An old boyfriend once suggested to me that if I didn’t have such fat legs, I would be “perfect.” I feared to ask exactly what “perfect” meant. I always had been insecure about my legs. I have legs from my mom’s side of the family: Short and chunky. If there ever were a cankle, I...

According to the calendar, spring arrived a few weeks ago. The longer days, an abundance of birds in my yard and the fresh scent in the air have convinced me that we are moving in a warmer direction. They also have motivated me to take on another popular spring activity — spring cleaning. I prefer...

Most business owners want to grow their businesses and maybe pass them on to the next generation. But how many owners succeed? Relatively few, as it turns out. Studies show that only one-third of family firms make it to the second generation, and just a sliver get passed on to the third generation. A key...

The penultimate day of Dubuque’s annual film festival highlighted the work of women filmmakers, one of whom promoted her work with the help of a World War II reenactment. The Julien Dubuque International Film Festival, which began April 18, will conclude with its final showings and events today. The festival returned as an in-person event...

Architects and furniture designers have long been inspired by the fashion industry. Charles and Ray Eames, the husband and wife team who were active in the mid-20th century and who designed the iconic and timeless Eames chair, often used fashion to influence their designs. Frank Lloyd Wright was known for his forward-thinking modern residential designs,...