Cue the snowy 'Dr. Zhivago' music

When some of my Connecticut friends would complain about winter weather, I would often chide them by saying winters here were a piece of cake, you haven’t experienced winter’s fury until you’ve lived in Chicago.

Well, this winter, I’ve had my comeuppance.

Here we are, just beginning February, and the winter already seems endless. Chicago, in some respects, however, still takes the “worst-ever” trophy. We were new to the area with relatively little money and two small energetic boys who were both still in diapers (cloth ones that froze on the clothesline).

You couldn’t keep two active little ones indoors, and my entire long winter seemed to consist of getting one in a clean diaper and zipped to his ears in a snowsuit, only to have to undress, change the diaper on his brother and again bundle him into his snowsuit before bracing for the bitter cold and unforgiving wind.

Our daughter, Marianne, was not born until well after our Chicago sojourn, but she did choose the equally cold climate of Iowa City for her college years. I recall our shopping together for one of those down-filled puffy coats that make you look like you are coming when you’re going.

Upon finally leaving Iowa, she informed me she had burned the coat and vowed never to live anywhere where she would have to wear something like that again. True, to her word, she spent a short time working in Washington and then started a business in San Francisco, where she has lived, sans heavy winter clothing, happily, ever since.

I suppose, if one is young and athletic, all this snow can present many opportunities for fun. As for me, arthritis is appearing in joints I didn’t know I had, my heating bill is going to be a whopper, and the calendar looks like a crossword puzzle with appointments canceled, rescheduled and canceled again.

Attempting to keep a business appointment in downtown New Haven on a sunny day, I nearly got permanently stuck on an uncleared side street, and finding nowhere to park, gave up and drove home. I’m also expected to sound genuinely thrilled for several friends who will be leaving on winter vacations in exotic, warm places. (They better not show their faces again until they’ve at least had the decency to lose their tans).

As my mother use to tell me, “There’s always somebody who is worse off.” Skye, Scotland, is reputed to be one of the coldest inhabited places, excluding Antarctica, which doesn’t count because outside of scientists, nobody lives there except penguins and seals.

Oymyakon in Eastern Siberia has winter nine months of the year with average temperatures of minus 49 degrees. Everything freezes, from electronics to gasoline.

In our own country, the prize goes to International Falls, Minn., with winter temperatures of minus 32 degrees. Why anyone would ever choose it as a vacation destination is beyond my understanding, but there are a growing group of “ice hotels,” the first of which opened in Sweden, where visitors can play Eskimo during their stay.

Igloo accommodations, which are rebuilt every year, feature an ice bar, a wedding chapel and even a heated glass igloo where you can stay awake and watch the Northern Lights.

Consoling myself with a mug of hot chocolate the other night, I came upon some other reflections on winter weather:

- “It snowed and snowed the whole world over ... snow swept the world from end to end.” — Boris Pasternak

- “Winter is the season in which people try to keep the house as warm as it was in the summer, when they complained about the heat.” — Unknown

- “Winter is on my head but eternal spring is in my heart.” — Victor Hugo

- Lastly, and good for all of us to keep in mind: “One kind word can warm these winter months.” — Japanese proverb

Contact Jean Cherni, founder of the retirement advisory service, Senior Living Solutions, at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds at Hotchkiss Grove, Branford 06405.

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We could all use a little Chinese New Year about now

Chinese New Year is, I believe, in many ways the perfect holiday. It arrives at an optimal time — well after the Christmas rush, and usually occurs sometime between late January and mid-February, when we are all in dire need of a happy diversion.

Additional attributes are that since it is not an American holiday, nothing is closed when I have anticipated it will be open, and I am free to celebrate Chinese New Year or not, according to my own personal whim.

Since the lunar cycle is 295 days, in order to catch up with the solar calendar, the Chinese insert an extra month once every few years, (7 out of a 19-year cycle) which is why the New Year falls on a different date each year. It starts with the new moon the first day of the new year and ends with the full moon and the Lantern Festival 15 days later. This year, it begins on Thursday, and its sign is the rabbit.

The rabbit is considered a very lucky sign. Those born in 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1987, 1999 and 2011 are under that sign. They are talented and articulate, affectionate, known for their diplomacy and orderliness. Detail-oriented and reserved, careful with money, they seek peace at all costs. Their desire to remain safe means they miss many opportunities.

However, the Chinese also divide “rabbit years” into water, wood, fire, earth and metal, and since this is the year of the metal rabbit, those born this year have more strength and resilience, although they still will not do well in a competitive environment.

Some famous people born under this sign are Cary Grant, Jane Seymour, Angelina Jolie, Harry Belafonte, Ingrid Bergman, Arthur Miller and Bob Hope. Our equivalent zodiac sign would be Pisces.

The Chinese New Year is celebrated not only in mainland China and Hong Kong, but also in Indonesia, Macu, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam. It is a time for families to share, and the highlight is a religious ceremony for household gods and family ancestors.

Food is varied and plentiful, with pig, duck and chicken often on the menu. Children will receive money in red paper envelopes, and people will try to reconcile old grudges. Firecrackers and noise are thought to scare away evil spirits; although in many countries, the firecrackers have now been banned.

Each of the 15 days which constitute the holiday has a special significance. No one would clean on the first day of the New Year, as it would be very bad luck to sweep your good fortune out the door. Day two is a special day for married daughters to visit their parents, and it is also a day to be extra kind to dogs, as it is believed the second day is the birthday of all dogs. The fifth day is the birthday of the Chinese god of wealth, and a special prayer is said for good luck and prosperity.

I especially like the 7th day, known as renri, as it is the day when everyone grows a year older (imagine, never having to remember anyone’s birthday anymore). Days 9 and 10 are celebrated as the Jade Emperor’s birthday, and on the 13th day, everyone eats vegetarian food to counteract their previous overindulgence.

The 15th and final day marks the Lantern Festival. However, in Malaysia and Singapore, it is somewhat like Valentine’s Day for those searching for a partner. Women will write their contact number on a mandarin orange and throw it into the river where single men will collect them.

You can join in celebrating Chinese New Year in Connecticut:

‰The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford, on Feb. 9 and 10 at 7:30 p.m. Shen Yun Performing Arts presents classical dance and music, distilled from 5 millennia of Chinese civilization. Call 860-987-5900 for information.

‰Jani’s Chinese Restaurant, 187 Cherry St., Milford, 203-874-1199. Fabulous entertainment and a special New Year’s menu at 6:15 p.m. on Feb. 13 and 20. Martial arts demonstrations, drummers and famous Chinese Lion dance troupe. Ask for Kevin and reserve early.

‰Farmington Public Library, 6 Monteith Drive, Farmington, 860-673-6791, 1 p.m. Feb. 19, a family event celebrating Chinese New Year with food, music and fun. All are welcome.

Contact Jean Cherni, founder of the retirement advisory service, Senior Living Solutions, at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds at Hotchkiss Grove, Branford 06405.

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Let's gaze into the 2011 crystal ball for a moment

Two of my favorite “must reads” on my bedside table at the beginning of each year are The Economist’s “The World in 2011” and advertising agency J. Walter Thompson’s annual “Our Things to Watch in 2011.”

Each are filled with predictions and trends, both serious and frivolous. In the serious category:

-The fiscal crisis in almost every country with notable exceptions like Germany and Canada, will create a push on all governments to reduce deficits. The danger comes from cutting too much too soon; the opportunity is a hard look at how we spend money and the quality of services received. -There will be a wave of foreign investment from America and Europe into the developing nations: Asia, Latin America and Africa.

-Attention to climate change and greening. New York City has already run pilot programs and hopes to have comprehensive plans by the end of this year. Propelling efforts is the fact that the world’s population will reach 7 billion this year. While the human population took 250,000 years to reach 1 billion in 1800, it now takes only one dozen years to increase by another billion. The good news is that the total fertility rate (the number of children a woman can be expected to have) is falling in many countries).

-House prices will slip by another 2 percent, and China will become the world’s second largest market for commercial real estate. India’s economy will be in a race with China.

-Although IBM will celebrate its 100th birthday this June, many other large companies have failed. The ones that remain will be the ones that have the agility to respond to our fast-changing market conditions and technology.

-It may be a long goodbye for the current boomer generation, the first crop of which just reached 65 this year. With both the stock market and housing prices less lucrative than in the past, coupled with increased longevity, many are putting off retirement and continuing to work.

-On the frivolous side, among J. Walter Thompson’s list of 100 things to watch, I was fascinated by No. 94, which stated that toilet paper was undergoing a big change. Kimberly Clark is coming out with a tube-free version. Does this mean we will dispense with our toilet paper dispensers? We will just have to wait and see.

-No. 98 explored the use of virtual mirrors in which a customers image is displayed by a camera on a screen which then overlays types of makeup, allowing previews of products and testing of styles of clothes. The cosmetic company Shiseido is rolling out virtual mirrors in European department stores, and here in America they will be available at Macy’s, New York. (I can’t help wondering if some cheating might be possible, making you look better on the image than you really would).

-The over-all fashion forecast is that all shades of green will gain in popularity, while violet will now be passe. Smaller handbags will be in vogue, although I’ll bet that many women, like myself, will remain loyal to larger bags with several divisions.

-Podiatrists will be sad to learn that more sensible shoes with lower heels will come into vogue, and there will be a revival of the Grace Kelly head scarf, not so different from the “hijab” (a head scarf worn by Muslim women). Price increases in raw cotton will mean higher prices on many consumer goods.

-Two deaths to report are the demise of a cultural icon as Sony is discontinuing its Walkman audio cassette player and on the way out is the incandescent bulb — already absent from shops in Australia and Brazil and soon to die out in this country. However, Michael Jackson lives on with many posthumous appearances, a newly released album and Cirque du Soleil’s “Michael Jackson, The Immortal World Tour” opens in Montreal this fall.

-Of course, we already are aware that Oprah Winfrey has her own network, OWN, dedicated to self-improvement, personal transformation and entertainment. Will audiences be interested in “master classes” and learning or will they prefer Snooki and the Kardashians and other equally tasteless reality shows?

-A new page for book lovers as more books will be available directly on new devices: e readers, iPads and smart phones. Parents can now record their voices reading stories to their children. Reading, which hasn’t changed much in several hundred years is about to change dramatically.

-Smart phones will overtake standard mobile, YouTube will become a broadcasting channel and social networking will receive increased surveillance. Studies also indicate that people require “digital downtime” to relieve stress and new digital etiquette rules will develop around digital decorum.

More people may question how much information really needs to be made widely available, and some might just conclude that ignorance is bliss. As to the answers, only time will tell.

Contact Jean Cherni, founder of the retirement advisory service, Senior Living Solutions, at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds at Hotchkiss Grove, Branford 06405.

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This shopper truly appreciates places like Towne Pharmacy in Branford

In this day and age when bigger is too often equated with better, and there is less and less of individualized, caring service, it is refreshing to learn of at least one local, independent and family owned business that is not only succeeding, but recently expanded its space and services.

Towne Pharmacy at 1012 Main St. in Branford is a combination of a longtime family owned business offering old-fashioned personalized help in a completely modern setting with a wide range of up-to-date, competitively priced products.

I spoke with Karen Rangonese, the charming owner/pharmacist who along with her husband, Vince, and three other pharmacists, runs the store. Formerly a Rexall drug store, it was bought by Karen’s father, William Ward, in 1965.

At first, Karen’s father had a partner, Al Carloni, but when the store, along with a rash of other small stores in the area, burned in 1976, Al left the business and Karen’s father re-built it. Karen grew up in the business and officially joined as a pharmacist in 1983.

In 1998, there was another devastating fire, this one starting in Castellon’s Bakery on Main Street and quickly spreading to the adjacent stores. Fortunately, there was a firewall between Towne Pharmacy and the Horowitz department store so the drug store was saved; however, at the time, Karen seeing the smoke and flames, raced to throw prescription drugs into her car in an effort to save what she could.

She recalls trying desperately to reach husband Vince (in the days before no cell phones) who was at home and had tied up the one phone line as he was surfing the Internet ... completely innocent of what had occurred until his wife stormed into the house, furious that she had not been able to contact him.

Vince, an aerospace engineer whose flashing dark eyes and good looks betray his Sicilian heritage, left his other work after 30 years to recently join Karen in the business where he has taken on the job of expanding their impressive durable medical supply department.

Here one can find bath equipment supplies, walkers and wheeled walkers with seats, transport and regular wheelchairs — some, in new and interesting colors.

The staff is trained in the fitting of therapeutic shoes and compression stockings. Individual and helpful service is offered whether you are choosing a simple elastic bandage or are in need of specific diabetic supplies. The store has also introduced several unusual giftware items, including switch flops, hobo bags, candles, glassware and Bewitching bath and body products. And completing the family circle, their talented daughter, Melissa, travels down from her work in Boston to do the interesting window displays.

Towne Pharmacy is now part of the Health Mart network of individually owned and operated drug stores, a connection which affords the members buying power with pharmaceutical companies so their prices are competitive or lower than chain stores. Karen also points out that in addition to being able to handle the voluminous paperwork involved in insurance billing, they offer free delivery service.

Contact Jean Cherni, founder of the retirement advisory service, Senior Living Solutions, at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds at Hotchkiss Grove, Branford 06405.

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