Laughter is an Instant Vacation

I'm just back from Watervale and too exhausted to put the week into words, although I can assure you I've got some good stories for you.

In the meantime, take three minutes out of your day and take a little vacation of your own. As one of my favorite inspiration websites, Simple Truths, points out, Laughter is an Instant Vacation.

Cuddling Tips from Uncle Jesse

My blogger buddy Lisa posted this video on Facebook last week and I immediately knew I had to share it with you.

If you're anything like me, you love to cuddle. But you may not know exactly how to cuddle. You'd like to cuddle more, but you don't feel confident in your cuddling skills.

Not to worry because Uncle Jesse (aka John Stamos) has your back. Ha ha ha. Did you get my cute pun?

Just watch the video below and you'll be all set. Ready for your next snuggle-fest.


Trust me, there will be a quiz. Just as soon as I'm home from Watervale.

The Watervale Man

Watervale guests are known for their creativity and devotion to Watervale, so it was truly a matter of time before someone wrote a song. A friend of mine posted this video to Facebook a few weeks ago and I thought I'd wait to post it to LMS until I was at Watervale.

This song and video really do give you a good idea of what Watervale is all about and why I love it so much, so make sure you watch the video. Honestly, if you're reading this via email and the video didn't come through, visit LMS to watch it.

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.

It's Buc Wheats...I Don't Care What They Call It Now

When I was a kid, we were forbidden to have any cereals that might possibly be sugary cereals. It didn't matter how much we begged, our parents were not cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs. Not only weren't Trix for kids in our house, no one ate them. We were stuck taking Tony the Tiger's word for it that Frosted Flakes were grrrrrr-eat. We never enjoyed the health benefits of the pink hearts, yellow moons, orange stars and green clovers in Lucky Charms.

In our house, we were Cheerios kids all the way, with some Kix (which some kid allegedly tested and his mom approved, but I'm guessing that kid had no taste buds) tossed in for variety.

And then one morning we woke up at Nana's house and found a new cereal on the table. Nana had left for work at Ellis National Bank, but as was her morning routine, she'd cut up fresh grapefruit for me and filled our bowls with cereal so all we had to do was pour the milk when we woke up.

This new and mysterious cereal was flaky with a maple flavor. The flakes were crispy and a little nutty and Dave and I devoured it in record time. It made us feel like a million bucks. And because it was a high nutrition cereal, Mom and Dad were fans too.

After that morning, a new cereal was welcome in our house. Buc Wheats.



And Buc Wheats was a staple until probably the early 1980s when it suddenly disappeared from store shelves. No explanation. It was just gone.

Since that day, Dave and I have mourned the loss of Buc Wheats. I'm honestly not sure that either of us has really moved on. I eat cereal so rarely that it will go stale in my cabinet before I finish it.

And then a week ago my world got brighter. I was walking through Jewel when a woman asked if I'd like a sample of a new cereal. I looked at the box that said Fiber Plus and I was unmoved. But then I looked at the little sample cup and had an inkling. My taste buds confirmed it: Buc Wheats was back. Sure, it's got a new name, Fiber Plus Caramel Pecan Crunch, but it's still the same cereal. Same flavor. Same crunch. Same nuttiness.

I grabbed a box and a few coupons and called Dave as soon as I was out of the store. All I had to say was "guess what cereal I found at Jewel today?" and he immediately guessed "Buc Wheats." See, he's never forgotten. I walked in the door, gave my mom a blind taste test and asked her what she was tasting. I just got a one-word answer: Buc Wheats.

Yep, my family has found their favorite cereal after a 30 year search. I don't want to lose my favorite cereal again, so go stock up on Fiber Plus Caramel Pecan Crunch*.

*And if the good people at Kellogg's saw fit to send me a boat load of Fiber Plus Caramel Pecan Crunch for free as a way to thank me for this free advertising, I'd happily accept it.

Ron Santo Will Be Part of Wrigley Field Forever

If you bleed Cubbie Blue, then this story from the Daily Herald tonight will make your heart swell. You may know that the Cubs don't typically allow people to have their ashes spread at Wrigley Field, although Steve Goodman's ashes are in the outfield.

That changes Thursday when Ron Santo's ashes take their rightful place in the stadium Ron so loved. Now when the Cubs finally win the World Series, Ron will be there.

For the record, Ron Santo more than deserves to be in the Hall of Fame and it's my Christmas Wish that the Golden Era Committee makes up for this egregious error.

Santo will forever be part of Cubs, Wrigley
By Barry Rozner, Daily Herald, August 7, 2011

No member of the family would discuss the private aspect of their tribute, but a Cubs source said it would occur Thursday. His son Jeff would say only that he’s looking forward to concluding another chapter in what has been a long and public mourning process.

“I think this is going to be the last hard thing, finally saying goodbye,” Jeff Santo said Sunday. “I didn’t feel like I really said goodbye at the funeral, and I’m going to make sure I do it now.

“Everything that happened last December was so fast. It was a whirlwind and it’s all so hazy when I look back on it. But I think now with the statue and the end of the season coming, the patch on the jerseys almost done, I think this is finally the end of it.

“I’m not looking forward to the emotional part of it, but I’m looking forward to some closure.”

Jeff was then reminded that his late father will face yet another Hall of Fame vote this fall, with the announcement coming within days of the anniversary of Ron Santo’s passing.

“That’s unbelievable,” Jeff Santo said with a laugh. “There you go, so I guess it doesn’t end right there this week. I’ll be on pins and needles again.”

The new Golden Era Committee, comprised of members of the Hall of Fame, executives and veteran media members, will consider managers, umpires, executives and long-retired players whose best years in the game took place from 1947-1972.

The announcement will be made during the winter meetings in Dallas, only a day or two after the anniversary of Ron Santo’s death on Dec. 3.

If there were to be one final irony in the amazing journey that was No. 10’s, it would be that he is elected posthumously after suffering through so many election disappointments the final decade of his life.

But to bet on it now would be foolish when Santo didn’t come close in the past.

“Well,” Jeff Santo chuckled, “at least this time he won’t have to sit by the phone and be disappointed again. That’s one thing we can feel good about.”

It hasn’t been an easy year for Ron’s wife, Vicki, or the kids — Jeff, Ron Jr. and Linda — celebrating Ron’s life in full view and getting little chance to reflect in private.

But such is the process when a man is as beloved as Ron Santo.

“It’s been really tough for Vicki and for Linda because she’s lived next door to him for a long time in Arizona and my dad was always with her and the grandkids,” Jeff said. “He always came back to Arizona in the fall after the season and it’s not going to happen this year, and that’s going to hit hard.

“Linda’s son Sam is throwing out the first pitch Wednesday. He made Little League all-stars this year. My dad would have loved that. Sam’s playing his best baseball now and my dad’s not here for it. He would have loved going to those games.”

Jeff still finds himself wanting to dial his dad’s cellphone, frequently locating the speed dial number before catching himself.

“I did it the other day after watching that Curt Flood special on HBO,” Jeff Santo said. “That was my dad’s era and I wanted to talk to him about it.

“I just want to call him and hear him say, ‘How’s it going, son?’ I miss him a lot. As crazy as it sounds, he was really doing great. He had survived so much. I just didn’t expect that to be the end.”

It was tough on Ron’s birthday in February, and it was tough again when Jeff got his wedding photos, seeing how good his dad looked on 10-10-10.

“Father’s Day I was a wreck,” Jeff said. “I went to a Diamondbacks game and thought that would be perfect. Turns out it wasn’t the best idea. I spent more time at the pub thinking about my dad.”

So the Santo family seeks an emotional resolution, and they should receive that this week when a statue of Ron is placed outside Wrigley Field. An appropriate spot would be at Addison and Sheffield, near teammate and pal Billy Williams.

“The great thing is this will be so cool for the fans. My dad really loved this team and these fans,” Jeff Santo said. “And he would have been truly overwhelmed by getting a statue. It’s forever. He would have considered that as great as the Hall of Fame.”

In a very public ceremony Wednesday, the Cubs will celebrate the life and career of Ron Santo, sharing with his fans the unveiling of a statue and a flood of memories.

And in a very private ceremony the next day, Santo’s family will spread his ashes about Wrigley Field, presumably at third base, and perhaps around home plate — though one can still imagine Santo clicking his heels from third base, down the line and into the left-field corner.

I Went Shopping Today!

Okay, that's sort of not exactly true, but then it is true. Just stick with me for a couple of minutes. I'll have a point.

About a week ago, my boss told me that she'd like me to wear black or white capris or shorts with our company t-shirt in a parade we're going to be in on Wednesday. Now, I have no fewer than a gazillion khaki shorts and capris and I even have dressy pair of black capris, but I have no casual black or white capris or shorts and khaki would not work with the gray t-shirt I'm wearing, nor would everyone look the same, which was the goal of the black or white.

Frankly, I didn't want to go shopping and spend money. As I've mentioned previously, I'm trying to buy a condo so every single penny counts and I'm also 12 days from going to Watervale, another good reason to not spend money. Oh, and I hate shopping. HATE. Shopping to me is usually entirely ego deflating, even as my body has shrunk into new sizes. All week long I've agonized over this whole black or white capri or shorts requirement. How could I get around it?

Finally, this morning it hit me: what about all the clothes I'd collected for our upcoming garage sale? Did I still have them and would they fit? With any luck there might be some parade-appropriate capris or shorts in there and I'd be able to find them. When I originally packed them up, I was certain they'd never fit me again.

I pulled out the boxes of stuff marked for the garage sale and started sifting. Within seconds, I discovered two pairs black capris I last wore in 2002, a dress I hadn't worn in at least that long, a great pair of workout pants, 3 pairs of shorts (khaki, navy blue and red that may actually go back to the late 1990s), two awesome button-down shirts, numerous t-shirts, and 4 or 5 pairs of khaki capris (because you know if owning a trillion khaki pairs of capris could be turned into $1 trillion, I could personally solve the debt crisis), a cute sweater, a pair of jeans, and even a bathing suit!

Into my bedroom I went with all my finds. And item after item, almost all of the clothes I pulled out of the garage sale boxes fit. Some better than others, but I could get almost each item button or zipped without having to lay down and suck anything in. I did reject a few items that fit. My body does not need pleated pants or shorts. They just don't look remotely flattering. But the timeless, classic pieces, I held onto, and will happily fit them back into my wardrobe.

I'm not exactly sure how much I saved, but to be sure, I've saved money, and more than that, I got a nice ego boost realizing I'm wearing clothes I last wore almost a decade ago because I've lost so much weight. Win!

Where's Little Merry Sunshine These Days?

Dear Readers,

I feel I've let you down of late.

You've been quite faithful to me and visited Little Merry Sunshine on a daily basis, but since January, I've only written 74 (now 75) posts for you. When you consider that in 2010, I gave you 210 posts, I'm really slipping. One might think that I don't love you anymore or that I don't enjoy writing Little Merry Sunshine as much as I did in 2008 when I wrote 412 posts. One would be wrong.

I do love you. And I do love writing Little Merry Sunshine.

In fact, that's exactly where my dilemma lies. I love you and love writing Little Merry Sunshine so much that I would rather give you fewer high quality posts than give you daily posts that suck.

So why aren't I writing as much anymore? I'm so glad you asked.

You'll recall that in February I started a new job as the Alumni Relations & Events Manager at Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. Simply getting acclimated to that has taken some time. I've now been at my awesome job 5 1/2 months and I think I'm finally feeling like I know where we keep the good office supplies. I jest. What I'm really finally feeling is that I own my job. That I know what I'm doing and I feel confident in it. But getting to that point has taken a lot of hard work. More nights than I care to admit, I've crawled into bed at 8pm.

Additionally, I've been working out. You may have heard a rumor that I've dropped 40 pounds. That rumor is true thanks to exercise and eating better. It turns out that working out takes time and is sort of tiring. If only I could write while I swim, you'd have more to read.

Then we get to health issues. Thankfully, not mine. My mom and both cats, Betsey and Ross, have had major health issues since April, which have all consumed a great deal of my energy. For the record, I never thought I'd be a pet owner who scheduled her life around insulin shots for her cat. But I am now.

And finally, I'm in the process of buying my very first home (item #67 on my Bucket List). Frankly, this is my friend Derek's fault. And by fault, I mean that he put this idea into my brain last month when I mentioned that I was looking to rent an apartment. I've found a place I love and we're in the final stages of negotiations. I can't guess how this is going to end, but given that it's coinciding with the debt ceiling debate, I'm a little sick to my stomach until it's all signed, sealed and delivered. Once it's all over, I'll share the fun stories about my adventures in home buying.

All of this is happening, as I also try to have something that resembles a social life.

I promise to get back to LMS soon. I really do miss you all. Plus, as you can imagine, I've had a whole lot to say about Sarah Palin, Michele Bachman, the debt ceiling crisis, and now Congressman Joe Walsh that I've been itching to write about.

Grant Mower: (Hopefully) Fashion Designer to Michelle Obama

This was designed by a 12-year-old for Michelle Obama. If you're like me, you were embarrassed to wear that t-shirt you were required to sew in 7th grade. Image from KSL.com (Utah).

My friend Susan finds the coolest stories. I don't know how she does it, but she does. It's just one of the super cool qualities about her. Oh, that and she writes an amazing blog that you simply must read. Well, after you read this blog post.

Anyhoo, today, she posted this story on Facebook. I. Love. It.

Imagine being 12-years-old and designing a dress for the First Lady?! When I was 12, I was just hoping beyond all hope that I wouldn't fail Home Ec (I almost did because I didn't know a strainer was really called a sifter or maybe it was vice versa. I still don't know.) But I digress. What I love about this is that no matter what the bullies say, Grant Mower keeps pursuing his passion. And his mom is 100% in his corner. Don't get me wrong, I hate that he gets bullied, but his success will show those bullies who's boss. And one day, I predict those bullies will be clamoring to wear Grant's fashions.

Trust me, you're gonna be on Team Grant once you read this story. Oh, and check back on Tuesday. I'll let you know whether Michelle Obama chose Grant's dress.

12-year old boy designs dress for first lady Michelle Obama
July 21, 2011
By Nkoyo Iyamba

PARK CITY -- Designers fight for the chance to dress high-profile women. A boy with Utah ties is hoping first lady Michelle Obama will wear his work during her visit to Utah next week. And this up and coming designer is just 12 years old.

Grant Mower beat out high school and college fashion design students in a contest in Texas where he lives.

"First I was just drawing little girls stuff, then I came up to where I am now watching Chanel shows and you know sort of a growth in fashion and maturity," said Mower.

He's grown a lot from the first dress he made of newspaper. Now he's designing a dress for the First Lady, Michelle Obama. The inspiration came when he saw an orchid while visiting the Smithsonian in Washington, DC. However, it's been a painful road to get to this point. His mother Moanna says bullies at school would tease him for wanting to be a fashion designer.

"He would look for validation, and not get it, so he'd come home from school and it would take him three hours for me to just get him back," said Moanna Mower. "And out of desperation I would do things like, do you want to watch a Versace fashion show? "

"When it came to sixth grade, because there's new people, there's also new bullies, and they come," said Mower. "And I don't care, I really don't care what they tell me."

Grant left for Dallas Wednesday and will come to Utah for the chance to schedule a fitting with Mrs. Obama at next week's Utah fundraising event for the President

"He's just so happy," said Mower's aunt Shannon Barton. "He's just so happy when he's designing. He's who he really is when he gets to do things like this."

Right now, Grant is an apprentice under a designer who has dressed former First Ladies: Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton. Mowers has kept those sketches under wraps until of course, as everyone is hoping, Mrs. Obama will make the big reveal in a Grant Mower gown on July 26.

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Now, go read Yeah, And Another Thing by my friend Susan. And make sure you read the cupcake post. Why? Because I told you to. That's why. This is my playground, so I make the rules. Just come back when you're done.

It Gets Better - Stephen Colbert Version

A few weeks ago, I posted the It Gets Better video by the Chicago Cubs. Tonight Lawrence O'Donnell took a few minutes out of his show, The Last Word, to play Stephen Colbert's It Gets Better video.

I love this video. I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "Of course you do! You're a bleeding heart liberal and you LOVE Stephen Colbert." To that I'd say you're right. I am. And I do love Stephen Colbert.

BUT you've never seen Stephen Colbert like this. He's not in character. He's just himself. Genuine, authentic Stephen Colbert. Not comedian Stephen Colbert of The Colbert Report.

I love the story he shares with all kids who are getting teased for whatever reason. Words have power, but the power doesn't just belong to the bullies. We can disarm the bullies by not letting their words bother us, thus deflating them. When we do that, we take the power away from the bullies and things begin to get better immediately.

So watch Stephen Colbert. Because he's right. It does get better.