A Perfect (Michigan) Summer

Spring is taking its sweet time to arrive in Chicago. Today, it's somewhere around 2 degrees. Oh, no, wait, my phone says it's 34. On March 23rd. Last year at this time it was close to 80. I had brunch in the Deerpath Inn Garden this weekend last year. But I digress.

Although Spring has yet to arrive, I'm already thinking about Summer. Specifically, I'm thinking about Watervale. Just under 5 months until I'm at Watervale and Lord willing, I'll be there sooner than that.

The 2013 Pure Michigan campaign kicked off this past week and each time I see one of their commercials, I'm immediately transported to my favorite place on earth. In fact, I don't even have to see the commercial. I just have to hear the music that opens nearly all the commercials and hear Tim Allen's voice and I'm there.

You'll appreciate my delight at discovering the 2013 Pure Michigan Summer Playlist on YouTube a few minutes ago. I squealed with happiness.

I love you, so here are my favorites:

Sand Dunes


Lighthouses

Watervale Mail!

You'll never guess what I received yesterday from my friend Shari! Watervale Mail!!! Yay!

Okay, okay. I suppose the title of this post did give it away. Trust me, just because the title gave it away does not diminish the value of Watervale Mail.

You'll recall that a little over a week ago, I posted about how I couldn't go to Watervale this year and made a plea for my friends and family to not only have an extra great time for me (I even gave them a custom Watervale To Do List), but I also requested Watervale Mail in an effort to ease my pain.

Shari came through. She sent me the best letter I've received in ages and it sounds like she had an incredible time.

This is the card Shari sent me. It's a picture of the Outlet looking North to Frankfort.

During Shari's three weeks at Watervale, she hiked Baldy, watched the sunset, canoed to BooHoo and swam from the Point to the Millsite, water skied a couple of times each week, played in the surf, savored the creme brûlée, read, slept, wrote, drank wine, laid on the beach, stayed up to watch the Perseids, enjoyed Honey Oatmeal bread at dinner and toast with blackberry jam at breakfast, hugged many family members and friends, told ghost stories about the Farmhouse, visited Sleeping Bear Dunes. I think she also biked the Betsie Trail to Beulah and around Upper Herring Lake, had a beach fire and at s'mores, hung out at the Outlet (that's not a mall for the uninitiated), climbed BooHoo, hiked Green Point Dunes, and visited the Upper Herring Nature Preserve.

She was busy. No wonder she needs 3 weeks. Maybe I can do some of that when I do the Lake Michigan Circle Tour in October.

Even though I was at home, I had a great week too.

It started with a mani-pedi on Friday. Sunday shifted into high gear when I spent an awesome day with my friend Vincent at the Art Institute's Roy Lichtenstein exhibit, lunched at the Park Grill, had my breath taken away with one of the best secret views of the city, and enjoyed a day full of phenomenal conversation about many topics, including his new play, Venus Envy. Monday evening I attended my condo association board meeting. It was 2 1/2 hours. In the middle of it, my dad sent me a text message saying he was watching a Watervale sunset and my brother called to rub it in. They obviously love me. My work week was filled with alumni events and work lunches. On Thursday, my department enjoyed a summer outing to Arlington Park and I stopped to visit my mom. Finally, last night, I was seranaded by Tony Bennett at Ravinia with my friend Robert and a few thousand of our closest friends. The Chicago Tribune and I agree that he nailed it.

Take a look at my week. I think you'll agree it was terrific.

All in all, a solid week, although to paraphrase myself, the worst week at Watervale still beats the best week at home. At least I've got Watervale Mail to help get me through the next few months. Thanks Shari!

It's Official: I'm Not Going to Watervale

A classic Watervale sunset over Lower Herring Lake.

I've been procrastinating officially making this announcement, but it simply can't wait any longer because I'm supposed to be headed to Watervale in less than 18 hours.

For a variety of reasons, I'm not going to Watervale this summer.

Yes, I know. I've spent at least part of every summer at Watervale for three-quarters of my life. That's right, I've been going to Watervale for 30 years. And I'm not going this year.

This summer has flown by and although I haven't been able to get away, I have had quite a bit of fun. An awesome Cubs game rooftop party on Memorial Day. A great dinner cruise on Lake Michigan on my birthday. Colbie Caillat and Gavin DeGraw concert at Ravinia. Kenny Loggins concert and fireworks in Lake Forest for the 4 of July. The Blues Brothers movie at Wrigley Field. An amazing evening at Place de la Musique where I even rode the carousel! James Taylor concert at Ravinia. Fabulous lunches, dinners, and movies with friends. This weekend I'm going to the Roy Lichtenstein exhibit at the Art Institute and next weekend I'm hoping to see Tony Bennett at Ravinia.

It's been a good summer. But it won't feel complete because it lacks Watervale. Watervale is my touchstone. It brings me back to me. I arrive stressed out and leave rejuvenated. I sleep. I read. I write. I swim. I hike. I play in the surf of Lake Michigan. I lay on the beach and let sand run through my fingers. I drink wine with friends. I watch sunsets. I kayak. I stay up late hoping to see the Northern Lights. I count the meteors I see each night during the Perseids Meteor Shower. I swing on the swings. I eat good food.

So why am I saying all of this tonight? Am I complaining? No. I'll take a vacation later this fall, but it won't be the same as going to Watervale in August.

I'm writing this tonight because I need your help.

How can you help? I'm glad you asked.

You can . . .

• hike Baldy
• watch the sunset
• swim to BooHoo
• kayak daily
• play in the surf
• see a movie at the Cherry Bowl Drive-In or at the Garden Theater
• savor the creme brûlée
• read, sleep, write
• drink wine
• lay on the beach
• stay up in hopes of seeing the Northern Lights or the Perseids Meteor Shower
• enjoy an extra piece of John Hultman's Honey Oatmeal Bread for me (preferably toasted with cherry jam and no butter)
• hug your Watervale friends and family for me
• tell ghost stories about the Watervale Woman
• visit Sleeping Bear Dunes

You can also do one more thing for me . . . send me some Watervale Mail.  That's right. Fill my snail mail box with Watervale postcards. Need my address? Ask my dad for it or send me a message on Facebook and I'll send it to you.

Above all else, savor your time at Watervale for all the poor souls (like me) who can't be there this year or who have never experienced it for themselves.

If You Need Me Next Week . . .

I'll be....

Savoring the last little bits of Summertime


while I'm (Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay,

With my Toes in the water, ass in the sand,


Having my own Barefoot Blue Jean Nights,


and keeping watch for the Southern Cross.


I'll also be wishing this slice of heaven lasted All Summer Long.


So leave me a note and I'll get back to you when I return from Watervale.

Transformers Dark of the Moon Sneak Peek!

Remember last summer when they were filming Transformers Dark of the Moon (aka T3) in Chicago? The sneak peek of the movie is out. Now I've never been into "blow stuff up" movies, but I have to admit, I'm pretty interested in seeing this one.

Judge for yourself.

Watervale Withdrawl Disorder

I was running an errand early Friday evening when right in front of me appeared a beautiful sunset. The setting sun, unencumbered by clouds, was filling the clear blue sky with red and orange afterglow. It was stunning. Not Watervale stunning, but nice for Chicago.

My favorite Watervale 2010 Sunset picture. Nothing in Chicago compares.

As I continued to marvel at the beauty of nature, my body broke out in a cold sweat and I started to shake. My heart began to race. I started to hyperventilate.

You may be thinking that I was having a heart attack or having a seizure, but I assure you this was nothing new. This happens each time I return home from Watervale and it has a clinical name: Watervale Withdrawl Disorder™ (WWD). Anyone who's been to Watervale at least once knows what I'm talking about.

Watervale is an addiction and a heck of a habit to break.

What is Watervale Withdrawl Disorder™?

It's the whiff of fresh bread baking in the Inn as you walk through your kitchen, even though you've been home a week and haven't used the oven. It's the sight of Crème Brûlée on a restaurant menu and knowing it won't live up to Watervale Crème Brûlée (and that you don't have an awesome waiter named Pat who held one aside just for you for dessert, even though they ran out in the 6:00 dinner seating).

Not actual Watervale Crème Brûlée, although it looks very similar.

It's the feeling of sand between your toes, even though you live in a concrete jungle and never walk barefoot.

Toes in the Watervale sand. Easter Weekend 2010. Believe me, this doesn't happen in Chicago. The "sand" we have here doesn't feel as good under your toes. I don't know what it is, but it's not fine like the sand I'm used to.

It's the realization that not only do doors have locks, but you best use them. It's the phantom sound of waves lapping on the dock even though the only body of water you see is in your morning shower.

It's the throbbing and burning you get in the back of your calves when you're on the Stairmaster from Hell without the reward of the view from the top of Baldy to make the pain go away better than any pain management drug known to man.

Lake Michigan (left) and Lower Herring Lake (right) from the top of Baldy taken in April 2010. When you see this sight, suddenly you forget the burn in your calves and you can't wait to make the hike again. It's kind of like how I hear your body forgets the pain of childbirth so you'll do it again.

It's the tears that run down your face when you realize you can't go back for 11 1/2 months AND you have to make it through another Chicago winter first.

Chicago Winter, 1967. From the Chicago Tribune.

It's finding a rock that has the telltale signs of a Petosky Stone, licking it and realizing it's just a regular dirty rock.

The Petosky Stone Dave found on the face of Baldy and gave me. It's between the size of a golf ball and a baseball.

It's walking outside around midnight to stargaze and realizing that not only is Cassiopeia (aka the Watervale W™) not visible in the northeast sky, you can barely see the moon.

Cassiopeia, also known as the Watervale W™, for obvious reasons.

It's being confused when a friend invites you to go to the Outlet and you grab your bathing suit because you think you're going to the Outlet (and are pissed when you realize you're only going shopping for last season's discount clothes).

Nebraska Crossing Outlets in Nebraska (pic from Wikipedia) are definitely not . . .

. . . The Outlet.
Taken by Shari Noble, Aug. 28, 2010. Click here for another of my favorite Outlet pictures. It truly illustrates how the Outlet links Lower Herring Lake and Lake Michigan. If you look closely, you can see Lower Herring Lake peaking out between the trees in the right half of the picture.

Unfortunately, Watervale Withdrawl Disorder™ is not curable. Of course, it's not terminal either, so there is some good news. I have found a few ways to deal with WWD including staying in close contact with Watervale friends via Facebook and in person, writing about Watervale on Little Merry Sunshine, drinking Michigan wines whenever possible, telling Watervale stories to anyone who will listen, curling up in my Watervale sweatshirts, displaying the collection of rocks I've found on the Big Beach, filling hurricane vases with Watervale sand (that I often run my fingers through) and a candle, wearing my charm bracelet filled with charms I've bought in Northern Michigan, and flipping through old scrapbooks.

Of course, the best cure for Watervale Withdrawl Disorder™ is to return to Watervale as soon as possible, which I've been trying to do a couple times a year since Dave now lives there permanently.

How do you cope with Watervale Withdrawl Disorder™?

Bucket List Item #61: Swim to BooHoo!

First, let me say that we need t-shirts for those of us who swim to BooHoo*. You know, like the t-shirts people have that say "I Survived the Bush Administration 2001-2009." Well, okay, not exactly like that. Swimming to BooHoo is a good thing, but you get the idea. Swimming to BooHoo is also hard work; don't listen to the folks who say it isn't. They lie.

You may recall that in my Watervale To Do List, item number 2 on my list was "swim from the dock at the Inn to BooHoo." It's also item number 61 on my Bucket List. From my very safe seat in my kitchen, this seemed like an easy and fun idea. When I arrived at Watervale and looked across the lake, however, I began to question my sanity (please keep your comments on this matter to yourself, thank you). It was much further than I remembered it and certainly appeared to be much further than the 328 yards (0.18 miles) I had heard it was. In fact, it looked to be about 10 miles. Depending on where you plan to arrive, it's actually about 1/4 mile to The Point and more than that (but less than 1/2 mile) to BooHoo. I asked Jennie and she'd know, so those numbers are as close to official as you can get.

The Point. About 1/4 mile from the dock.
(Taken from the dock with the zoom lens).

See that little sand peeking out from the trees? That's the bottom of BooHoo. Between 1/4 and 1/2 mile from the dock.
(Taken from the dock with the zoom lens).

I'm standing on the beach looking at The Point and at BooHoo. See, it's really really far - probably about 10 miles.

By Wednesday, I had worked up some of the nerve to attempt my swim and Dave agreed to spot me in the kayak, but I still wasn't sure. I had been a pretty strong swimmer as a kid, but somewhere along the way, I developed a slight fear of water that was not chlorinated or see-through and more than 12 feet deep. Lower Herring Lake definitely does not fit into that category and is 50 feet deep where I planned to swim. But I'd been talking up my swim all day, had tweeted about it and had told all of you I'd be swimming to BooHoo, so I felt some obligation to at least give it a shot. If I died or quit midway there, at least I would have tried.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared. I was. I wasn't convinced I could make it without Dave pulling me a good part of the way and, of course, I had a small worry that I'd drown. About an hour before my scheduled departure time, my dad suddenly announced he didn't think I could swim across the lake. My already fragile confidence took a nose dive, especially since he said it in front of friends who'd been trying to build me up. Continuing his monologue about why I shouldn't even attempt to swim across the lake because I wasn't my brother (the super athlete), I finally turned to my dad and said "How would you know? You never let me play sports when I was a kid. I have to do this. I'm tired of living life on the sidelines and in Dave's shadow." It felt good to stand up to my father, something I rarely do.

This swim was about so much more than just swimming. It was about me overcoming fears, stepping outside of my comfort zone, proving I could achieve my goal, discovering that maybe I do have untapped athletic ability and living life fully.

I got in the water and after about 10 minutes of hemming and hawing, I was off. Most of my friends make this swim in far less than 30 minutes. It took me an hour. I'd swim awhile and then need to stop and rest. I'm not really sure how much resting I did though since I tread water the entire time. I did hold onto Dave's kayak a few times, but he never towed me. I'd just tread water and we'd talk about whatever popped into my mind. Then after a few minutes, I'd start swimming again.

The funniest part of the swim came when a woman on a paddle board almost took my head off. I was treading water, chatting with Dave, when all the sudden this paddle board ran into me. We all laughed as I darted out of the way, but Dave said he had seen it coming for a few minutes. . . the two slowest things in the lake were drawn together like magnets.

Finally, I arrived at BooHoo on my own power (as opposed to being towed in by Dave). About 50 feet from shore I had a slight panic when I developed a cramp in my chest. I stopped swimming and breathed through it until I could swim again and then I finished. The important thing is that I made it without drowning or being decapitated. I heard the song Gonna Fly Now in my head as I emerged victorious from the lake. I think I even may have imitated Rocky on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, but I can't be sure because it's still a little fuzzy. All I know for certain is that the grin on my face and pride in my accomplishment hasn't yet been wiped off my face.

Below is a self-drawn picture of my swim. As you can see, my internal GPS was a bit faulty and I swam way out of my way. But I did it. I wish I could say I swam back, but I didn't. I took Dave's kayak and suggested he walk or swim. He chose to walk. Next year my goal is to swim both ways in under an hour.

Click on the picture to be taken to a clearer and larger version.
Yes, I'm a natural artist. Thank you for noticing.

*BooHoo is a sand dune just across the Lower Herring Lake from the Inn at Watervale and on the way to the Outlet (the Outlet being the place where Lower Herring Lake feeds into Lake Michigan). I believe that it's officially part of Watervale property, but I'm not 100% certain. It's my understanding that BooHoo got its name from Vera Noble who, as a child would climb the face of the dune and would cry as she climbed from the sand burning her feet. Although from the dock, BooHoo is difficult to see because of the trees that have grown around it, here's a picture of what it looks like from White Owl Road.

Special thanks for believing in my ability to swim to BooHoo goes out to one of my Forever Friends who sent me a text telling me that he believed in me and knew I could swim to BooHoo. His words stayed in my head for the entire swim and kept me going when I wanted to quit or thought I was about to drown.

Watervale 2010 Soundtrack

This week needed a soundtrack and these are some of the songs I sang loudly as I drove to Watervale on Saturday morning. I wake up hearing singing them and fall asleep humming them. If you read Little Merry Sunshine via email, click here to visit the blog and watch the videos.

Toes by The Zac Brown Band


All Summer Long by Kid Rock


Summertime by Kenny Chesney


Water by Brad Paisley


Southern Cross by Jimmy Buffett


American Honey by Lady Antebellum


'Til Summer Comes Around by Keith Urban


Smile by Uncle Kracker


Hey Soul Sister by Train


California Gurls by Katy Perry

Katy perry - california girls music video
Uploaded by tevochannel. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

Watervale To Do List

Someone asked me today what I do while I'm at Watervale, so I rattled off my Watervale To Do List and thought I'd give you a peek too:

1. Read. I'm taking 5 books: The Help by Kathryn Stockett, True Compass: A Memoir by Ted Kennedy, Best Friends by Martha Moody, Conservatives Without Conscience by John Dean, and The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.
2. Swim. I'm going to swim from the dock at the Inn to BooHoo (a very large sand dune, although not as high as Baldy). It's only 325 yards (0.18 miles), but it's in water where I can neither see the bottom nor touch the bottom. I'll probably swim back. I may also climb BooHoo while I'm there.
3. Kayak. I'm going to kayak from the dock at the Inn to the Outlet like I did in 2008.
4. Hike Baldy. Click here for the most recent Baldy hike story and pictures.
5. Sleep on the beach.
6. Watch sunsets.
7. Watch the Perseid Meteor Showers.
8. Hopefully see the Northern Lights.
9. Hang out with friends and family.
10. Drink some wine.

As you can see, it will be a very busy week. Before I can begin to really think about my Watervale To Do List, I have to get through this week's to do list, which is far longer.

I've got some blog posts in the works, but it may be a couple of days. Don't go anywhere.

Veggie Garden Porn

It's that time of the year when I'm all excited about the garden (yes, that would be just about any time between May and October when I pull out the garden) and entertain you with Veggie Garden Porn!

Today was especially exciting because look what I found when I walked out into my backyard a few minutes ago . . . the FIRST red tomato of the season! It's a Beef Master. Size matters with Beef Master Tomatoes and check out this size of this baby!

Now, I've actually got LOTS of tomatoes, but only one red one. Here's some green Beef Master Tomatoes.

And here's a green Plum Tomato. Again, check out the size of that Plum Tomato!

Here's the NEW Summer Squash. It's not to be confused with the original Summer Squash I planted a couple of months ago that was ripped out by some beast in the middle of the night. I'm telling you, if I ever find that monster . . .

It's the FIRST Red Pepper. I know, I know. You're thinking, "Um, that's GREEN, not red." Yes, I'm aware of that. It's just not full grown or ripe yet. Give it time.

Here's the yummiest Basil in the world. I've been eating it for weeks!

I also have Garlic Chives, but they're not too exciting to look at.

Stay tuned tomorrow for Flower Garden Porn!

Watervale Was on the Today Show!

The Inn at Watervale, from the internet.

In case you missed it, Watervale was on the Today Show on Friday.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I think they did a pretty good job (although I don't think I've ever seen anyone rowboating - I'm just saying), but missed most of the highlights about what makes Watervale so amazing for me.

When you're at Watervale, you can enjoy:

• bike riding (bring your bikes);
• hiking for every fitness level through beautiful woods, up Baldy and BooHoo, and along the beach;
• swimming in Lower Herring Lake (small lake without undertow or waves - great for kids) or Lake Michigan;
• kayaking (you can rent kayaks or bring your own);
• sailing (you can rent sailboats or bring your own);
• beautiful sunsets you won't even see in Hawaii (yes, I've been to Hawaii and I believe Watervale sunsets are far superior);
• playing in the sand dunes;
• reading (I typically go through 6-7 books in a week, but if you have kids you probably won't);
  
• tennis (bring your rackets and tennis balls);
• shuffle board;
• volleyball;
• Bingo (on Thursdays, if I remember correctly);
• Hayrides (on Wednesdays after the BBQ);
• card games (there's almost always a game of Hearts or Pinochle going on in the Inn);
• board games (my family has an annual Trivial Pursuit tournament - guess who has the most trivial knowledge?);
  
• peace and quiet (There are no TVs, no WiFi, and only 1 landline phone in the entire resort. You can certainly bring your cell phone, but you'll probably have poor reception.);
• some of the best star gazing and meteor shower watching (if you're there in early August, you can't help but see the Perseid Meteor Showers) anywhere (there's no need for a telescope, but if you have one, it will only enhance your experience);
• actual darkness at night because of the lack of city lights;
• naps; and
  
• a few other things, but this is a family blog, so I'll stop now.
  

To be honest, there is no need to leave Watervale, but if you must, here are some of my other favorite things to do:

• Sleeping Bear National Dunes;
  
• wonderful public golf courses;
• antiquing;
• Traverse City or the Leelanau Peninsula;
  
• Putt-putt golfing;
  
• Cherry Bowl Drive-In that always shows kid-friendly movies;
• movies at the Garden Theater in Frankfort;
  
• lunch at The Cherry Hut, The Fushion or Dinghy's;
• dancing at The Cabbage Shed or Big Apple;
  
• shopping at Gwen Frostic's, C&M Rock Shop, Myers Granary, Olsen-Sayles, or the Book Store;
• a concert at Interlochen; and
• ice cream at The Cool Spot

To paraphrase one of my favorite lines from Field of Dreams, "Is this Heaven? No, it's Watervale."

Summer 2009: The Summer of Our Discontent

I love Summer. It is my favorite season. I love going to outdoor concerts, packing a picnic lunch and eating in the park, long walks, the sand between my toes at Watervale, starry nights, sleeping with the windows open, BBQs with friends, and the overall relaxed atmosphere of Summer.

But somehow, Summer 2009 has come and gone faster than the blink of an eye. Yesterday was Memorial Day; today is the 4th of July; and tomorrow is Labor Day. Except I know that we've had a little over 3 months since Memorial Day.

The weather has been unusual with August nights in the 40s when we should have been experiencing the Dog Days of Summer. We've had more rain and clouds than I can remember. I think I've turned the air conditioning on for a total of one week and I even seriously contemplated turning on the heat one night last week. Heck, I never even got my garden planted.

Yes, this summer has been most unusual. Immediately after Memorial Day, Mom called with the news that Nana wasn't expected to live through the night and I walked on eggshells every moment for the next month until the final call came saying Nana was with God.

So I guess I understand why this summer has been non-existent for me. I've been to Florida three times since July and skipped Watervale. I've worked in spurts when I could, but constantly feel like I'm starting and stopping. I've been physically present for my Chamber and LFC Board meetings and conference calls, although I don't think that I've contributed anything. I can't really remember the last fun thing I did, except I have this vague recollection that there were some truly wonderful moments around my birthday and in the midst of all my sadness and stress. I feel utterly detached from life.

The truly crazy thing about the Summer of 2009 though is that I'm not the only one for whom this has been a crazy upside down and inside out Summer. It seems that every time I turn around many of my friends are experiencing their own personal crises, whether its relationships ending, family members dying, losing a job, finding out they have cancer or some other illness, or one of a number of other traumas. There's something in the air this Summer that has rocked all of our worlds to the core.

My hope and prayer is that with the impending change of seasons, we can officially all bid farewell to the tragedies and pain that has afflicted our lives this summer and find the opportunities that lie before us. May the Summer of our Discontent be over and may Fall bring with it peace, contentment, and joy for each one of us.

I Wish I May, I Wish I Might, Have the Wish I Wish Tonight

Picture from Telegraph.co.uk

Star Light Star bright,
The first star I see tonight,
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have the wish I wish tonight.

Do you remember this Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme from when you were a kid? Do you remember wishing on falling stars?

I do. And I still make wishes upon stars. Maybe that sounds silly, but I do.

Usually, I wish upon the first star I see nightly at Watervale as I'm walking back from watching the sunset on the beach. Later at night, I have even more opportunities because I'm always there during the annual Perseid Meteor Showers. They usually run for about a month and seem to peak when I'm sitting on the dock or the beach at Watervale. This year, they peak tonight and tomorrow and although the moon is expected to be bright in most areas, National Geographic predicts that from anywhere in the world (!) you'll be able to see 80 meteors per hour during the peak hours (late tonight into the wee hours of Wednesday morning).

Unfortunately, I'm not at Watervale tonight, but I'll still be outside laying in the grass and watching these miracles of nature. It's truly one of my favorite events of the summer. And, of course, I'll be making some wishes. I have a long list waiting for a night like tonight.

Here's a timelapse video of the Perseid Meteor Showers. Watch closely. The quick flashes of light across the screen are the meteors.



And just in case you don't remember how to make a wish upon a star, here are some helpful tips:

1. Find the first star. As any child can tell you, it's not the brightest or best star you must wish on, it's the first one visible in the sky. Go outside at dusk and stare at the heavens. Stars appear quickly, so start your wish as soon as you see one--even if you suspect it might be a 747.
2. Stare intently at the wishing star. There's no need to feel embarrassed. Remember, you already know how to make a wish come true. Say the magic words we all learned as children aloud: "Star light, Star bright, the first Star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, Have the wish I wish tonight."
3. Close your eyes tightly as soon as you're done and silently make your wish as fast as you can. You must finish making your wish before any other stars appear in the sky. When you open your eyes, look for any other stars that may have appeared. If there aren't any, your wish is in the clear.
4. BELIEVE in your wish. When you wish upon a star, the star knows whether or not your wish is genuine. If you feel sheepish, or make a half-hearted wish, no one will hear it. Simply put, if you don't deserve your wish, it will never come true.

Summer Fun on the Cheap!

I'm sure I don't have to tell you, but times are tough. We're all trying to save money any way we can. Carpooling and biking to work are on the increase. Recession gardens are all the rage. Many people are taking staycations rather than vacations this summer.

In spite of it all (or maybe especially because of it all), we still need to have some fun now that the weather is warm (or almost warm). To help you and me have fun this summer, the National Park Service has created Fee-Free Weekends at 100 National Parks across the country!

Imagine taking the kids to Yosemite National Park for FREE if you're in California. Or how about going to the Grand Canyon if you're in Arizona? Are you land-locked in the Midwest? That's okay. Stop in at Jefferson National Expansion Memorial National Memorial in Missouri and check out the Gateway Arch. Of course, for all you Watervale families, you can go to Sleeping Bear Dunes for FREE! Eastcoasters have lots of options too. If you're in the DC area, you simply must go to Harpers Ferry. I had the best first date I've ever had there. In Florida, go to the Everglades.

To avoid entrance fees, just visit June 20-21 (Father's Day Weekend), July 18-19, or August 15-16 (I'll organize the field trip from Watervale to Sleeping Bear Dunes this weekend).

Enjoy!

It's Official . . . Summer is Over.

Summer is officially over.

A few days ago, before the first frost, I picked the last of the tomatoes in my garden that had any hope of ripening. Today, they were all perfectly ripe.

And tonight, they are an integral part of my dinner, Bistro-Style Chicken with Tomato and Tarragon.

I miss Summer and flip flops. But most of all, I will miss slicing a juicy tomato fresh from my garden.

2009 Gardening Preview

Thanks to the generosity of Gourmet Goddess, my 2009 garden will be blossoming with some incredibly beautiful and yummy veggies!

Last week, I emailed Gourmet Goddess, an incredible gardener, and asked her some questions about gardening, specifically were there veggie bulbs I could plant now that would automatically grow next year. She offered me wonderful advice and then directed me to some wonderful websites, Park Seed and The Garlic Store where I promptly stocked up on some fantastic garlic. These sites are great because they even cater to the idiot gardener (me).

As if she weren't already generous enough, she then emailed and said she had some leftover seeds from this year that she had decided not to use next year and she'd be happy to give them to me! So on Friday, I stopped by her office, while I was at Lake Forest College doing reunion work, and found 3 packs of tomato and pepper seeds waiting for me! Yeah!

Thanks to Gourmet Goddess, here's part of what I will be growing next summer:

Red Lighning Hybrid Tomatoes (aren't they beautiful?)

The Godfather Hybrid Pepper

Ancho (Poblano) Pepper

All from Burpee. I don't know about you, but I'm really hungry now! I can't wait to break ground in 2009!

Thanks Gourmet Goddess! You'll have to join me for dinner one night next summer.

From the "Duh" Files

Seriously, this was not too difficult to figure out. I knew "The Summer of 69" was about sex when I was a teenager. This really isn't rocket science. But let's all take a moment to appreciate how well Bryan Adams has aged. He's still so dreamy.



And for good measure, here's the video of this great song:

Watervale Reads 2008

A large part of Watervale for me is reading. Without the distractions of home and work, I almost read more in 7 days than I do the entire rest of the year. I always bring a huge stack of books – usually 7-10. And I read them all cover to cover. Mostly political, historical, and current events books. I don’t really do the “beach read” type books. They just aren’t my style. I prefer something more along the lines of House of Bush, House of Saud (a book I read at Watervale 4 summers ago). I spend most of the summer carefully selecting my Watervale Reads and eagerly anticipate that moment when I can crack open the spine of the first book.

This year was different, however. Despite having my books pre-selected as always, I left home with only two of them - the third and fourth books from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series. Knowing I would run out of books by Tuesday, I went to the tiny bookstore in Frankfort, conveniently called The Book Store, (there is no Borders or Barnes and Nobles anywhere around), where I had a difficult time finding just the right political tomes for my Watervale Reads. In fact, I could only find one I hadn’t read, Dreams From My Father, which is how I ended up with American House. The good news is I’ve already got my Watervale Books 2009 picked out and ready to go.

This is the final list of Watervale Reads 2008.

Girls in Pants – The Third Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares
Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares
American House by Deryl D. Holmes
Dreams From My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama

The Sisterhood books are part of a charming series of books written for today's young women. They focus on the lifelong friendships of 4 girls during their high school and early college years. The girls think of themselves as sisters and face the challenge of their first summer apart, in the first novel. Despite the 20 year difference between me and the main characters, I found myself reminiscing about my own friendships and the friends I have thought of as my sisters. Now I'm ready to see the movie.

American House is the first effort by Deryl D. Holmes and tells the fictional story of American House Hotel in South Frankfort, Michigan. Part of what I thoroughly enjoyed about this book was how much the author incorporated the real history of the Frankfort, Michigan area. Today, South Frankfort is known as Elberta, Michigan. Unfortunately, this book can't be found on Amazon or anywhere on the web.

Dreams From My Father was originally published in 1995, shortly after Barack Obama graduated from Harvard Law School. During his years at Harvard, he was elected the first African-American editor of the Harvard Law Review, which garnered him a great deal of press interest and a publisher asked him to write a book. Dreams From My Father is that book. Although I drank the Barack Obama Kool-Aid long before there was any to drink, I had never read Dreams From My Father and I am surprised at how much new insight I have gained into our next President.

Adventures in Kayaking

Somewhere along the lines, I developed an odd fear of the water. I say it's an odd fear because I was born in Florida and to hear my mom tell it, I could swim before I could walk. I loved swimming in the Gulf of Mexico or Lower Herring Lake or Lake Michigan at Watervale or the pool or the Atlantic Ocean while in the Bahamas. I had no fears at all back then. Water above my head? No problem. Dive into the deep end of the pool? Easy. Nothing bothered me. Just stick me in the water and I was a happy child.

But at some point, that stopped. I still loved swimming in pools, but I suddenly wanted nothing to do with the ocean or lakes at Watervale. And so I didn't. I don't know if it started when I started having problems seeing and needed glasses as a teenager, except I know the summer I worked at Watervale I spent a great deal of free time in the lakes. I just don't know.

So yesterday morning, when Dave suggested at breakfast that we go kayaking since it was my last day at Watervale, my initial answer was a firm no. Part of my resistance I'm certain came from my belief that I couldn't do it. Dave is super athletic and I'm not. And although I used to be a very strong swimmer, I'm not anymore. But Dave continued to pester me about it.

Finally, I asked "Will I end up in the lake?" thinking this would get him off my back because the obvious answer was "of course!" and that would be the end of it. But Dave, knowing when it's better to simply tell me what I want to hear, said "No, of course not. You'll be fine." And off we went.

All settled into my kayak with a life jacket secure around me, we were off to the Boo-Hoo sand dune and then to the Outlet and maybe Lake Michigan. About 1/3 of the way to Boo-Hoo, I lost my balance in the kayak and flipped into the water. At that point, the lake is about 25 feet deep and all I cared about was not losing my sunglasses, contacts, or the oar. I swallowed a bunch of water and came up coughing and struggling to catch my breath. Dave was within inches of me in his kayak and I had my life preserver on, so I was pretty safe, despite my flailing around as though I was drowning.

Once I calmed down and caught my breath, I realized my oar was less than 6 inches away from me and it floats and my sunglasses had remained on my face. I wasn't so certain about my contacts, however, as one seemed to be missing. I asked Dave if he would hop in the lake and find it, but he said no. Luckily, it had simply moved in my eye and quickly rearranged itself so I could see.

After about 5 minutes of futile attempts at getting back in the kayak that only resulted in numerous bruises all over my calves, Dave agreed to tow me back to shore, where I could easily get back in my kayak because I could stand.

Without further incident, we made it to Boo Hoo and then around to the Outlet, where I discovered a dam I had long ago forgotten. Dave soared right over the dam with ease and with his instruction, I was certain I could too. Recalling that the water rides at Great America were my favorite (and only ones I would go on), I figured this would be no more difficult.

I centered my kayak to aim for the deepest point of the dam, but ended up beached just to one side. Dave walked out and helped me get unstuck and realigned, and over the dam I went. Except that my kayak and I separated and I ended up back in the water. But I was determined.

I dragged my kayak to shore, walked it around the dam, got back in, centered myself for the deepest point and off I went. This time, I wound up stuck just to the left, but with Dave's help, I was easily realigned. Over the dam I went and again flipped my kayak. Take three. This time, Dave is laughing hysterically as I again got lined up and again flipped the kayak. But I was insistent that I would not return to Watervale until I had conquered this dam, which was all of about an 18 inch drop.

Dave had a different idea. He suggested that I give it a rest and we head out to Lake Michigan, kayak there for a little while and upon our return, I give the dam another try. So off we went.

We got about 20 feet out into Lake Michigan, when we discovered, much to our surprise, the air temperature on Lake Michigan was easily 15 degrees cooler than on Lower Herring and the water was probably in the low 50s. Dave suggested we head back (before I end up in the water) because it was too cold. As we arrived back at the Lake Michigan shore, I got caught in a wave and got dumped in the water. Luckily, the water was only about 6 inches deep, but the ground was very rocky and as I was standing up, I got pushed over by another wave and bloodied up my knees.

We made our way back through the Outlet toward the dam, which I was hell-bent on defeating. On my 4th and final try, I made it over successfully and then we kayaked back to Watervale where I laid in the sun for a couple of hours. Unfortunately, once I walked my kayak back around the dam and got in on Lower Herring Lake, rather than sitting in the seat, my butt landed on the side of the kayak and I now have a huge bruise on my ass.

I've never thought of myself as a rough and tumble girl because I've always been very girly and feminine. But I'm proud of all my bruises and scrapes. I wear them with honor. I also learned that kayaking is a blast, not nearly as difficult as I'd imagined, and the worst that can happen is I get a little wet. Once I was acclimated to the water, it actually felt good to be a fish again. Maybe I should start swimming laps at my local pool. I only wish I'd discovered all this earlier in the week. The good news is there's only 52 more weeks until Watervale 2009 and I will kayak everyday next year.

20 Years Ago: The Night the Lights Went On at Wrigley

It's not often that Dave and I are present for truly historical moments, but we were there the night the lights went on at Wrigley.

Joan Green, a lifelong Cubs fan, took us, along with her son, Bill, to the game on August 9th, 1988, which thanks to Mother Nature, was the first official night game at Wrigley Field. I don't remember exactly where we sat, although my gut says it was the Bleachers. We always sat in the Bleachers.

As everyone knows, Wrigley Field did not have lights, which meant that all their games were played during the day. This made Wrigley unique among Major League parks, as they had all installed lights many years earlier. But Wrigley was the sole hold-out because the area residents, and Wrigley is set in the heart of the residential Lakeview neighborhood, and the City of Chicago would not allow them.

Because of the daytime only games, the Cubs couldn't host the All-Star Game, which they wanted to do.

After many protests and negotiations, the Chicago City Council finally allowed a very limited number of night games and lights were installed and some believe defiled the beauty of Wrigley.


The first night game was set for August 8th, but Mother Nature had other plans and the game was rained out after 3 1/2 innings and the Cubs leading the Phillies 3-1. So the August 9th game against the Mets became the official first game and we just happened to be there (and the Cubs won 6-4!).

Thanks Joan! We love you and still miss you everyday, but cherish all the wonderful memories you gave us.

Here's a cool retrospective video.

Enjoy.