I have just spent the last hour with my snow blower.

I actually went without one for the first 25 years of marriage. I cracked about seven years ago when my husband was out of town. We had quite a snowy winter, and I couldn’t take shoveling another inch of snow. And, yes, I do mean to complain. Since my father brought me up to believe that girls do not have to shovel snow, I was quite resentful for those first 25 years.

We went out and bought the best snow blower we could find, and I have been happy ever since. As a matter of fact, my husband is also quite fond of it. It has paid for itself over and over again — especially the last couple of years. So do yourself a favor: Start your year out right and buy a snow blower. Make your life easier in 2009!

With this being my last column for 2008 and the New Year awaiting, I have to admit this was a tough year for me. My mom passed away in August, and it took a lot out of me. Holidays were different this year, and life in general. But one thing kept me going, and that was looking forward to finding new people, places and things to report about in Lombard.

We have a great town with a lot of living going on, and it is my privilege to tell the story.

I have always felt the true way to ring in the New Year is to celebrate — especially at midnight. Each year we take a different route by either attending house parties or going out to dinner. One year we went downtown and parked at Navy Pier in the early afternoon. The weather was around 40 degrees, so we spent time downtown at the Field Museum and had dinner in Chinatown. We then stayed to watch the fireworks at Navy Pier. The display was incredible, but what I remember the most is hearing a dozen different languages shouting “Happy New Year!” Great adventure if you are up to it.

We also have some great restaurants in town to help ring in the New Year. One recommendation I have is Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse & Bar, which is located inside the Westin Hotel at 70 Yorktown Center, Lombard. They shoot off fireworks at 7:45 p.m., which adds to the festivities. They also offer a surf-and-turf dinner for $100 a couple. For more information, call (630) 953-3400.

The new restaurant Glen Prairie, located inside the Crowne Plaza of Glen Ellyn-Lombard at 1250 Roosevelt Road, Glen Ellyn, is open for New Year’s Eve also. For more information, call (630) 629-6000.

And last but not least, remember to drive safe and sober. The Lombard Police Department takes extra care New Year’s Eve to watch the roads and keep us safe, so let’s make their job easy.
Happy New Year to all! Celebrate and count your blessings!

If you know of anyone or anything that is newsworthy, please e-mail me at lucky-lana@comcast.net.