Always a Little ‘Schmootz in Our Hanukkah

I am not Jewish.  Though it may surprise some of my readers, the name Mindschmootz comes from all the mental plaque that builds up in my brain.  My better three quarters, who is Jewish, refers to all that mindless crap up there as schmutz…as well as the tiny spec of lint on my sweater, the [...]

Thankful I’m a One-percenter: Love, Family, Friendship

As regular readers of the ‘Schmootz blog can attest, I don’t write about myself very often…at least outside of my political ponderings or entertainment selections that I deem personally worthy (or unworthy) of a viewer’s time.  I tend to observe the world from thirty thousand feet looking down, instead of from ground level looking up [...]

Heroes and Hope

I was talking to a friend of mine, Dixie Longate, now slinging her “food storage plastic crap” at an extended engagement in Chicago, about personal heroes.  I do admire strong, driven, innovative, women similar to Dixie’s all time hero, Brownie Wise, the war-time Rosie the Riveter turned peace-time purveyor of the home Tupperware Party…what many [...]

Gored: Another Relationship Takes One in the Heart

Forty years and done. Another long-term marriage has reached its expiration date.  Sources close to Al and Tipper Gore say there is no infidelity, they just grew apart, and I believe them.  It’s an inconvenient truth.  Today’s society is so filled with fast-paced, mind-absorbing, time-consuming clutter that we many times tune out what is of [...]