Your week
YOUR HEALTH
One of the hardest truths to face in life may be the decision that your elder parents should no longer live alone. Here are five signs an elder parent or relative may not be able to live alone:
• The house always looks messy: Not a good sign, especially for a parent who by nature likes to be organized and clean.
• Bills are not paid: Neglected accounts could reveal a person is losing control of finances.
• Rapid weight loss: Not eating could be a sign that a parent is not eating properly or at all.
• Bad hygiene: Lack of personal cleanliness could mean a parent is too ill or weak to keep up such daily routines.
• Fashion faux pas: Wearing winter clothes during hot weather, wearing pajamas or nightgowns during the day or choosing to wear slippers to the bank or grocery store could be another indicator a parent is in trouble.
» Find more health and fitness tips in Tuesday’s Today section.
YOUR HOME
It seems mankind is tireless in its quest to achieve one of its loftiest goals: designing the perfect Christmas tree stand.
The WonderStand has a separate cup that fits onto the tree trunk before the tree is lifted into the stand, so you don’t have to crawl under the tree to tighten bolts.
The tree can be tilted till it’s straight and rotated as you decorate. The stand, from Dalen Products Inc., can be ordered at www.thewonderstand.com or (877) 990-9967. The regular price is $87.77, but it’s marked down to $79.99 through the holidays. Shipping is extra.
» Find more home and garden ideas in Sunday’s Today section.
YOUR FOOD
After a weekend of heavy eating, a light, vegetarian chili featuring hominy just might do the trick. For the recipe, see page C7.
» Find more recipes and restaurant news in Wednesday’s Food section.
YOUR FUN
Here’s what’s on the schedule for this week:
On CD (Tuesday)
Pink Martini, “A Retrospective”
Yes, “In the Present: Live From Lyon”
Smashing Pumpkins, “Siamese Dream” and “Gish” (Deluxe Editions)
Hot Chelle Rae, “Whatever!”
On DVD (Tuesday)
“Adele Live at the Royal Albert Hall”
“The Hangover Part II”
“Mr. Popper’s Penguins”
“Cowboys & Aliens”
“Beyoncé Live at the Roseland: Elements of 4”
On TV
“The Closer”: It’s wedding bells for Brenda (Kyra Sedgwick) and Fritz in the season opener. (Today 9 p.m., TNT)
“I Hate My Teenage Daughter”: Jamie Pressly stars as a mom trying to survive her daughter’s teenage years. (Wednesday, 9:30 p.m., Fox)
“Neverland”: Syfy puts its spin on J.M. Barrie’s classic story of “Peter Pan” in this two-night miniseries (Sunday and Dec. 5, 9 p.m., Syfy)
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”: Film six in the “Harry Potter” series makes its network TV debut, capping a weekend long Potter marathon. (Sunday, 8:30 p.m., ABC Family)
On stage
“Menopause the Musical”: Tuesday-Wednesday, Bing Crosby Theater
“Sisters of Swing”: Interplayers, opens Thursday
“The Nutcracker”: Friday-Sunday, The Fox
Spokane Jazz Orchestra with Charlotte Carruthers: Saturday, Bing Crosby Theater
Around town
Liberty Lake Winter Festival: Thursday, Liberty Lake City Hall
First Friday Gallery Walk: Friday, Downtown Spokane
“Lasting Heritage” exhibit: Opens Saturday, Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture
» Find a full arts and entertainment roundup in the Thursday and Friday Today sections.