. You know your town best. If you know of something cool in Grayslake …

"What a great surprise!" said Nancy Musselman, as she was handed her free cup of coffee at Something's Brewing last week. Grayslake Patch picked up the tab. She met her friend, Nancy Rolison, at the local coffee and pastry shop in downtown Grayslake. "It just goes to show you," Rolison said, "what great things happen in Grayslake!" People of all ages came out on Jan. 7 for the free treats. We at Grayslake Patch were happy to get their winter morning off to a warm start. I and Noel Hennessey, ad manager, talked with a lot of you, signed people up for Patch newsletters and chatted about local …