The Milwaukee Post

16 • Milwaukee County Post • June 27, 2014 A bag for buttons and pills Dear Heloise: I found a great use for the tiny, zippered plastic bags that hold an extra button and come with new articles of clothing. If I'm traveling for a few days, all of my pills will fit into one of those bags. – Deborah H., Nevada City, Calif. Deborah, that's a great way to recycle those little bags. If taking a road trip, this could work nicely. If flying, though, be cautious. The Transportation Security Administration has this to say regarding prescription medications: "Passengers are allowed to bring medications in pill or other solid form through security screen- ing checkpoints in unlimited amounts, as long as they are screened. TSA does not require passengers to have medications in prescription bottles, but states have indi- vidual laws regarding the labeling of pre- scription medication with which passen- gers need to comply." I would advise checking with the air- port about prescription medications before arriving for your flight. It would be a hassle to be delayed or to be unable to bring your medications. — Heloise Convertible cover Dear Heloise: I have had many convert- ibles. However, the tops now have a differ- ent material other than vinyl, which is more like a canvas. This material seems to attract more lint from the elements, leaving a spotted look. I have found that by using a lint roller on the top, it has picked up everything, and my convertible top looks terrific. — Eileen, via email Washer work surface Dear Heloise: I was frustrated that I could not use the top of my washer and dryer as a continuous, large workspace for folding clothes, etc. Items kept falling down in between them and behind them. Some manufacturers sell a "work surface" that fits over both of them, but it's expen- sive. Then I had a brainstorm. I bought an inexpensive, 3-foot-by-5-foot foam floor mat at my local home-improvement store. With scissors, I was able to cut it to fit, and my problem was solved. – Kathy B. in San Antonio Kathy, this is such a wonderful solution to a problem that I think a lot of people have! And the best part: It's cheap and can be tailored to everyone's situation. — Heloise Losing the cap Dear Heloise: I was always losing the cap to my flash drive. It would fall between the cushions or on the floor, or I would forget where I had put it down. Finally, I solved my problem. I hot-glued one end of a long string to the cap and tied the other end to the lanyard I always keep the flash drive on. Now the cap is always there when I need it. — Maritta G., Frederick Md. Right length Dear Heloise: Here is a quick and easy way to find the proper-length tablecloth. I hang mine on a hanger in the closet. I label each one with a note and a straight pin — "no leaves," "one leaf," etc. This saves time when trying to find the correct tablecloth when company is coming to dinner. — Judy L.S., Somers, Wis. Honey, what a mess! Dear Heloise: The container that holds honey leaked all over my kitchen cabinet shelf. The shelf is plastic, and I can't take it out of the cabinet. How can I clean this mess? – Julie P. in Oregon Start by taking everything off the shelf and any lower shelves. Next, boil some water and pour it over every place on the shelf that has sticky patches of honey. Cover the water and honey with paper towels. Continue to add more boiling water until the towels are completely soaked. Finally, cover the entire area with plastic wrap. After about 10 or 15 minutes of letting the water and paper towels sit (until the honey is softened), you should be able to remove the paper towels, plastic wrap and honey all at once. For stubborn, stuck-on spots, you may need to repeat the process. — Heloise Temporary tag Dear Heloise: I recently went on a trip, and my daughter kept my dog. I was wor- ried that if something happened and my dog got out, she wouldn't be able to get ahold of me. I went to a large pet-supply store, which had a machine that makes tags in a few minutes. I made one that had my daughter's information on it. Before I left on my trip, I traded out the tags on my dog's collar. That way, if something hap- pened and he got picked up, they would call my daughter first. —Vicky in Louisiana Shower scrubbing Dear Heloise: My shower floor got dirty after I cracked two ribs and couldn't bend over to clean it. Then I remembered a Heloise hint about using cheap shampoo to clean showers. So, after my shower, I dried off except for my feet. Then I added a dab of shampoo to a damp washcloth. I didn't want to fall again, so I braced myself. I placed one foot on the washcloth and starting scrubbing. Being braced with my hands gave extra power to my scrub- bing. Fortunately, my shower head detach- es for rinsing both the floor and my feet. — Cee, via email Be extra careful when you do this so you don't slip. Place a rug with rubber back- ing right next to the tub so that you can safely get out onto it. — Heloise Quick Label Dear Heloise: Whenever I need to label something of my son's and I don't want the label to last permanently, I write his name on a piece of masking tape and stick it on the item. It easily comes off with no damage. — Tiffany, via email Send a great hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000 or e-mail to heloise@Heloise.com By Julie McHale Post Theater Critic FORT ATKINSON — It is a rarity for a playwright to win an Oscar, a Tony and the Pulitzer Prize, but Alfred Uhry can boast of this triple honor. His play, "Driving Miss Daisy," based on his own grandmother and her chauffeur, first hit the stage in 1987 and ran for 1,300 performances. It later became a very suc- cessful film starring Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman. Fireside Dinner Theatre in Fort Atkinson is presently offering its version of this touching and amusing story of two people who transformed each other's lives. Daisy's son Boolie's frustra- tion with his mother's driving habits led to the unlikely alliance forged between Hoke and Daisy over the next 25 years. The story of this threesome is told in many short scenes, using news clips and music as transitions to illustrate the cli- mate of the Southern setting from 1948 to 1973 and to reveal changes in the charac- ters and their relationships. Though this is very effective in some ways, it also inter- rupts the story line, but the small stage probably dictated this approach to chang- ing scenes. The story begins with Daisy smashing up her car and her son Boolie insisting that he hire a chauffeur to drive her around. She objected, of course, especially when he hired a black man to do the hon- ors. For weeks he got paid to just sit around and talk to the maid in the kitchen. She did not want to be seen with him, though she insisted that she was not prejudiced. Though this is a story about three char- acters, it reflects the flavor of the period and how the nation was dealing with the civil rights issue. Even Boolie as a suc- cessful businessman felt the need to tailor his actions to fit prevailing attitudes and expectations. Glory Kissel is a good fit for the role of Daisy. She is feisty and cantankerous and quite rigid in her views. Her efforts to maintain her control and dignity reflect a common problem faced by many as their abilities diminish. I thought the only weakness in her portrayal was her inabili- ty to capture the subtle and gradual changes that inevitably occur in a person over this long time span. The last few scenes revealed some dramatic changes, but there were many along the way where there were no perceptible differences in her looks or capabilities. On the other hand, her changes in attitude were very clearly evident as the story unfolded. Lorenzo Scott gives a splendid portrayal of Hoke. His pride and self-respect are seen in his bearing, and even when he con- fronts Miss Daisy, he does so with grace. He knows his place and yet is also aware that changes are occurring within and around him that afford him hope. Unfortunately, history shows us that changes are slow and are often resisted, perhaps out of fear or ignorance. Scott was quite adept at showing the aging process within himself. Boolie's more minor role is still an important one. Jeffrey Arnold often serves as the liaison between his mother and her chauffeur. He seems to care for both char- acters but is not the most effective media- tor. He is a practical man, one with a strong sense of duty rather than affection. Ironically, it is Hoke, not her son, that Daisy eventually learns to trust in a crisis. This is a beautiful story, one that con- tinues to give with each showing. THEATER REVIEW At a glance "Driving Miss Daisy," directed by Ed Flesch, runs through July 20 at the Fireside Theatre, 1131 Janesville Ave., Fort Atkinson. For show times and ticket, call 800-477-9505 or visit www.firesidetheatre.com Submitted photos Glory Kissel, left, and Lorenzo Scott star in the play "Driving Miss Daisy," which will be staged through July 20 at the Fireside Theatre in Fort Atkinson. 'Driving Miss Daisy' gives off good feeling at Fireside HINTS FROM HELOISE BY HELOISE

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