Question of the day
Thursday, May 20, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
With COVID-19 restrictions lifting across Illinois, State Senator Donald DeWitte (R-St. Charles) is restarting traveling office hours this month, with the first event scheduled in East Dundee on Tuesday, May 25.
The East Dundee event will take place from 9:30 AM until 11:30 AM at the Fox River Valley Public Library, 555 Barrington Avenue. District office staff will be available to assist individuals and businesses with access to state services, as well as answer questions and gather opinions about legislation.
“We had to suspend these community outreach events for the last 14 months during the pandemic, and I’m pleased to be starting them back up again,” said Sen. DeWitte. “We hold these traveling office hours throughout the 33rd District so that the services my office can provide are brought into my constituents’ own communities. For those who do not live near my West Dundee office, these events provide easier access for legislative services.”
Additional traveling office hours have also been scheduled in the following District 33 communities:
· June 30: Geneva, 9:30-11:30 AM
· July 29: Elgin, 9:30-11:30 AM
· Aug. 24: Algonquin, 9:30-11:30 AM
“These traveling office hours are open to all residents in the 33rd District, and I would encourage anyone who is having issues with state agencies to stop by and receive assistance from my talented staff,” Sen. DeWitte said. “This includes those having issues with unemployment, FOID cards and CCL licenses, professional licensing, and other issues.”
* The Question: How are you trying to get back to “normal”?
- Curious citizen - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 3:11 pm:
I’m currently trying to get listed for a lung transplant, so “normal” for me is a long way off.
- a drop in - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 3:20 pm:
Back to walking to the stores almost every day. Get to say hi to people I haven’t seen in 14 months. About a two mile round trip walk. Exercise and groceries combined.
- Montrose - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 3:25 pm:
Looking to start going into the office regularly a couple days a week. There are many great benefits of working from home, but I am looking forward to a change in scenery here and there and seeing colleagues.
- Pundent - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 3:26 pm:
Taking a 2 week vacation in June and transitioning back to the office.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 3:26 pm:
Slowly and carefully. Still gladly observing businesses’ mask and social distancing rules. Also avoiding crowded maskless gatherings indoors with people I don’t know. It’s a relief to go maskless wherever I can. Some have only recently been fully vaccinated. Looking forward to more activities, like hanging out with friends who are fully vaxed.
- RNUG - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 3:27 pm:
Been dining out a bunch, sometimes just the 2 of us, sometimes with friends we haven’t seen for the last year. More likely to visit friends homes, and going to some of the car show / cruise-in / lot night events around town … those have come back big time since they are mostly outside and a lot of the people are us old folks who are vaccinated. Feels almost normal.
On the other hand, still using a mask when shopping or in crowded areas, so it’s not completely normal.
- Skeptic - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 3:28 pm:
An occasional trip *inside* of a grocery store.
- TheInvisibleMan - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 3:30 pm:
Normal is whatever I’m doing at the time.
Whatever I’m doing at the time is informed by current events and my assessment of them over time.
I don’t still sleep with a blankie like when I was a toddler, in a similar vain I’m in no hurry to revert to the patterns of the past simply because I once did things that way.
Today is different than yesterday, and tomorrow will be different than today.
- Dotnonymous - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 3:42 pm:
Colonel Trautman: “How will you live, Johnny?”
Rambo: ” Day by day”
- Anyone Remember - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 3:48 pm:
I’m not. Until children have to be vaccinated to attend, won’t go back to my volunteer gig in the elementary schools. At this point, don’t think that will happen.
- DuPage - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 3:54 pm:
Resume indoor visits of grandkids instead of just lawn visits.
- Simple Simon - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 4:01 pm:
Actually went inside a store this week, wearing mask. Too many unmasked for my liking, but I expect to feel that way for a while.
- Scott - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 4:04 pm:
Still working from home (I’m a web developer, so that’s fairly easy to do) until the end of June, kids still doing school from home, but will be going back in-person in the fall. Wife had to go back to work a few weeks ago.
I’m not eating inside any restaurants and I’m still wearing a mask if I have to go inside a store, but I’m more comfortable being outside with people without a mask on.
- Keith - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 4:06 pm:
Can’t say there’s an established ‘normal’ in our household of 5 with 2 unvaccinated little ones under the age of 10.
- Teddy Salad - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 4:10 pm:
I was getting back to normal, but then the news of the infected cicadas “flying zombie bisexual salt shakers of death.” threw me back a peg.
- Proud Papa Bear - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 4:18 pm:
I went to the gym for the first time in 15 months and now I can barely move.
- Wensicia - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 4:22 pm:
My new “normal”, wearing masks, staying away from crowded venues, will remain in effect.
I’m trying to prepare myself for full in-person public schools starting in early August. It will be impossible to social distance inside our high school, but I’ll keep wearing a mask and hope our students will as well until everyone is fully vaccinated.
- 618DEM - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 4:26 pm:
Pretending that Jone O Jones is my state senator.
- bogey golfer - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 4:26 pm:
Catholic churches are no longer taking reservations. Will be interested to see the attendance this weekend.
Will be going to my first Sox home game in 2 years next week.
- tea_and_honey - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 4:40 pm:
Given the latest info from the CDC stating the vaccine might not “take” for those of us taking medications that suppress the immune system I’m back at square one in trying to figure out what I’m comfortable with.
- Manchester - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 4:43 pm:
Went to a friend’s housewarming party on Monday. Everyone was fully vaccinated and maskless, probably 15 people. I have to say, it was wonderful to be in a group again and share food, drinks, and conversation.
- Leslie K - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 4:50 pm:
I met two friends for brunch. They are both fully vaccinated (as am I), staff were wearing masks, and we sat near the big and open garage-door-like front. I tried to mask up when I was just talking rather than eating, but it didn’t seem as…urgent and stressful.
- Kathie - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 5:01 pm:
Going to an outside work event on Tuesday, masks required. REALLY excited to see people.
- No relation - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 5:13 pm:
Purchase tickets this morning for Rodrigo y Gabriela show in Oct. Keeping my fingers cross.
- Zorro Mask At All Times - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 5:15 pm:
Helping diversity and inclusion by discriminating again white people at every opportunity.
- thisjustinagain - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 5:34 pm:
Getting my second shot 5/21. But will wear single mask (doubled now) in public settings more months more; South Suburbs of Chicago have lowest vax rate, so prudence demands caution. Maybe a few more store trips to places I haven’t been in some time after protection from shot fully kicks in.
- yinn - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 5:42 pm:
Right now am in planning stages for June 8 and beyond, when fully vaxxed. This will include hoisting a brew at the neighborhood joint (dedicating the first toast to the friend we lost last winter) and getting together with my besties for hikes. We are also considering catching Gabriel Iglesias at the State Fair.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 5:49 pm:
=== How are you trying to get back to “normal”?===
In the coming days/weeks I’ll hopefully reach out to a bunch of people I’d really like to see, hope they are vaccinated, then almost “make the rounds”, if I may, and be grateful.
I’ll see family, pop in, drop in, “barge” in, and have those relationships strengthen after all these months.
I might even wait and see if Tom Cross will meet me at Fox Bend… that kinda normal.
And… some folks know they’re holding my marker. I’ll make good on that too, as in normal days, I would’ve already done so… and a Cubs game… and a Cubs game too.
- Bruce( no not him) - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 6:08 pm:
We’re going on a short road trip/ vacation after Memorial Day. Also planning more short trips over summer. All my travelling will be by car. I’m not ready to venture into an airplane yet. Maybe next year.
- Amalia - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 6:15 pm:
No more at home pedicures.
- 62629 - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 7:12 pm:
first indoor dining since last spring was last wk. it was ok
- Crash - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 7:22 pm:
Other than wearing masks in stores, I’m completely back to normal. I’m fully vaccinated so I walk around my office as before (although I have posted my vaccination card on my office door).
I would like to start going out to eat, but now that places are opening it is more about finding time than anyone else.
- @misterjayem - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 8:39 pm:
“How are you trying to get back to “normal”?”
Now that I’m fully vaxed, I’m going to finally go inside a hardware store and buy the materials necessary to repair some of the many things that have fallen into ruin in our home during the pandemic.
Either that or go see Ramblin’ Deano’s Trash Mountain Trio perform at Fitzgerald’s on Sunday afternoon.
“Sorry, honey — I gotta support The Arts‼”
– MrJM
- I can't get my breath - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 9:18 pm:
Taking collective bargaining rights away from police unions because they stand up to race rioters, career criminals and generally useless people, most of whom “graduated” from CPS….
- Stonewall Jackson - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 9:21 pm:
Trying to win the war of northern aggression.
- Paul Powell - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 9:30 pm:
Using mickey finns to pitch woo to coeds in lincoln park bars
- Space Cowboy - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 9:30 pm:
Dining in here and there my favorite local places. Still wearing the mask when I journey from the table to the commode but whatever, it’s like muscle memory at this point.
And boy howdy am I thankful that most of the restaurants in Springfield I enjoy have been able to stay afloat.
- RachAaron - Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 10:50 pm:
My boyfriend and I have been triple masking for the past 4 months, but we are thinking we can go to 2 masks now that we are both fully vaccinated. Our biggest concern is that the new CDC guidelines will result in too many unmasked people in public and we won’t be able to maintain proper distance.
- September - Friday, May 21, 21 @ 7:15 am:
I look forward to seeing many people without medical conditions still in masks. An efficient way to avoid the neurotics and other affiliated Karens.