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500 Th ings Project: Th inking about cupcakes and pickles By Suzanne Thibeault CITIZEN CONTRIBUTOR For my 500 Th ings Project, I have been getting rid of one thing every day for a total of 500 days, until my son Sam leaves for college next week. Today is No. 495: Glass plates and candlesticks. I read self-help books. Unless you count Calvin and Hobbes.

Oh yeah, those two can really show you how to get out of a pickle! For regular pickles (i.e. problems that are not careening-out-of-control-space-ships or rampaging dino-bullies), I keep to the advice we got from pediatrician: Eat four crackers, drink some cranapple juice, and go play outside. In other words, have a snack and breathe. is is pure genius. With seven days left until my beloved son leaves, I am constantly reminding myself to breathe.

Breathe. And make cupcakes. cupcaked three times in the last few days. For departure for Perdue For our 17th birthday For Sam When in a pickle, I think cupcakes. My a ection for cupcakes and devotion to downsizing dovetailed this weekend when I saw a great suggestion on Wise Bread, a frugal-living website I follow.

Take some glass candlesticks and glue glass plates to the tops: Instant cake stands! In my case: Lots of candlesticks to downsize plus lots of plates to downsize equals lots of gifts to give. Just add cupcakes. Not pickles. Although my family does love a pickle (the cucumber kind): rst time Paul peeked into my refrigerator, he counted 13 jars of pickles. My father would crack up his 2-year-old granddaughter by singing, pickle pickle Favorite episode of Andy Gri th Pickle of course.

Pickles and cupcakes. Apparently my self-help reading also includes cookbooks. Th ibeault lives in Naperville and writes a blog at sthibeault.wordpress.com. Cupcakes abound during the 500 Things Project. Submitted photo VIEWS By Tyna S.

Cline BACKSTAGE PASS.COM If you had walked into the lobby of Hollywood Palms Cinema in Naperville around 8:30 p.m. Aug. 12 and shouted, chances are good that many bowler-topped heads would have turned in response. Malcolm McDowell, the star of Stanley 1971 fi lm, Clockwork was on hand to sign autographs and provide photo opportunities for hundreds of fans, several of whom had dressed the part of character in the movie, Alex. One such fan was Miguel Gonzalez of Carpentersville, who had seen the classic lm seven times prior to the showing.

Accompanied by his mother, Sylvia, and sister, Betsy, Gonzalez even carried a cane as part of his costume. costumes were not limited to patrons. Several employees also joined in the fun, including Miles Steinbach, who has worked at the theater since its opening. It was obvious that Steinbach was enjoying this particular night on the job. As he was putting on a show of mixing drinks behind the bar, I asked his name and he replied, even though my name tag says Sue Germain of Plain eld was carrying an armful of roses, but not to present to McDowell, as one might suspect.

She most likely received them from her husband, Arnold, as they were celebrating their 33rd wedding anniversary. When she found out that McDowell would be appearing on their special day, Germain hesitate. bought the tickets before I told said Germain. Germains proudly showed off their copy of Clockwork on laser disc, which McDowell would later autograph for the couple. movie was shown on four of the theaters.

McDowell introduced the movie in each of them, and then returned at the end of the fi lms to answer a few questions from the audiences, where he had a chance to elaborate on things such as his and shared sense of humor. Fans in Naperville rub elbows with Malcom McDowell Above, Miguel Gonzalez of Carpentersville attended the event dressed as Alex from Clockwork Kevin Photo At right, Malcolm McDowell (center) helps Arnold and Sue Germain celebrate their anniversary. Steve Photo TL05 TRIBLOCAL.COM AUGUST 25 2011 12.